Evening star., 1942-09-22
Favoring Of Special
Soldiers Arouses
Public Feeling
Heavyweight Title Bout
Should Be Called OFF,
Noted Critic Soys
BY GRANTLAND RICE,

Noted Critic Says
BY GRANTLAND RICE,
Special Correspondent Of The Star.
I doubt that sport has known q
controversy Of wider ramifcations
than the Louis Conn fight has
brought about.
The main argument doesn't con-
cern the possible or probable win
ner. It concerns the matter of pay
ing out something like $135 900 to
two soldiers In connection with an
Army emergency relief fund.
Those supporting Louis and the
War Department bring up these i'm
portant points:
i. Louis risked his title twice for
Army and Navy relief.
2. Louis has had an amazing rec
ord for sportsmanship. In the
Army, he finds himself heavily in
debt to the income tax depart
ment, Mike Jacobs and Roxbury,
his manager. Why not give him
the chance to get at least partially
out Of debt?
8. He was made certain repre-
sentations from a member Of the
War Department that would cover
the debt matter. Louis told me he
thought this also included his In
come tax.
4. In the rush Of things. the War
Department made the original mis-
take, not Joe Louis.
5. Whatever happens, the Army
emergency relief fund will net close
to 100000 for dependent families.
8. The whole show was started
badly-but why not get all the
money possible and forget the first
mistakes?
Arguments Against Fight.
Against this argument we have
) the following national feeling:
/. Too many fighting men, whose
main business Is the winning Of the
war, have been taken away from
Army and Navy jobs to make relief
money and promote morale.
2. Joe Louis and Billy Conn now
are soldiers in the Army. Why
should they be paid $135 900 for
what was started as 100 per cent
Army Emergency Relief bout?
8. What about Bataan? What
about Wake Island7 What about
the Solomon Islands? What about
the Army now in England, Libya-
the flyers In China? What about
the present and coming casualty
lists?
4. Joe Louis has had some tough
financial breaks. So have millions
of others. What about the others
who have lost lives, arms, legs and
eyes7
5. Are We really at war or not?
8. How can any special soldier be
singled out for consideration above
all others?
Z. Why should the fact that Joe
Louis and Billy Conn owe their man
ayers and promoters $l35, 900 enter
into the present picture of world
at war, In the most vital war in
world history?
Hurried Mistakes Stand Out.
It Is my belief, under all the exist
ing tangles, that the fight should
have been called OF. may be
entirely wrong
Many others, the majority, in COM
plete honesty Of opinion, have felt
otherwise. They have felt that the
earlier and hurried mistakes made
can be handled for the benefit of all
concerned, including the Army
Emergency, which is the main factor
the main idea.
Many Of them believe that the
majority Of the country will support
Joe Louis and Billy Conn in their
stands-especially after the promises
made.
There Is no question that these
mistakes were natural and to be
expected IN such rush affair. But
1t seemed to me that the tight had
picked up too much dynamite to be
carried on.
In the hrst place, It is sure to be
Q War Department che, which
undoubtedly the War Department
can handle. In the second place
this will be the first time In hi,
career, Justly or unjustly, when Joe
Louis will be under fire.
Being under fire Is an old story
for Mike Jacobs. Mike isn't both
ering about this part Of the story
Billy Conn was left almost entirel,
out Of the picture. "a
$4,000 Won't Go to Relief.
Unfortunately. the fight was frs
presented as 100 per cent for tn
relief fund. Then there were Ger
tain debts supposed to be aroun,
$4,000 that had to be handle,
through War Department agree
ments. Later these debts wer
moved up to $l35,o0o. The ba,
park renting will approach $4o,O0(
There will be other expenses to
falling $4,000.
The cost In sight already is clos
10 the $4,000 mark. If the figh
crosses around $500 900 or a 81 900
600, there still will be a big fun
left for Army Relief.
Everyone knows that relief bene
Ats can't be held for nothing. BIZ
there is national psychology ir
volved when expenses reach sue
totals that happen to be some
thing apart from the money goir
to dependent families.
The fight itself will be or shouI
be one of the most interesting ev'
held. 1t should be something wort
seeing. It is merely. or largely,
question of whether this money w
be worth the repercussions that a
sure to follow. These may be mil
But they may be extremely serio
30 far as the War Department, Il
fighters and the promoter are col
cerned.
The gamble isn't light one, {
either side of the argument.
tNorth American Newspaper Allianee)
Sports Notob|es to Aid
Big War Bond RolIy