Evening journal., 1918-11-14
PREACHERS OPPOSE
WAR fund BOXING
Exhibition Will be Given,
However, respiie
Their Protest
WOULD SAFEGUARD
MORALS OF CITY

The Wilmington Ministerial Union
in special session yesterday afternoon
in the Y. NJ. c. Building, was OF tn,
opinion that the boxing exhibition an
nounced to take place in the Operf
House, for the benefit OF the United
War Work Fund, was detrimental "a
the community and brutalizlng In its
effects, and That an effort should be
made 10 have Il stopped.
AS 1t had been announced that this
exhibition was to be held for the bene-
flt of the War Work Fund, the War
Work committee was visited and the
ministers say they were assured that
the committee would not receive any
funds from such a source, and that
the New York council had positively
decided 10 refuse all moneys obtained
by boxing contests, gambling or any
such plans for raising money. The min
lsters say they were shown letters and
kilograms from the New York Office
making these positive declarations, and
were assured that the local War Work
committee would not receive the money
made by the proposed contest.
When this was reported TO the Min
lsterial Union, a committee OF five was
appointed to- appear before the Board
OF Police Commissioners and present
the protest OF the Ministerial Union
and ask that the boxing bout be pro-
hibted This committee consisted Of
the Rev. Joel S. Gil0llan, the Rev. J. Y.
Irwin, the Rev. Thomas Kerr the Rev.
7. j. Sard, the Rev. 4. w. Wells and
the Rev. c.. w. Dawson, representing
separate action taken by the NJ. T..
ministers earlier in the day. The COM
missiOners granted a hearing at $50
o'clock last night The committee urged
The board 10 prohibit the contest,
claiming that all patriotic argument
had been removed by the refusal OF
the War Work Committee 20 receive
any OF the proceeds. The board then
Informed the committee that a com
munlcation from Henry B. Thompson.
Of the War Work Committee assured
them that the committee had decided to
accept the money from the boxing con-
test
The ministers could not understand
why the War Work Committee had re-
versed its decision. The committee i'm
mediately proceeded TO the Office Of the
War Work Committee and asked II 1t
were true that they had reversed their
decision. They replied that the com
mittee had decided to accept the money
but not to put II into the regular fund,
but to send it separately 90 New York
as a donation from the Harlan plant
and allow the New York committee to
decide what should be done with 10.
When II was suggested by the minis
ters that from the positive statements
they had from the New York commit
tee It was clear that the money would
be returned 10 the Harlan company,
they acknowledged that probably that
would be the disposition Of the money.
The ministers expressed their regrets
that they had not been Informed Of the
attitude Of the committee. and
that they had been placed in an en-
barrassing position thereby.
Last night Joseph B Weaver, superin- |
endent OF the Harlan plant. issued the
Oll0wing statement:
1.-THE committee OF the employees OF |
he Harlan plant have arranged a pro-
,ram for this week for the purpose Of /
aising funds for the United War Work |
This proyram included a
ance and vaudeville entertainment on
ionday evening; the boxing tournament
onight; basketball game on
'riday and on Saturday afternoon an
thletic carnival. including soccer foot
all.
"The funds from an these activities
hould be considerable and are TO be
Onated entirely 10 the United War
York campaign. The entire net re-
eipts. in fact everything but legitimate
expenses, are 10 go to this fund. There
re no prizes to be given at the boxing
arrival.
II did not feel like asking the men
} subscribe to the United Work Cam
align because in the last Liberty Loan
lmpaign they pledged everything they
ad We should raise q considerable
lm by this entertainment, particular
: as the management OF the Grand
pera House IS going TO give us the
ouse free Of charge for this even
ig. As this represents a great loss \
money, that is a considerable con
ibuiion.
1.-THE whole proposition is perfectly ]
can and decent, and as some OF the
oney is to be spent for boxing gloves
I'd sporting paraphernalia for the sol
ers, many Of us feel that there Is no I
ason why some Of the money should !
Jt be made by boxing bouts !
'The matter is being handled by the
hletic committee of the Harlan plant
lth my thorough approval"