The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-08-02
does WEIGH GET
HALF YORK PAY?
N. Y. Tennesseans Indignant
: Over Contract Hero Is Al
legged to Have With
Manager"
ASK LEGION TO PROBE
lRY John %. EamiM,

New York, Aug 2,--What kind
o. contracts has George N. Weioh,
nsssee. with serot. Alvin c. York.
Tennessee's famous hero OF the
world war2
ON arrival In New York found this
70 be principal topic OF conversation
Wherever Tennesseans congregate.
some say signed agreement eS.
lsts for a tlfty.ffty split OF all
money taken In by York from any
ot MS activities. One Of the con.
tracts ls reported as running fer
nineteen years.
As get the facts here, II is a reg
ular old Baltimore prixehghter's form
OF contract by which the manager, for
merely signing up his man, gets half
OF the money. At any rate II seems to
be known that Yorfs fame is being
commeroialiEed by alleged friends.
The most remarkable feature OF the
versally discussed among Tennesseans
as one o. the scandals of the day while
very little. n anything, seems to he
known about II In Tennessee
Several indignation Meetings.
on investigation, And that the
rooms OF the Tennessee society here
have been son several occasions literally
packed with indignant members dis-
cussing the mysterious contracts and
considering ways and means OF saving
the unsophisticated soldier from the
clutches OF those who are eapitaiiEing
his fame.
why does welch refuse to answer
queries put TO him by the Tennessee
Society OF Now York as 20 this contract
or contracts between himself and York
when he is afforded an opportunity TO
clear himself and Gov, Roberts, his
close personal and political friend, OF
the odium attaching TO the matter,
These and similar questions are agl-
tatinR the minds OF members OF the
Tennessee Society OF New York, which
considers York It's especial protege,
sons OF the old Volunteer state that
York was first introduced 10 the coun-
try as the hero OF the world war fol-
lowing his return from France.
am surprised 70 ind that every
body here OF Tennessee birth seems TO
know about this scandal, which has
been kept surprisingly quiet In Ten
neRsee.
Or. King Writes Welch.
Or. James ]. King, prominent New
York physician, who claims Columbln'
Maury county, as his home, ms presi- |
dent OF the Tennessee Society OF New
York wrote Welch, under date OF Jan.
20 last, making pertinent Inquiry oI
the railroad commissioner concerning
his and Gov. Roberts connection with |
York, and has never received repy, |
though II was obviously n letter when
II was TO Welchs interest 70. answer
and unequivocally u ne hnu
the governor had nothing to conceal
Tho letter from Dr. King TO MI
Apondent is In possession or n pho'o-
graphic copy, reads ms follows
"'rhe Tennesree Society OF New York
"Onice Of the President
"New York. Jan 20. 1890,
MIR, George n. welch, state Capitol
Mssayls,Gi. psnr si,.I Lean ann ,aslns sse liberty q
writing YOU direct heeauae hope
thereby u Fet first-hgnd Information
with reference 20 our mutuai TREND
gergt Alvin York
"You are no doubt aware that the.e
New York for over four months that
several financial contracts existed be
tween YOU and Alvin York, ana II "
needless to say tho comment ~ UNA"
yorahle on account OF your personal re-
Intionahip with the governor. ana
want 10 see YOU and the governor re-
rclve Justice, and would therefore suS-
peat that you send our society pho-
togrnph Of each and every contrI'
made between Mr. Welch ana serE,.
York These photographs In our hahus
would be the strongest arguments III
The world,
"very truly yours,
tsigned) JAS. J. KING NJ r..
No, only has welch been criticised
mere. hut Gov Roberts name has besn
into all the discussions Isna sna
s,,anIcion toward the governor is aug
% the fact that he took sergt' VOTE
luder hlH wing when the hero renonen
rennesaee made him colonel on n,s
,taff and put him IN touch with "e'ch'
,ne of his closest friends.
There was no Rnlmosity townris rU ,nn
,rta when the governor and his stan
,ame 10 New York on Aprll w rv,p,
'or the launching Of the battleshlp Ien
teHser ON the contrary, the
ice society showered the governor hnu
,is stan with attentions on mn ale.
ion. placing automobiles al thelI ~,
,osal and extending many courteSes
o the party
Wouldn't Entertain Roberts
Thu rituntion had 80 changed a htue
,,nrs than n wear later that whom one
n Gov. Roberts porEonnl frlehnh 49,
that preparations be mage
o receive the governor when tne W,
lcshln wnp commisaloned there was ~
,nnbatIr refusal on the part OF the
'ennesseanH 10 entertain or have any
ttng further 10 do with the TennesH's
xceutlve. lie therefore dih nor ht,,.ad
'hls Interesting bit Of news was p,o.s.
m IN discussion with mempefH !" 10
'cnneagee society today. VINO are Wy
over the whole diHErncetul NJ
,lr connected with Ynrks eNploltation
90 Leenly do the Tennessee aoeislt
,omberp feel about the matter ,'
rruripe In Expressed that the ,A",
az r T'evion has not gone into ", ~,
.,nr nrsaiasnt OF the society assured
40 TODAY that he and his associht,a
70 going TO the bottom ot the whuI'
fTalr. lie has written 10 the ro,li,n" ,lu' %
or of the Nashville post asking mn w.
ppoint q representative eoli' ~ cir.
,ake public Investigation oi the ~
,,mstnnces and try TO bring ~" n'es
srinus rontrarta into the liRht aho "
ertaIn how much revenue hRs -,
.ail1cd from each and what DIVISION
as been made ot same
Want Contract Cancelled
TenncaseanH In New York are lnSist
40 that the contracts between ta
nd his ulf-npponted manaEete
,nee,ed and ARE asking the support o'
40 state In this movement 4, ,,.,t.
what inducements we're orfFeu ~"
.nr,,re his siRuature 10 the agree
'ent which sacrificed his lnirresssS
lad the hero Of the Argonnf dFhlt,,1
, ~ ro,mrnerciniiSc his fame. he could
90 dnna so on 100 per cent bhslt.
70 stcndfaatlv refused all offorh OF thN
ind. Including two from leAnihk sn
on picture concclns either OF Mn,n
cb prominent members ot the Ten
.ssee society here say that COY hnn
~ should tell all he knows ~ ths
nuner in which York was inNe'ki'"
TO these contracts.
"AII we want" said President
King, of the Tenneases toelsy. u"
dav "ia 10 see that York psts .
aauars deal 4, has not been our
desire 20 take the Initiative In th's
matter. but we feel that u 10 Que
the state 20 have this whole matter
Gr King stated that his nrHt infor-
alton of the existence ~ these con-
a,,s was from visits 20 New York .hyl
me of che managers nf YORK. VINO tst
"A motion picture concerns a. 70 NhA'
,ey would pay for rights.
A., n IueDCNTnO uEpE