McCain wants a Pardon granted upon Galveston Giant

McCain should first seek a pardon for that shitty, halfassed Presidential campaign he ran.

 

I was not aware that 43 had already pardoned Johnson. Can you cite a reference for this? If true, it's the only worthwhile thing to emerge from his disastrous Presidency.

As for Johnson's laundry list of despicable things, I must disagree emphatically. The fact that he was set up with the Mann Act conviction was despicable. This great champion was the object of racism throughout his career. Here's an example of what Johnson was forced to endure: when he and manager Sam Fitzpatrick went to the National Sporting Club in London to discuss details of a possible bout with Tommy Burns, the NSC's whites only policy was strictly enforced--club officials refused to allow Johnson across the doorway, and made him wait on the sidewalk while Fitzpatrick heard the NSC terms. (Black Champion, Finis Farr, 1964, McMillan & Co, pp51/52).

That's what I call despicable.

 

How does a pardon help him? He's dead. He's been dead since 1946. We are talking about a conviction from 1913 for goodness sakes. This has nothing to do with Jack Johnson, that's for sure.

 

Jack Johnson has been jacked off for years............ Christ, the shitty ass town of Franklinton, N.C. was suppose to erect some memorial for Johnson a while back, but they give a **** cuz that **** town is redneck country..... I live just south of that **** town in North Raleigh, and Raleigh sucks too........ The south sucks....... Gimmie the north or the west any day.......

MR.BILL:bbb

 

It's got everything to do with restoring his reputation and setting the historical record straight. He deserves a full pardon and an official apology, despite the fact he's been dead since 1946.

 

Setting the record straight how? Was he not convicted of a Mann Act violation, same as a ton of other Americans? Did he not commit the act he was accused of? I don't know that anyone ever disputed that he actually did commit the crime he was accused of. He did actually cross state lines with prostitutes and paid to have sex. I'm not aware of any historian disputing that. Why should he be pardoned and not everyone else who was convicted of a Mann Act violation? What about Chuck Berry? The Mann Act still exists to this day. If you cross state lines with a prostitute and purchase her services, you can be convicted of it. If you do so, should you get a pardon? Why does Jack Johnson get a pardon and not you?

Instead of properly appealing, Johnson fled the country. Instead of remaining outside of America, he eventually voluntarily returned and served his time. I agree that the 1 year sentence was ridiculous, (as I also think any victimless crime is ridiculous and shouldn't be considered a crime, but that is another debate), but if I had not committed a crime, but was found guilty of something I didn't do and had fled the country, I wouldn't return to the country to serve a 1 year sentence for something I didn't do.

Regardless, there are a lot of Americans who have been dead for 50 or 100 years or whatever who didn't actually commit the crimes who deserve pardons before Johnson. Some innocent folks may acutually still be alive today and better merit time being spent on them and could actually obtain some benefit from a pardon. I see this as a complete waste of valuable Congressional time and done more for McCain's own political purposes than for actually doing anything for Jack Johnson, who isn't around to benefit from the pardon. We all know about his story. He's had several books written about him. So what does this pardon really do and for whom does it do it?

 

What are you talking about? :huh This has been one of his major causes that he's been outspoken in championing for years.

 

Jack "****ing" Johnson was GREAT! Nuff said.............

MR.BILL

The '70 film "The Great White Hope" was okay, but I still watch it religiously cuz of Jack Jonson's tale........ Hollywood needs to do a new flick--------NOW!!
:goodthumbsup:rasta

 

so because they didnt let him in the door during that time it that justifies beating women and cheering for Nazi Germany? nice logic

and iam not saying he wasnt a great fighter....he was no doubt about it. but being a great fighter doesnt make you a great person

 

He was not imprisoned for beating women or as you put it , or " for cheering Nazi Germany".He was imprisoned for transporting a woman he was having sex with across a state line.The Mann Act was brought in to combat White Slavery,not to police the morals of American citizens. , and Johnson gave no advice to Schmeling ,Max had allready spotted that Louis did not bring his left hand back to protect himself after jabbing
Schmeling even told reporters this on film, " I seem somethings,but I won't tell you what it is", this footage is readily available.
By the way Nazi Germany was not at war with anybody at that time, least of all the United States, who only entered the war after being attacked by the Japanese Fleet,some 5 years later.
Johnson offered his services as a trainer to Louis's managers Roxborough ,and Black ,but was rebuffed.
We are not judging whether Johnson was a great person, but rather was he victimized by a law which hounded and ultimately imprisoned him for a year.
That is the logic of the situation.

