The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-23
Boxers Rushing To Defend JaCkDernDSey Augie Rather Mike ODowd and Others Who Saw Active Service, Say Champion Should Not Be Made
 Victim of Stacker Charge

Any boxers who served throughout the war in the trenches of France have rushed to the aid Of Jack Demp sey, in the controversy now raging over the staus Of Dempsey during the war.
 Every professional boxer who went to France has offered a testimonial tD Dempsey and, further, has protesr- ed that the action of several Ameri- facts. Each of these boxers is mem her of the Legion.
 Mike O'Dowd, the middleweight champion, has issued a strong state naent in support of the heavyweight champion. O'Dowd declares that as a member of the Legion, with three service stripes on his arm, he cannot 1n justice to himself or to the Legion agree with the boycott of Dempsey
 O'Dowd says that he is well &C., quainted with Dempsey, knows just what Dempsey did during the las@ three years and is perfectly satisfied that Dempsey did more than his duty.
 Were 1t not for the fact that Dempsey is in the Iimelfght and ia position to take down 8 small for tune by his appearances in the ring
 
 Legion, is the stand taken by O'Dowd- Further, O'Dowd insists that there arc thousands upon thousands who not only lodged their war duty but obstructed the war movements of the country, and all these are ignored by the Legion.
 There is not justice in the stand of some Legion members declares O'Dowd in a recent interview, Box ing worked desperately to help the country when help was needed. There was not a boxer who did not do his duty Some of us went 10 she firing line and others kept up the good work in America I personally know that Dempsey gave his time and money to aid every movement he possibly could Maybe he did not wear the uniform, but know a lot who did dress in khaki who did noth- ing but harm the nafion-
 dress in khaki who did nothing but harm the nation
 q shall most certainly work to clear the name of Dempsey He $ 4SGanaeless, and if given 9. fair trial by the Legion he will clear himself of this unfair stigma without much trouble. To my way of thinking there are many young men who spent their time in training schools who are now members of the Legion They have a. false notion of what the member ship in that body means They are the ones who, through envy, are try ing to be1itt1e big man. Dempsey can have my support would rather resign from the Legion than be a member of a body that does not even offer a fair trial to a man charged a "a 7olan ,J against Dempsey"
 ATgie Rather, who won the middle weight championship at the K1ng's tourney and who like O'Dowd, spent several months in France, is another who instst5 that Dempsey Is being roughly treated by persons who knoz mot what they are doing Rather tn- zist5 that Dempsey did not neglect am opportunity to help in the war and really did more than hundreds od those who wore uniforms and made the trip aEIuss the ocean!
 @I know what the boxing fratern4ty did during file war;" says Rather %ana as a boxer am extremaeaE proud of that record There was no: a prominent boxer in the country sTspttog possibly Jess willard, waas dY3 not put his shoulder behind the nafion and fight as hard as he could livery training camp was manned b. q boxer skilled i'm his profession Every regiment had a boxer O. ability as q member Every division had a team of boxers who had ,l,a, da their way in t11B ring
 AsIn attempting to discreait De4nD eey the American Legion Is trying tl discredit all boxers and for this I can, mot remain quiet have made an 1n, Vestigation of Dempsey and his wa. record It stands out ais well as tha of any citizen in like capacity Tn Legion is making a, sad mistake"