The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-04
THE ATHLETIC UNION.
A PROBE DRIVEN INTO IT M THE
FORD CASE.

Tho Mn,nrers OF the A. A. U. InvIte Re-
view or the installation by Setting at
Naught tho RuiinE OF the N. A. A. A. A.
Since the declaration OF peace last year
etwoon tho two powerful organizations OF
mateur athletes there has been no event In
heir special world to command such attention
that excited by the recent suspension OF
Ialcolm W. Ford. There was decided diner
nee in the character OF the charges on which
he committee OF the A. A. U. based their act
n suspension. Tho facts about some are not
Known to the majority OF athletes. These may
,r may not DO true. The natural manner OF
proceeding In regard to them and, In the JudR-
neut OF most people, the proper IN amer.
Nould have been to call Mr.. Ford before the
committee before taking any definite action
and to hear him present his side. But there
was one reason urged for his suspension the
truth OF which Is indlsputable, and the fact
that the committee included this among the
} other charges shows that the athletic union
believed to be effected In 1889 was really no
union at ALL or. at least its terms must have
been radically misunderstood by large num-
Der OF parties to the agreement
This charge Is the well-known one that Ford
competed In a professional game. under an
assumed name. at Springfield in 1885, For this
he was tried and convicted. After that the ono
OF tho great amateur organizations to which
he had been attached, the National Association
OF Amateur Athletes OF America reinstated
him, and so far as they were concerned. GER
tainy his amateur standing was reestablished.
Tho fact that that cas- has again been mon
toned as cause for Diminishing Ford from
the amateur ranks shows that the governors
OF the new association refuse to accept q de-
cision OF the four A's.
This raises the question as to what was the
nature OF the recent consolidation.
Was 1t an amalgamatlon. made on the I'M
derstanding that the parties to it were equal
and that the rulings. decisions, and members OF
one should receive full credit and respect from
the otherP Was 1t beyond the competence Of
either party to repudiate an act OF the other' II
member of the new body. the A. A. u, In per-
fectly good standing whatever any one might
msnt bT TIE n a. & a. Il the 't two BODIES
entered into their agreement with equal rights
and prestige there Tas nothing more to be
to the perfect understanding Of all Interested,
Of the Governing Committee. MIR. A. g Ste
yens said There was no amalgamation
clubs Of the N. A. A, A A. should disband
and we were to recommend their election into
tion being used in some of the resolutions but
that was merely sop thrown to Mr.: Storm to
The ast repors we Wow" turned IN no
smalgamation and you will notice that We re.
auired MI. Storm to certify to the eligibility Of
tainly could not have been done II there was
have been compelled to take all the clubs In o |
body: The claim Is absurd. Even II there was |
any doubt We SHOULD not accept The s renstate;
be improper to talk about outside OF the Board. |
But there was NO amalgamation. nor thought |
and as said we put the word in the prelim-
inary resolution to soften the defeat for Mr.. |
Mr.. William D. Curtis left no doubt as to his |
view Of the matter by saying: The Board OF |
Managers refuse to recognize the reinstate-
principal objections are: i. That when the n.
A. A. A. A. Executive Committee reinstated |
to vote, according to the constitution OF the |
organization. Ford was reinststed March 2S. |
sSs and i was ap Hc.ua feet that from De
The only dslegate eligible e vote on the Execu-
this solitary paying club. 2 But allowing
that that 1t was . e Legal NEE meeting At which
motses nf tRss re Inc
statement the Amateur Athletic Union could
ns Gn wa the Dr; Se
Ths g A. Claimed SEVEN s a1 but
G. was the sole prominent club. At the
lime the A. A U. had twenty one OF the largest
clubs In the country on It's roll"
q ns%Sers were the 1 New { g5SE4 g., stateR
leland 4. G. NeT Jersey 4. G.; Athletic Club
Hthletio CUB Of WoshineIo ss In fact fact
)ll the representative clubs throughout the
l. c. and il was not ior the latter .U with SIX OBJ.
cure. alleged athletic clubs TO assume jurIs:
LECTION Of amateur sport. Those ere a few Of
Mr. James E. Sullivan. Secretary Of the A. A
Z. repqdlated the action Of the n. A. A. A. A:
Q members thereof and modestly ScEnowl-
entitled 70 vote on Ford's reinStatement
avtpg out the question OF RmalRamRtion. he
buGht the 4 A. T.. as the governing body.
3 right 70 reopen any case It chooses
'riGinSi A 4. t. and the n 4. 4. K A. lay down
q peace zee Hs the iiSn and the lamb lay down.
Upon the irreguarity OF Ford's reinstatement
DOESN'T touch the question under considera-
sSs accepted By the \. "a K. 4. 4 A.. and upon
he theory that the latter body entered into the
70 Hqs Es fR ny sE: 81 OF body s
low been rePudiatSd shows thSt he present
As ihiS iS the first Instance In which the
allure q the consolldatioP has been
lsnt OF .t6e athletic war was brought about
.llr hAltOp storm Of the Manhattan Athletic
PUB Was tbs President OF the y. A. A. A. A.
loDthS before the settlement Of the dlfIicultE
WAS apparent 70 everybody that the National
.ssoolatioD was waKinR useless struggle.
ommlttss from that body Attempted 70 nego. .
.hie With the 4, A. Z. for q sStlenenL but
Ialg they wsIs, curly Informed that the a. A.
, eid not think IL okpedlsDt 70 transact any
peihebs Whatever With the n. A. A. A. a, |
bus the struggle DRAGGED along vBtil
SsPFssldsni u fhs kGIoRai League. and
the tine gps II the losId ~ Cos:
insnbaP u tie 1JohTd n Manager III tlss
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