The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-17
MENCK UNFIT
TO RULE BOXING
AND IS OuSTED

Albany, March 17-Pronouncing
him unfit to hold office, Gov. Whit
man yesterday removed Frederick A.
Wenck as Chairman of the State Atm
letic Commission. Having recon-
mended q repeal of the Frawley BOX
ing law, which created the commits
sion. the governor will not appoint
any one to. take Wenck's place. That
the Governor would take this action
was forecast yesterday on the highest
authority.
Gov. Whitman based his action up
on q Recommendation for Wenck's
dismissal from his legal adviser,
Franklin B. Lord. who probed the
charges made against Wenck by Har-
~ M. Pollok. John j. White and Pat
rick T. Powers. Lords report, which
accompanied the order Of removal
does not find Wenck guilty Of extor-
ton, as was charged. Nor does Lord
conclude that Wenck was grating.
His severest indictment Of Wenck
is contained In this paragraph: ~.
yWhen q public officer continually
nuts himself in q position which per-
mits any cone to have a reasonable
doubt Of his honesty, he becomes UNI
fit to hold office I deem the Com
missloner's actions In borrowing
money from the manager of boxer.
recommending a manato promote a
fight, indorsing his note in order to
enable him to promote said fight:
taking free tickets, especially in large
numbers, for boxing matches and from
those interested in the Madison
Square Garden for other entertain
ments or shows, to be improper"
All specific charges Of wrongdoing
against Wenck were swept aside by
Lord, who rested his finding of UNI
fitness to hold office upon theScount
which alleged in general that Wenck
should be removed "by reason Of
character and previous dealings with
Others This was broad enough to
take in all testimony calculated to
show that Wenck did not conduct
himself as public official should.
The charge made by Harry Pollok
that Wenck was guilty Of grating
by reason Of having accepted 800
check from Pollok is not sustained.
Lord. however, remarks:
"Commissi Wenck testified
that the first day he saw Pollok. Nov.
~ last Pollok said that this gang
Pollok. White and Powers-would
frame him up. Nevertheless, after
this he took the check for 500, met
Pollok the next day at the Fifth Ave-
nue. Building and walked up to the
Waldorf with him and called on
Powers at the latter's office. By do
ing this Commissioner Wenck placed
himself in an unfortunatea position.
The alleged frame-up could not have
occurred if Commissioners .Wenck had
been little more careful and had
refused to see these persons except in
the office of the commission.
THE record clearly discloses that
the regulation of boxing is a difficult
matter and that those charged with
such duty should be scrupulously care
full to avoid any appearance Of evil
His close association with different
persons financially interested in box
ing matches units him to act as a
supervising and regulating officer"
The two big points made against
Wenck by Lord are Wenck's admis-
s1ion that he borrowed $500 on Nov
10 from lone Callahan, who is the
manager for a pugi1ist named Bob
Moha." and that he endorsed a note
4of John ]. Mack for $4,000 to finance
the Ftlton-Rei fight.
1T Is not necessary for me-" states
Lord, ito comment upon the propriety
OF an officer charged with the duty Of
regulation tos borrow money from a
person whose business it was his duty
ia regulate.