The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-04-24
ONLY FAIR To SHOW THAT WILLARD
did HIS BIT" RAISING F UND5 and
THAT CRITICISM HAS BEEN UNJUST
Eas Purchased Sa1,cooot Liberty Bonds,
And Contributed 70 AZ soioefs
BY Y. Treonor


Stories originating In Chicago charE-
tnS less Willard with having failed TO
40 his bit during the war and gcncraiIf
criticisins the big champion tor has lack
OF patriotism have been founG 10 D.
without foundation. NltaouI ,ne =. S rc,,-
blance of truth. these yarns were clrCu-
lated with one Object in view. namely.
to injure Willard in the mind o. tHs
public and thus spoil the interest," IN nt 1ir
coming fight with Jack Dempsey. 1c,lE
ieaIousy Of Tex Richard and his pro-
missed success was the motive.
Willard was accused Of rernSlns "
box for war funds everywhere. bec an - -
he declined to come all the way IRON
Fort Worth Texas. to View 1orS 70 apI
pear at a war fund drive ut Manson
Square Garden he was roasted 10 q i IL H. :,
Al this time Jess was Interested N Il
war flpd show Of his own right in tori
worth. which. incidentally; Melted az
much If not more than the ing snow a.
the Garden. The following letter JUST
rreceiTcd is sufficient testimony TO- the
truth OF his assertion. 1t comes from
4. 81. Kciskcr. who promoted the exhlo-
1tion. and is as follows:
NJ attention has been called to
several newspaper stories which
tended TO cricicise Jess Willard for
var In Justice to willard l will
say that he boxed an exhibition WIN
walter Monaghan at Fort Hortn
and that the entire receipts less
over to the United War Workers
Campaign Fund. willard positively
refused to take even expense money.
Several thousand dollars were turn.
ed over to the fund as result OF
the exhibition With best wishes
beg to remain
Yours very truly.
4. d. KElShER-
Fort Worth. Texas.
It is only in the spirit or Iair pay
that we print this and the Ioliowlng
data. which shows that II anybody did
his bit in ra:s. money to help carry
the war 70 a $, esstul conclusion the
big pugilist certl Is did For instance
81 Camp Johnson at Jacksonville. Fla.
trainin.. camp at Plattsburg. \: 1o
g. Ee appeared AT the Great l.axss
Naval Station. refereed sewers. 1919 :,ir,
nor of the tournament. He purchased
and donated the belt ss .,
l. He boxed for IN athlet!c 1uno az
5. Hc boxed for the War CommunltG
Service Fund AZ Fort Worth. Tor WHICH
the receipts were $500.
6. 20 onered to engage In bout and
TO defend his title and give al proceeds
70 the American Red Cross. The proper
arrangements, however, eou!d nor os
made for the management OF inc Dual
by the Bed SroCs- y
He iournryed from Lawrence. Kan
TO Chicago To box lack Dempsey lot tn<
benefit OF the Salvation -Nrny. out tnt
authorities of Chicago would not alio"
the bout TO take place.
5. He purchased $4,000 worth or LID
erty bonds ,,- .. ,,r .be
8 He contributed literally to all inc
Red Cross and relief funds.
Space is given % tho Foregoing no'
through any desire to boost Willard. ou'
10 change whatever folsc Impression tnt
nubIic may have OF n champion whose
clean mode of living has made MIN more
a credit to puStllsm than any man "nC
ever held the titi".
There is TO news to give out about
the fight" said Tex Richard last n'sn'
"althoush tho t:Ute is drawing n"al
when I'll have TO get busy with thihgS
where will III" fight b. held
don, known any moro ahou' that thar
Vou do now" tex leaned worry hcaril!
on mis- cane his eyes strained on IN,
floor and fnr. the minute he was los
in thought. ,. 10 w.
st,rucd lis that the engineer VINO super
intended the building or the arena 1ol
Tho Icffries and Johnson fight VIII ~
here shortly 10 20 over the plans Tor tn'
ncxt arena l have in mind. He won
actually build it. I'll engage n contrac
TOR in what",cr place I decide TO hole
Il, LNt hrtf