The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-01
PRATT DENIES WAR
FUND BOXING BAN
Head of National Committee
Says Original Plan Will
Be Adhered To.

the United War Work sports drive had
been abandoned because OF the opposi-
tion OF John n, Rockefeller. Jr.. DR.. John
r. Mott and other members OF the Y.
/. NJ. c. A., were denied yesterday BY Her
bert L. Pratt, chairman OF the National
+. Sports Committee.
At a dinner at the University Club last
evening Mr.. Pratt made 1t plain that the
boxing drive was very much alive. and
that Jim Coffroth, Charley Harvey and
their associates would continue along
the original lines and hold a big carnival
in Madison Square Garden on Saturday
night, November 16.
Mr.. Pratt further said that he had
been requested by Mr.. Rockefeller to
deny emphatlcally that he had given
utterance to the remarks credited to
him. and that he had not taken any
action In relation TO boxing or any
other branch of athletics to be utilized
in the drive
mo Boxing will hold its place in
the list OF sports and Mr. Coffroth re-
mains in charge as national supervisor"
". W. Roper said that there was no
change in the attitude OF the committee
regarding sports, and that each branch
would be employed in localities where
IL was most popular. DR.. Joseph Ray
croft also spoke. Mr.. Pratt gave out
the following statement:
DR.. Mott supports Boxing
'The report Of yesterdays meeting
Of the National Sports Committee as
contained in a morning paper is entirely
misleading. and gives a very regrettable
impression concerning the attitude of
10 WI Atx-A trvNrs a INT
Let me make II clear. first of all, that
neither John n. Rockefeller Jr.. nor
DR.. John r. Mott was present at the
meeting or had any part in the action
there taken.
"Dr. Mott as a member OF the Com
mission on Training Camp Activities, has
consistently supported boxing in the
training camps as part OF the commits
sion's activities. and he and the other
representatives Of the war work agencies
are entirely in accord with the pro-
gramme OF the sports committee. John
D. Rockefeller. Jr., has from the FIRST
been a supporter of the sports pro-
gramme. and has arranged with his
father to provide 1900 victory medals
to be competed for in golf tournaments
throughout the country.
AS regards athletic contests on Sun
lay II was voted that the promotion of
such contests should be left entirely to
the Judgment and wish OF individual local
communities, but that the committee as
such would not promote Sunday contests.
The members OF the committee voted on
the subject without reference to their
personal convictions recognizing merely
that there is in the country a division of
sentiment on the subject. and feeling that
no controversial subject should be al
lowed to inject itself into a campaign
which is dependent for its success upon
the united support Of the whole people.
Response Is Renlarka BILE.
''The United War Work Campaign is
to be conducted. like the Liberty Loan
campaigns in the military environments
and naval stations, as we'll as in the
cities and towns Secretary Daniels and
Secretary Baker have both given their
cordial approval TO this. and II is ex-
pected that the more than a million men
in the cantonments and stations will
have large share In the success OF the
campaign. which is for the beneht OF
their fellows overseas, as well as them
selves
with this IN mind the sports commit
tee voted that the boxing contests ar
ranged by II should be staged wherever
feasible In the environments, where boxing
is a recognized part OF the military pro-
gramme Since the boys are to be asked
to contribute, the committee feels they
should have generous part in the plans
for the sports programme
Every man connected officially with
the campaign appreciates tremendously
the wonderful response OF the athletic
interests of the country to the United War
Work Campaign. Practically every anna
teur and professional athlete has volun-
teered to help without compensation.
There Is every reason to believe that the
sports programme will be one of the
most attractive and profitable features OF
the drive"
Instead OF being more or less dead,
the local boxing drive now ~ a bigger
thing than ever. Mr.. Plat said that he
had received encouraging replies to his
cables asking that Jimmy Wilde and
Georges Carpenter be sent over The
replies declared that furloughs for the
boxers we're being arranged for
Jess Willard yesterday was scratched
definitely from the programme of the
local boxing show. The heavyweight
champion sent this telegram to Coffroth
from Graham, Tex:
Sorry ! can't come 10 New York. as
my business, which is an essential to the
Government, holds me here. but have
agreed to put on two or three shows in
the principal cities OF Texas"
Plans for the boxing drive were dis
cussed at a meeting Of the managers
and. promoters last night. Coffroth pre-
sided, with Harvey at his right 1t was
decided that in this city the feature
bout would be between Benny Leonard
and Irish Patsy Cline or Jack Dempsey
sand Fatty Meehan or Fred Fulton. The
bout which II not staged here will go to
Kansas City. which has guaranteed the
fund $4,000
Matt Hinkel came on to arrange a
Joust between Jim Coffey and Battling
lavinsky for Cleveland. He has OBJ
tanned the use of the big armory there
which has not been the scene OF fight
since Kid Lavigne fought there twenty
years ago. Johnny Dundee and Joe
yelling will box here and then yelling
will go on 10 Pittsburg to meet Johnny
Ray. Pal Moore and Pete Herman will
box In New Orleans, which is to hold its
show on a Sunday-November II.
Coffroth has given out twenty-four
sanctions for shows for the fund, dis
tributed as follows: New York, 2, New
York and Syracuse New Jersey, 3, Pat
esSon. Newark, Jersey City; Washing
tor, 2 Oregon, !; California, 81 Penn
sylvania, 3 with the following cities
Omaha, Chicago. Cincinnati. Kansas
City, cleveland. Minneapolis. New Or
leans and Boston
II was announced that Frank Taber-
ski, the pocket billiard champion, would
play four games. one each in New York
Philadelphia, Boston and Washington
with J. Howard Shoemaker. the amateur
champion. In the meaItlme, Ralph
Greonleaf forwarded challenge TO Ia