The Washington herald., 1921-07-01

quence are roofing savagely for
Carpenter. whose war record rs
good, to knock him out.
Public Opinion Powerful.
What Of it7 you ask. Perhaps
nothing. Perhaps much. The scof-
fers say that that will not soften
the blows that will be rained upon
lCarpentier's slender frame. Maybe
the scoffers are right. Maybe. again,
they are all wrong, Absolutely
wrong
II lie on the cards of record that
no man has as yet successfully pre-
vailed against the weight Of public
opinion. In other words, no man
in public life succeeds for long un-
less the public is for him.
Jack Johnson is an example. Pub
lie opinion was unfavorable to Jack
johnson. 1t did not prevent him
from whipping Jeffries in the ring at
Reno, but II did make him an exile
and bring him finally to book in the
penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth.
II is true that johnson was proven
guilty of a certain crime. Can II be
believed by any one conversant with
the pugiIistic world that other fight
ers have. not been guilty of the same
offense without having been prose-
cuted? Hardly. II public opinion
had not decreed thumbs down on
Johnson. the chances are that his
offense would never have been noted.
But public opinion was against him.
and 1t crushed him to earth.
Jeffries' Nerves DemeraIi.ed.
Public opinion operated In d uif-
ferent way against Jeffries. The
public was for Jeffries. Practically
all the white people in the United
States were roofing for him to beat
the big black. 1t was too much for
the white man. He felt the weight
of the trust reposed in him so heav-
lily that his nerves went all to smash.
and he entered the ring a helpless
shell Of a man. strong and rugged
| enough in appearance, but helpless
because the brain that was to direct
the great muscles was paralyzed
from worry and unable to function.
Without the direction of that brain.
of what avail were the mighty
muscles?
Dempsey. then, is not a thick
skinned man. His hide is not that
of rhinoceros. He feels keenly the
criticism that has been aimed at him.
Meeting Dempsey for the first time,
the average person, no matter how
much prejudiced he may be against
him. is aware of rush OF sympathy
for the big fellow.
lie is Joyish. modest and likeable
iae <rt of maa wko values friends
ana puts much s:refs "a the lood
opinion of his public. 1t is knowu
! that he deeply regrets not having
| gone to war when the going was
scod. He has told close friends that
hs wanted to go; that he wanted to
JoE the marines: that advisers
talkeo him out of ii. and that he has
since -calized that by not getting
into un:form he committed a blum
| der that &c can never undo.
Possible Result ProbIematical.
v, has been worried and hurt by
the 'ritiCism directed against him.
When he goes into the ring in Jer-
sey City he will face a huge crowd
of his countrymen. many of whom
VIII be roofing for the Frenchman.
He will be man fighting in his
country for the retention of the
heavyweight crown in America and
without the undivided support of the
spectators. What effect will II have
on him? Perhaps none. Perhaps y
great deal. What effect has II al
ready had on him, Again perhaps
none. And again probably a good
deal
1t has been noted by thoss ac-
quainted with him that Jack is
deeply worried about something.
Some of his intimates believe that
the matter preying on his mind is his
war record. Whether he was NOR
ally as guiltless of slackerIsm as he
had been demonstrated to be legally
, clear in the matter. the fact remains
that public opinion is against him:
that public opinion is a thing that
matters a great deal to him, and that
things that matter. preying on the
mind of an athlete, have direct
paralyzing effect on the mighty
muscles that are no more than sod
den helples clay when the directing
mind is not at ease.
Carpenter is ready and calm. Hs
thinks he can win. There are few
Americans who share his hope of
victory, and yet there are many who
hone that hiS bona iS laDitir,oata