The sun., 1890-07-03
Az 1MpRACr1cApLE SCHEME
The Projected Alliance Between the TurneI
Bnnd nnd Amateur Athletie Walton.

weeks ago the question OF an afflliation with
the Amateur Athletic Union came before the
meeting, and the matter was referred to q
committee, the Chairman OF which was Mr..
Julius Harder, who represents the New YORK
Turn Vereln on the A. A. U. Board OF Manage
mont. This committee prepared a report, and
after some discussion the Convention passed
the following resolution;
We strongly recommend an alliance be-
tween the Nord Amerikanische Turner Bund
and the Amateur Athletic Union, Rs this would
denote the opening OF a new field for the popu-
larlzstlon OF our method OF rational physical
DEVELOPMENT"
The A. A. U. was invited to send repre-
sentative to take place upon the Athletic
Committee. and the Executive Committee was
given power TO carry out the wishes OF the
Convention.
The matter created quite little interest at
the time. and inasmuch as Mr.. A. @. Mills, who
has In hand tho reorganization OF the Amnteur
Athletic Union, was largely instrumental in
having the resolution adopted by the dele
gates, an impression got abroad that an i'm
rortant step had been taken. and while there
was general ignorance as 10 the beneficial
results, there was vague feeling OF satisfac-
ton at the passage OF the resolution.
While the intention OF the Turner's 10 most
INTACT. chimerical scheme. Its success can
only be attained by the absorption OF the A. A.
q. and the degeneration OF ompetitive athletic
sport In this country. What the object Of the
Turner Buni is in the adoption OF the foreg going
resolution Is told by Mr. Harder in The folIow-
The idea is to spread our system OF phys.
ical development You will notice the word
explains everything Our great object Is to
educate every portion OF the body 10y discreet
eNerclse and thus produce %, strong , healthy
mode OF athletics that makes an athlete "a epe-
caist, expert Ia only one branch, developing
Take your long distance champion runner; he
can run three miles in less than fifteen min
BS ts {. o npSbnf Ss H R wnnS
valuable prizes Just now. In year or two his
time will come; he will have run him
sS q1s anf lie RnFss 0m Gocs RS
his srorhi,es Lrti,'s and e.. great name Eus
eaf s r6Ss as
beneficial. We try to make Iall-around ath-
the Turn verelpS Of the country haze syn
onymous set OF athletic exercises which tho
members must master. This includes almost
We, Of course, encourage skill orpEorcioDoy.
aud have regular competitions which partake
although more varied. We award champion
ships. the manner OF scoring being Tor exam
pe ee any ps iS ho nos R
inches. aud on. this principle through tho list.
"Anothssr thing We protest aSainst," eonttn,
prizes. Our. rrizes consist Of diplomas and
wreaths, and II an athlete has entered for
Gyo bay as Fo w@c hH T Or dHS S
pin In our efforts to build up o strong healthy
race We have been very SUCCESSFUL. AS u GlHnco
tify. The average athlete is done for at about
25 years OF age. The Turner is active, and
soS E IS n 4Sd od eons At Of Is n to &c acn @
through the exercises with as great ability as
the young men. We start with children as
young as years light cFlisthenlcs. Of course.
aud our women. ms well as our men. are II
pride TO us. This Is the, system Of rational
pnysieal deXelopmeent we hope to introduce by
i, is Obvious that such revolution as the pro-
posed alliance involves would be next TO impos-
years to arrange and perfect, and probably
would be failure in the end. ! he average anna
selects one particular branch. and hy assiduous
training becomes proficient, perhaps ham,
ron, Alter u few years he becomes stated aud
withdraws. with u chance. as Mr. Harder
materla benefit TO his, health. Rigid traipnE
mi IN Tho same iooitefs. Health is secondary
consideration In their case: They, enter ath-
lstics for sport in combative spirit. Such
common place, mOnOtonousc cour. g as the Turn
to eff. them Sa and they Woud not follow it. 5Ths
liz fall Into iscipllno. The machine Ike drills
thev arc subjected to fulfil the object sought,
and they blossom forth into sturdy. well-built
young men, but at best only fourth or tlfth
rate athletes.
A score OF reasons might be brought forth
is hardly probable that an alliance on such
grounds is seriously contemplated. We have
at present some oil tho EroAtest ath etes in the
world and the system that has produced them
will probably be contInued. 1t is useless to
argue that under the Turner'S plan We might
gymnasium work no frat t-class man has ever
stepped from their ranks AS to tho prize
The III 81 in quiry Put by our athletes when told
OF a Meeting is: What Eri2es are they giving
posf in the Tord or II rhyega
its benefits are incalculable. But II it were
adopted throughout the country Americas
thing OF the past.