The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-11
By TEX RICHARD

tC0pyfight, 19s4, in united States and Great Britain. Cuba Japan and South America by North American Newspaper Alliance for The Age e-Herad. All rights reserved.)
 By TEX RICHARD
 When the war was over and the soldiers hadsreturned, felt that re- lief from the high tension of those ship fight. In 1919, had about made up my mind to get into the promotion of boxing as a real business. I loved the game. In fact, I had played it as a game, purely and simply, up to that time.
 It was then that I started on the trail of a fight between Jess Willard pion had come up so rapidly that fight fans were eager for him to have a crack at something big. There was no other apparent successor to the Will lard crown. Having followed the news- papers closely, I could feel what the public wanted. At least, I thought I could.
 Had Not Forgotten Game
 During the war days, however, had not forgotten the fight game en- tirely. The public had not, either. The greatest amusement attractions in the army were the boxing matches I feel sure that the war did more to give tuo QuUiiC u CieaTeE viewpoint on the game than any one factor. Army officers were quick to see the ad- vantages of boxing as a builder up of men.
 In one infantry regiment with which I was pretty we'll acquainted, the com manding officer issued an order that every enlisted man in his outfit must His idea was that the mere physical contact would rid the men of any timidity and make them willing to face anybody on an even footing.
 All Eyes On Carpenter This commanding officer laid par ticular emphasis upon the weakest and most timid men being compelled to l which each squad of eight men had to pair off and have 15 minutes of box ing as part of the setting up ex- ercises. They were also ordered to wade in and slam.
 In a short while the more timid sol diers had different look in their eyes Having socked a man in the jaw their outlook on life was entirely different.
 I am not going to get into any argu- ment by mentioning the name or num- Der of this regiment, but the records show that 1t came out of France with the reputation of being one of the gamest and hardest hitting outfits in the Wnole A. E. +.
 Tried To Help | We fellows who could not get in the army did all we could to help the boxing spirit, which meant the fight ing spirit, and we are proud of it.
 Despite the intense anxiety of the war, men in and out of the army talked about Georges Carpenter as a boxer Everybody wanted to see him. We tried and tried to get the French gov ernment to let him come over and fight to raise funds for the Red Cross and other similar organizations. I felt it in my bones that Carpenter was bound to be the great drawing card of the boxing generation. Even so, the French government would not give Car pentier leave of absence. That added to the eagerness of Americans to see him. I was biding my time with the Frenchman.
 In the meantime, set out to get Willard and Dempsey. I had little diff ficulty in getting Willard. I have found that the best way to cinch a | fight is to sign up the fighters first and then make the match afterward. Champion Guaranteed $10O.OOO | I located Jess Willard on the foad and made an engagement to meet hin in Chicago.
 | There was no particular match talked about at the moment. Several chal lenges had been thrown at Willard /, but there was no big money in sight He knew, of course, that I had Demp sey in mind.
 "Jess," I said to him, "are you willing to box any man in the world if tht purse is big enough?'
 Sure" he said. Whats the idea 9
 Well, here 1t is: I'll guarantee yot $100,000 if you will sign an agreement to box anybody that name on July A.
 We talked this over at length Finally, he agreed to sign.
 In the meantime, there was mucl talk of other matches for Willard, al sorts of offers being made. As in tn, Jeffries-Johnso fight, though, I wal secure. I had the champion signed III to fight for me. The fight and tn, place could be decided later.
 Sorry For Dempsey | I then went back to. New York ant got in touch with Jack Dempsey ant | Jack Kearns, his manager first me Dempsey in hotel room. Honestly I felt sorry for him. In his street clothes he looked so small-almost like