 

I'm sorry Montefisto, but I must agree with mcvey. You don't seem to know what you're talking about. There's no connection between Jack Johnson and Nazis for heavens sake.

As for beating women, you'll need to elaborate. Were there any complaints from Lucille Cameron or Etta Duryea?

I really want to respond a apollack's post but I'm a little time poor at the moment. I will respond probably Monday or thereabouts. I need to research a little but I'm fairly sure I can effectively counter.

I know it seems like I'm on a crusade, but it pisses me that this great exponent of the noble art, not to mention unique personality, is so unfairly maligned on a blog made up of knowledgeable historians of the noble art.

 

In McCain's case...it's a grandstanding stunt and shows where his priorities lie..it sure wasn't a high ranking concern of his to run a successful campaign for the Presidency. McCain is an unreliable turncoat fruitcake..**** him.

 

I really want to respond a apollack's post but I'm a little time poor at the moment. I will respond probably Monday or thereabouts. I need to research a little but I'm fairly sure I can effectively counter.

I know it seems like I'm on a crusade, but it pisses me that this great exponent of the noble art, not to mention unique personality, is so unfairly maligned on a blog made up of knowledgeable historians of the noble art.[/quote]


I'm not maligning him. I think the law was and currently is wrong. I do not think prostitution should be illegal. I think his 1 year sentence was ridiculous. The judge specifically referenced his popularity for sentencing him more harshly, which I think was unfair.

But it was the law, and he broke it. All I am saying is it is a waste of time pardoning someone who is dead, dead for over 60 years, whose story is already well known anyway, and using congressional time to debate and potentially pardon him when there are a lot more important things to do with congressional time, and when those who aren't being considered for pardons are still alive and could most benefit from a pardon, and, unlinke Johnson, innocent.

 

I'm not maligning him. I think the law was and currently is wrong. I do not think prostitution should be illegal. I think his 1 year sentence was ridiculous. The judge specifically referenced his popularity for sentencing him more harshly, which I think was unfair.

But it was the law, and he broke it. All I am saying is it is a waste of time pardoning someone who is dead, dead for over 60 years, whose story is already well known anyway, and using congressional time to debate and potentially pardon him when there are a lot more important things to do with congressional time, and when those who aren't being considered for pardons are still alive and could most benefit from a pardon, and, unlinke Johnson, innocent.[/quote]

Maybe a pardon for Johnson might get this stupid law thrown into the dustbin once and for all?
Everybody knows Johnson consorted and travelled with prostitutes,no evidence was ever found ,or presented in court that he ever benefitted financially from such arrangements however, quite the reverse in fact .
The prosecutor, Parkin originally had eleven charges against Johnson , 4, which out of feelings of delicacy he dropped, these were listed as "crimes against nature", [ in this case, anal intercourse]and debauchery. The jury found Johnson guilty by an 8 to 4 vote,this changed on the third ballot to 10 to 2.
Johnson was found guilty of transporting Bell Schreiber ,from Pittsburgh to Chicago , for the purpose of prostitution,and sexual intercourse.
The prosecutors last remarks ,after the verdict was rendered were these.
"This verdict will go around the world.
It is the fore runner of laws to be passed in these United States,which we may live to see - - laws forbidding miscegenation.
This negro, in the eyes of many ,has been persecuted,.Perhaps as an individual he was.
But it is his misfortune to be the foremost example of the evil in permitting the inter marriage of whites and blacks".

In short Johnson was a black symbol that had to be taken down a peg or two ,and he duly was.
Its interesting that John L Sullivan lived with a prostitute while he was married , Stanley Ketchel and Sam Langford both consorted with and patronised various prostitutes, this was acceptable ,because they only consorted with prostitutes of their own colour.
Which shows you what a pile of crap the Mann Act was.
And also the real motives for bringing charges against Johnson in the first place.
He was in the eyes of the white establishment "an uppity n****r", who needed to be brought low, end of story.