New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-03
FRIENDLY CONTESTS NOW.
ATHLETES SMOKE THE PIPE OF PEACE.
CONGRATULATIONS THAT THE OLD AssoIA.
uoN AND THE UNION HAVE MERGED FOR


Athletes and those interested in athletics wore
general air of ela.ion yesterday over the ending Of
the war between the Amateur Athletic Union and the
National Association of Amateur Athletes of America,
nv their consolidation Every one believes that 1t
meant a brighter era for American athletics and the
crackn runners and Jumpers rejolced that they
vou,d no longer be barred from meeting rivals with
whom they have been anxious TO measure their Skill
What struck nearly every as remarkable was fhc
short time required for the settlement of the trouble
The fight began in 1887 with the organization Of the
upion and became zen times more bitter, when tho
union, on August %, 1888, passed its welEknown
Travers Island resolution. barring from games held
under its rules any athlete who should compete under
rules not approved by II. The association led by the
Manhattan Athletic Club, although inferior In num-
bers TO IT'S rival made strong fight Still It's oicers
recognized that such contest resulted in no good 20
athletics generally, and made overturcs for compro-
mise The union, however, refused TO recognize the
existence of its rival and of course no progress 90
ward harmony was possible go long as It took this
stand Sell both sides were convinced that peace was
better .han war; and IL only remained for some one
TO take the initiative. To A. g. Mlls
belongs the credit OF doing this. Al
meeting OF the Board Of Governors OF the New-fofK
Athletic Club of which he is member he persuaded
the Board to pass resolution favorng the recognition
of the association by the union. This marked the
DAYS ago. the union appointed a committee TO confer
with the association in regard to an amagamaton
OF the two bodies, the knowing ones saw that peace
was near at hand. The time ripe for harmony,
and Il was only question Of Details ana thls ques
ton was easily settled. The committee of the A. A. o.
met committee from the N. A. a. a. A., and terms
were agreed upon. At its meeting on Thursday the
union rescnded the Travers Island resolution elected
the association clubs to membership, and agreed to
propose an amendment its constitution at its annual
meeting changing its name 10 the " National Amateur
Athletic Union" The association at Its meeting heid
the same night, formally dsbandcdI and peace and
goodwill re1gned once more
When Walton Storm, formerly president OK the
n A. A. A. A., and of the prime movers in the
condemnation was seen at his Office, in the Equitable
building Yesterday, his whole demeanor showed his
satisfaction at the Of his efforts to END the war
Mr. Storm said. enthusiastically:
a. believe that tho result will be the putting of
athletics in position that its most sanguine friends
never dreamed Of two years ago. The fight was
not an unmxed evil by any means, for 1t caused tho
formation of new clubs and aroused public interest IN
athletics 10 such an extent would have been I'M
possible under other circumstances. Any old-tme
athlete VIII tel you that few years ago the athleac
clubs were almost entirely in and around New-1o
CITY, while now they are TO be found IN all parts
of the country. ,.,
CAS- the result Of the amalgamation, an athletic
will govern athletics in this country as FUZZY ana
absolutely as the amateur athletic association OF Eng
land governs athletics there. The union mas sp-
nointed a spcciaI committee on organization, which
viii go to work and not stop until it gets every
athletic body In the country to join the union a
man viii be formulated this fall which VIII PROBABLY
he so acceptable to the intercollegiate AtMeuc Asso-
citation that 1t will become member OF the union.
per- snaiy. ] have great hopes that the Western
Amateur Athletic Association will follow the example
of the y A. A. A. A., and enter the union Withih
short time and that the other associations VIII follow
In regard contests on the track and heid 1here
can be no question that the various games VIII pc
of much greater interest to the pubic because inc
hest men In the country have not hitherto been able 10
meet and now they will have a chance 10 DO so, and
many dsDufed questions of superiority VIII be quickly
setticd Again. the number of entries 10 the games
VII be largely increased. For instance short time
AGO A club belonging the union and another belong
ing 10 the association held games on the same day.
one olub had 800 entries the other 200. Now
only one club had given games on that day and any
athlete coui have entered. there would have been
zoo contestants. Next summer / should not be
Sr1rnrsed If ono Of the prominent athletic clubs had
600 or ZOO entries to its sports, while even the
smaller clubs had 300 or 400. If that is the case
and II that result is attained in consequence OF this
6aSt having stirred up the athletic feeling in and
near This city then tho will without any question
prove 10 have been the making of American athletics