Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-15
DEMPSEY ASKS
LEGION TO BE
FAIR IN CASE
Champ, Through Manager
Wires Officials Here to Re-
quest Thorough Probe.
DENIES HE WAS STACKER
officers Lack Power to Dictate
to Posts, but May Give
Jack Audience.

Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack
Dempsey, through his manager, JACK
Kearns, today kindly asked, through
message, that the national officials OF
the American legion call halt on the
action taken by a number of legion posts
condemning the pugilist as a slckker,
Until the boxers explanation is heard.
Kearns says the action probably has
4 been taken without full knowledge OF
the facts in Dempsey's case, and. al
though the message sent by Kearns to
the headquarters of the legion in this
city did not state that the boxer desired
to come here for hearing before the
legion executive board it is presumed
that this request is contained in 8 letter
matted in Los Angeles late Wednesday.
Frank D'Olier, national commandant
of the American Legion, is out of the
city at present and what action the ma
tional officers intend taking in the mat
ter could not be given out officially at the
Indianapolis headquarters today. How
ever it is known that the commanding
post has no control over action taken
by the minor posts in matters of this
kind other than to suggest that thorough
Investigations be made before adopting
resolutions of such serious nature
NO OBJECTION
TO AUDIENCE HERE.
II Dempsey cares TO come to Indian
apolis the legion officials won't object
and he probably will be granted au-
dence and the publicity he would re
ceive thereby would in a measure be
equally as important as statement com
ing from the legion executives, depend
ing, OF course, upon his ability to satisfy
the American public that he was not a
Stacker during the war. The message
received in this city today from Man
ager Jack Kearns follows:
Frank D'OIier, National Com
mander American Legion, Indtanapo-
lis-Certain legion posts have adopt
ed resolutions cOndemning Jack
Dempsey as war Stacker. which
ton probably has been taken with
out full knowledge of facts. VIII
you be kind enough to call halt
such action by other posts until such
time as my letter of today reaches
you and which / believe will put a
different light on matters" Kindest
personal regards. JACK KEARNS,
Manager of Jack Dempsey.
number of branch legion posts
throughout the country have adopted res
olutions condemning Dempsey for his
failure to shoulder a gun during the
war but since these resolutions have been
sent broadcast the boxer has explained
that he answered the draft call in the
usual way and was not called into sery-
ice First he was placed in Class "A
later in IA and then permanently IN
2-B. He named as dependents, accord
ing to his manager. his wife, mother
sister and an invalid brother.
SOME AGITATION
BELIEVED INSINCERE.
In connection with the action agains
Dempsey and probably a fact unknown
generally, part of the agitation 9gains
the boxing champion is being pressed by
managers of other pugilists. who desire
to see the Salt Lake City man condemned
IN order that they can obtain bette
weight ranks. Therefore, il would b.
wise for legion posts TO investigate thor
oughly before taking official action IL
the case.
# the boxer fails to produce conylncin:
evidence that he was honest in filling on
his draft QUESTIONABLE, then he shoulf
be marked off American sport records anC
his draft board censured Tor negligence
but If be has the dependents his man
sger named In his statement yesterday
then he should be given credit ant
cleared of all charges Of Stacking.
FAIR PLAY THE
ONLY POLICY.
Whist the result will be before this
controversy ends is Impossible to fore
east Every American sportsman be
leves in fair play. Every American sol
dier4And every member of the American
legion should believe In fair play. Demp-
sew should he beard before action Is
taken that Will blot his record for al
time and eventually drive him out Of
the country an outcast.
There is another reason. especially, fo
the former soldiers to avoid hasty actor
in asking their respective communtie'
TO lock he doors against the Dempsey
Carpenter fight. Georges Carpenter, th'
French champion of Europe, is thu
doughboys' idea of d real fighter. Hardl!
had the gray hordes of Germany turned
a step toward Belgium when Carpentie
enlisted III the Aviation corps. He can
celed contracts worth thousands of dol
lars; he was twice decorated for gal
lantry in action. The war cost him heav
ally. All his money was invested in min
Nng property around Lens and when tn,
.Nermans left he had nothing but a hole II
tnN ground. 1t will take an immens
sDkn Of money TO restore his propert!
AND his only assets are his fists
If Americans force the fight out o
america because Dempsey is considered
a. Slacker, it viii react on Carpenter
1nne blows that are being directed a
nhpsey may hit the Frenchman will
tbe same force. financially.