Salt Lake Telegram | 1920-01-21 | Page 4 | American Legion, as Unit, Adopts Hands-off Policy in Dempsey Fuss

AMERICAN LEGION AS UNIT ADOPTS OFF HANDS IF POLICY IN DEMPSEY FUSS Turns Deaf Ear to Kearns Kearns' Petition Sentiment of I Soldiers Ex-Soldiers and Sport I Writers Is Much Divided EW YORK TORE Jan 21 Thc The N NEW American legion as a unit will take no part in the Jack Dempsey war record controversy A policy of hands off has been announced from its national headquarters In Tn a message to Jack Kearns the champions champion's manager Franklin Frank Frank- lin un d dOlier Olier national commander sounds a clear note when he lie said It is not a function of the American legion to review acts of the government during the war ar in connection with the classification classification classification classi classi- of men subject to the selective service act or to review revie the claims of ot any individual who rinds finds It necessary to Justify his ex exemption exemption ex- ex emption from military service This answer was waa made to Kearns Kearns' request for a hearing hearin on the slacker charges Kearns has given an ear to the rumbling g from some organizations of former soldiers who express sentiment sentiment sentiment senti senti- ment against giving Dempsey a huge pile of ot money for fighting in the ring when he failed d to fight the bi biggest gest fight tight of ot all In a recent message to William Fox New York bidder for the fight the champions champion's champions champion's cham cham- pion's maJla manager er said call there was a good not be held reas reason n why the fight could In the United States referring it t Is presumed presumed pre pre- to the agitation against ag Demp Demp- sev's sey's war record SENTIMENT DIVIDED Sentiment among the soldiers ex and ana sport writers the latter including many gold sold stripes is ta divided on the issue Inasmuch In Inasmuch In In- as Dempsey did not run away when called i dJ that t he did nr not cl claim ex cx- cx emption o and that he went to the ship shipyards ship yards to w work rk Instead of or donning a 8 boxing boxing boxing box box- ing Instructors Instructor's uniform have havo been re referred referred referred re- re to in many letters as reasons why the champion should not be discriminated discriminated against when so many other athletes athletes athletes ath ath- ath- ath letes who did not even pound rivets are prospering without out any stigma attached to them The latest assault on Dempsey comes from The Home Sector a periodical published by the former Stars and Stripes staff In which an editorial pours urs forth some choice sarcasm on his title of or Americas greatest fighter Americas greatest fighter It reads hero of a a. few weeks In the shipyards hero of or a few minutes' minutes battle with Jess Jus Willard hero of or the fur overcoat and the fat bank account hero of ot the moving moving moving ing pictures at several thousand dollars a week hero of ot a few peaceful and eminently emi profitable years ears In the United States while the greatest worlds world's c championship chain cham am- am was being fought several thousand thousand thou thou- sand zaid miles away