The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-05
TIMES CHANGE
SINCE MAHER
ENTERED RING
Or Maybe It Is the Boys. But
Jack Recalls Days When
They Didn't Want Fortune.
BY JACK DEMPSEY.

UIMES have changed since
was battling along for .
crack at the championship.
Or, maybe, it's better to say
that the boys have changed.
| Nowadays those fellows who
think they can belt me to sleep
want a big flock Of dollars for
making the effort. When | was
trying to get a smash at Jess
Willard, / twice volunteered 10
fight him without a dollar for
my services. I
The first time I made that offer,
mind you, was early in 1918, when
wasn't very well known and when
the betting perhaps would have
| been 6 to / against me. Jack kearns
and / seemed almost alone In our
idea that l could whip the giant
| Kansan.
Yet we thought we'll enough Of my
chances to agree to fight Willard
without getting a thin dime for the
effort. We were willing to gamble
everything on the then slim-seeming
chance of my winning the title.
Had the match gone through and
I had lost, all I'd have gotten out OF
II would have been a beating-and
perhaps would have been discarded
for ali time as a fistic performer.
But the challengers just now are
a little different than I was-maybe
a bit shrewder in money matters. Or
maybe, as some of my friends In.
sist, these fellows won't fight me
unless they get lots of money. be-
cause they feel that all they'll get 10
the losers end.
Want Real Money.
Anyway. they want the money
real money.
Ny first offer to battle Willard
was In 1918 in behalf OF the Saliva.
ton Army war fund. The bout was
to be put on In Chicago. The saliva
ton Army people told me they were
going to give Willard $4,000 and
asked me when I wanted for my
services.
mot a cent" I told them. And
II wasn't broke. I'd pay you
money for the chance you are Civ.
Ing me to get a crack At him."
After $4,000 worth Of tickets had
been sold. the civic officials in Chi
cago decided that the fight couldn't
90 on. Some State law barred fis.
for charity or not.
fight me In Philadelphia and I told
him that he could have all the
money that would be paid for the
fighters end. But Willard gave
me the christening ear.
Got In Touch With Richard.
Along in December Of 1918 Kearns
got In touch with Richard and
tried to coax Tex into matching
me with Willard. But Richard first
of all figured that the match
wouldn't draw.
Jacks too small" said Richard.
loser"
IF It looks as II the fight won't
go over big. you can have Jack for
nothing" Kearns told him. Shoot
out a story that you're thinking of
matching them up. II the public
doesn't get steamed up about 1t,
Ill sign articles so that you can
have Dempsey without a cent Of
guarantee. All you'll have to do
is pay Willard"
Richard thought It overland then
a story of a possible fight between
Willard and mystelf broke" 1t
was, I understand "feeler." Ap.
parently It did It's work. The pub.
lie seemed to fancy the idea Of a
battle, and 1t conceded me right at
the outset a better chance against
Willard then Richard thought I had.
Richard Agrees to SCI, 500.
Afterward Richard, having felt
the public's pulse, felt confident
the battle would draw and agreed
to give me $27,500 for my end
Of what earlier promised to be
a million dollar fight"
But II Richard had insisted he
could have gotten me into that
Toledo ring without the payment
of a dollar. For I felt that the
only thing that was keeping me
from being champion was the
chance to try conclusions with
the title.holder.
The boys who are among my out
standing opponents don't seem to
feel the same way about II. They
all figure they can beat me Into
an undertaking establishment, and
get the title and all the golden
opportunities that go with 1t. But
just the same they won't gamble.
They want cash--in the hand.
Which In fair enough.
But I wonder how many Of these
birds who are sure-oh, very sure
they can beat me would accept II
I agreed to fight them on the
winner.take-all basis.