Inman and Smith to Play
What Was Said at Glasgow
In The Glasgow Weekly Record on November 27 a very interesting section was devoted to an illustrated article entitled: "Why Melbourne Inman Won't Play Smith."
"I'll explain this little affair to you about which everybody in billiards is asking," said Inman to a Weekly Record representative, as the great cueist retired to the dressing-room.
"Smith has challenged me for a match, because I have been billed in Glasgow as the world's champion.
" I am not in the least averse to meet him; but he lays down what I consider to be a hard stipulation, as Dempsey has done to Carpentier, that he is to get a bigger share of the ' gate ' than myself.
"He wants 55 per cent., the remainder to go to the humble Inman, who has been so many years champion.
"I object to that. I only allowed the championship to go by default last year; and I am entered again this time. To come to a bargain: I am willing to play Smith on the condition that he makes it ' half-gate.' "That is the reason, the only reason, why I am not playing Willie Smith in answer to his challenge."
"You have the highest opinion of Willie Smith's abilities?" the Weekly Record man interposed.
"I have indeed the very highest opinion of him; he's a wonderful player
" I said quite plainly last year, after I refused to play in the championship, that the Darlington man would win. I wrote that in articles which appeared in the newspapers.
"I regard Smith as the best of the younger school of players who are coming on as the champions of the future. He is a complete, all-round expert, a great player, indeed, and nobody is more enthusiastic than myself of his abilities.
" I have no doubt we'll get a match fixed up all right; and then we shall see who's who on the billiard table."
[The level match is now arranged for January 3-15, at Thurston's, the winner to take 60 per cent.]