Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-21
LEGION SPURNS
DEMPSEY PLEA
IN DRAFT CASE,
D'Olier Wires Boxers Man.
ager He Can Not white
wash" Military Record.
KEARNs CRIES eFRAMEUP'
BY DICK HARRINGTON,

JACK Dempsey, WorldS neaYy'
weight boxing champion, is not com
ing to Indianapolis to explain his war
Recorder lack Of war record-to the
American legion
But 1t isn't Jacks fault-the American
legion doesn't care to have him come.
In short, the legion, it became known
today, has summarily dismissed Demp-
sey's plea for an investigation of his
military draft status and as Shakespeare
once said, has left him to the bow
vows"
Jack Kearns, manager of Dempsey, in
submitting the boxers draft record to
the legion asked that the champion be
given a hearing.
Franklin D'Olier, commander Of the
legion today forwarded this information
TO DempSey's manager:
1T is not a function of the Ameri-
can legion to review acts of the gov
ernment during the war In connection
with the classification Of men subject
to the selective service act, or to re-
view the claims Of any individual
who finds it necessary to justify his
exemption from military service"
NOT TO BE PARTY
TO CONTROVERSY.
Hence It is declared to be plain to be
seen the American legion as q unit does
not care to become a party to the con-
troversy over Dempsey's military affairs,
which had its inception when several
eastern legion posts adopted resolutions
condemning the pugilist.
Dempsey has maintained, in his effort
to 'vhitewash" the smirch placed on
p1a In
classification by his local draft board in
San Francisco because of a wife and
dependent mother. At first he was placed
In class A Later this classification
was changed in such a way that the
pugilist would have been called into
service inside Of a month had the war
continued. The draft board official, who
reviewed his case, has defended his ac-
ton.
At this time the attack on Dempsey s
war record is particularly obnoxious to
him because his manager Is talking in
half million figures OF a bout with
Georges Carpenter. So strong is becom-
ing the pressure and feeling against the
boxer that promoters fear it will be un,
wise to stage the championship match in
the United States.
FRENCH CONTENDER
WAS WAR HERO.
The fact that Carpenter is Dempsey s
logical opponent is one Of the chief fac
tors IN bringing out sentiment against
the champion, for the Frenchman was
a hero in the war. He wears several
decorations won in the air and in the
field.
Coincident with the charges against
Dempsey comes an echo of scandal I'm
.be heavyweight "a INKS. Jacks manager
asserts that much of the anti-Dempsey
feeling is being created By the manager
OF Bob Martin, a heavyweight, who
served overseas.
Kearns claims insiduius propaganda
is being spread against Dempsey by
Martins manager, who has Interior de-
signs. He charges that Martin, with
his war record, is seeking to "over-
throw" Dempsey and thus place himself
In q position to demand the match with
Carpenter, with it's resultant rolls Of
wealth
CALL A HALT,
KEARNs. WIRES.
Kearns has wire Jimmy Bronson, man
ager of Martin, the following request:
cease spreading propaganda to
boost Bob Martin and to promote
a tight between him and Carpenter
by sending out literature, false and
misleading, in which you are at
tempting to convey the impression
that Jack Dempsey was a draft
dodger and unfit to represent Amer
len In tituiar battles"
This should be interesting to the box
ing enthusiast. In the first place it is
generally agreed that Martin is not in n
class with Dempsey as fighter. 1t
is doubtful, many say. if Martin could
last a round with the champion. But,
be that as it may, Dempsey is ION the
Goals" while Martin Is basking in the
sunshine of a war hero and getting the
plaudits. So Kearns may know what
he's talking about.
Boxing fans have taken the view that
the individual legion posts which con-
demned Dempsey did not investigate his
case before taking action. If Dempsey
was given deferred classification when
he wasn't entitled to the same it is a
Continued on Page Eleven)