Salt Lake Tribune | 1919-05-27 | Page 12 | Ohio Soldiers of A. E. F. Object to Holding of Fight

OHIO SOLDIERS OF A. E. F. OBJECT TO HOLDING OF FIGHT By PAUL WILLIAMS. (Chicago Tribune Cable, Copyright.) COBLENZ, May 26. A petition protesting pro-testing against the heavyweight championship cham-pionship fight scheduled for July 4 is in circulation twnong the men of the American Amer-ican army of occupation. It originated in the Eighteenth infantry. First division, which is mostly composed of fighters. The objections made are not presented against the holding of a prize fight, but against the men who are to perforin. They doubt whether the stuff that flows in the veins ot" Wlllard and Derapsey is of as rich a color as the regimental flag warrants "not to run." They chaige that Willard refused to help the Red Cross and that Dempsey is a draft evader. This unexpected attitude among the men holding the American line in Germany Ger-many may be an indication of an approaching ap-proaching reform in professional athletics. The men over here have learned what sportsmanship is, and demand it in the future. Their petition has been distributed among all "Ameroc" organizations, wi th the request that only Ohioans sign it. The Buckeyes feel the matter to be their private pri-vate concern, and doon't want outside assistance. as-sistance. As citizens of Ohio, they will forward their protest to Governor Cox. The petition reads in part as follows: "We gave all we had for the honor of our home. We hear with pain that Willard Wil-lard and Dempsey are -to battle in our state for the heavyweight championship. "We received the first news in astonishment astonish-ment that those at home so far forgot the men over here as to allow such a contest. con-test. If held, this contest, we believe, will undoo all the good work we have done. We no longer feel proud to be Ohioans. "The published records of these men and their conduct during the war is not such as we praise. Willard was reported to have refused help even to the slightest extent in donating his services to the Red Cross benefit. Although the benefit was announced as being for the men over here, j Willard demanded a large share of the receipts, re-ceipts, and when refused he left the place. Dempsey is reported in the United States as being a draft dodger and a slacker. There is nothing in his record to make us proud to have him fight in Ohio. "The promoter of the fight insulted men of the army by his offer of purses for two fights between members of the A. E. F. in the same ring. "We are proud of our state. We wish to remain proud of it. We will be unable to do so if the fight takes place." The men feel about the fight like the men of the Thirty-third division felt about the reelection of Mayor Thompson of Chicago.