The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-27
ATHLETICS.
Trouble Brewing Among the Amateur
Athletes.

Trouble Brewing Among the Amateur
Athletes.
There is some misunderstanding among
the amateur athletes, growing out of the
announcement of a series of games which
will be held at Sacramento during State
Fair week, I'm der the auspices of the Pacific
Coast Amateur Athletic Association. 1t
seems that the Amateur Athletic Clubs, in
both city and country, but not connected
with the P. c. A. A. A, will not be al
lowed a representation at the Sacramento
Fair meeting.
The A. A. U.-American Athletic Union
of which the T. c. a. A. A. is now a
member, distinctly states that the amateur
clubs which have no standing in an assO-
citation that is governed by union rules
must not be allowed a representation at
any games held under the auspices of an
association that has been elected a member
of the national body. 1t will therefore be
seen that members of clubs which stand
aloof from the z. c. a. a. A. will be de-
barred from the Sacramento games, which
the Pacific Coast Amateur Athletic Asso-
citation has been given full control Of
The amateur clubs which stand on their
own government are very much upset over
the announcement of the z. c. a. a. a,
and they say that the matter will be
brought before the officers of the State
Fair Association at future date. But this
is not all.
Some prominent athletes, who are con-
nected with clubs which are nOn-membeTs
of the association, say that the 2. c. a. a.
A. officers have got themselves into nice
kettle Of fish in their endeayorS to carry
out the rules of the union. They contend
that the 7. c. A. a. a. made very grev-
GUS mistake in permitting its members to
take part in tile games held by the Scotch
Thistle Club on July 4th al Shell Mound
Park.
BY having competed with athletes who
are not members of clubs i'll any manner
connected with the p. c. A. A. a the lat
ter organization tranSgTeSSed the rules OF
the union when it gave its members permits
sion 10 participate IN the games.
The friends of Captain Jordan of the
Olympic Club are very anxious that that
gentleman would reconsider his determine
ton to hand IN his resignation as handicap
per and captain of the club.
The New York Sporting Times has the
following 10 say concerning DOWDe's quar-
teT-Of-a-mile record:
There has been so much discussion on the
question Of W. C. DOwues' Ier-OT-a-mile rec
ord that little more remains to be said on the
subject. First came Wild rumOrs from Boston,
making charges against Mr.. 5. ID. See or pur-
posely moving The tnish-maTk back twenty feet.
The authorities for these statements were al
legged 10 be NJ. Finn, hacker of professional
pedestrians, Fitzgerald, Yale's athletic trainer,
and few others unknown TO the athletic world.
Then comes the statement Of j. Il. Morse, the
WelEknifYu hlgH-lunlper OF the Is. A. a, backed
up by John Finn, the keeper Of the Beacon PARK
Track.
They say that John Finn cut a notch 10 tue
fence directly opposite the place where DOwnes
finished, and that when they remeasured the
course few days afeIward tney found that the
distance was just twenty feet short Of a quarter
Of a mile. Tie original Mickey Finn has denied
that lie doubted the record or made any of The
statements attributed 10 him. The only EVIL
dence against lie record, therefore, are The
statements OF John Finn and j. Z. Morse. Con-
sideTiOE that the nulsl OF The race was al q bend
in the track, their ideas should be received with
great caution.
ANY person ordinarily well acquainted with
athletics knows how difficult il IS TO say when
be is opposite the finishing point 10 race, II the
finish IS Oh a bend In the track. Two Of the
measuGeTs, who also acted as tlmersS ID. See
and r. Sto-haye made aidavlIs that the
course was measured correctly aud that DOWueS
actually finished al lie 44O wards marked.