New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31
NATIONAL GUARD AFFdTRS.
THE MILITARY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AGAIN
MOTIFS OF INTEREST

THE MILITARY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AGNN-
MOTIFS OF INTEREST.
a. the time grows nearer for outdoor sports again
the Interest In tho proposed National Guard Athletic
Association Increases II the iron was ever ut a.
white and in good condition to be struck 1t Is in
exactly that shape now. Many OF the members OK
the National Guard are sick Of being under the
domination Of the Amateur Athletic Union when they
have nothing I'm common With that organization.
They would hail with delight an organization Ike
that proposed for the National Guard. to which the
men could look to first. and then II they wished to
take part In any other contests they would be Incl
dental only to the Military Athletic Association AZ
present the conditions are exactly reversed. as the
action Of the union demonstrated by pretending to dis
qualify members OF the 18th Regiment Athletic AsSoci
ton while holding games in their own armory to winch
none except members Of the regiment were admitted III
| competition. for violating "a rule Of the union
No necessity whatever exists for calling attention
Z, the advsability of athletic training for soldiers
| The better athlete is the hariir and more
valuable soldier he Will make. Under tie present.
.ystem however there Is serious defect which Is
evident 70 any who has given the subject even a
| passing notice This i, the fact that there Is {"
| strung tcnd-ncy g. train record break.
| efs1 10 the derimcnt OF the man
| Of average physical development The sch me
Of the proposed National Guard Athletic Association
was founded this allimpJrant principle OF Tram
| the average Hl;U NJ present '"iN '"'7' W
lsh physical development -tand 4 chancc of being
anywhere near the head OF The column IN an athletic
| contest and those who are not inclined 10 spend II
coed share OF their lives Thinning or nrc not naturally
powerful in any particular direction soon become
| discouraged and decide 10 give up athletics alto
| gctlcr.
| TO correct the existing condition OF affairs IT Is
proposed give medals 10 all those reaching GER
| tain standard IN the annual semi annual contests.
| I'D tpter Tho .llSp ID
A. has been shown In rifle practice. this viii induce
men Ia take much-nccdcd outdoor exercise who never
| take It now. and make better soldiers oi them al
| ihe same time. Not only personal glory. but pride
| in their organization. WIN Induce the men TO com
pete Tor these state decorations
There Is another important consideration which
seem, 10 have been lost sight Of to a considerable
extent That X the interest which the general public
would talk. In the contests, and the lmpctu, which
! they would give to tle National dnard III numerous
WAYS For example, attention only need & BE- called
20 the lnige nnd brilliant crowds Of spectators which
| eo to Sc. the athletic games Of tir
IN Regiment Troop A. the ieth Regiment AMI In fact
nearly every National Guard Organization in this city
| and Brnoklyn How much eeai"r the interest would
be should all these organizations unite In contests ont
Of doors For the non participant rife shooting is
trettv dull sport There /, nothing to see except II
| lot Of targets, which represent nothing to the spec
ator and II has been clearly demonstrated that this
| necessary adjunct To the National Guard never can
hold the attention Of the public for any great length
Of time There may periodical burst, Of cnthu iasm
Lut the spectators srow weary and stop going f.
| Crccdmool These truths have Dscn demonstrated
in ihe history OF Crcedmoor for the last eight ten
! years >uppOsc there should De "A carnival IT sports
nj Crecdmoor made mp Of the picturesque features Of
military obstacle races, the main outlines 81 i tonra
mcn, oven by Troop A, b:sGc5 all I'll: regular contests
| Of bicycle races Running and walking matches etc.
which are seen AT all lie games. not forgetting the
sbooting matches, can any doubt that it would
draw crowd to CrccdmOor such as has never been
| there before, with many prominent athletes rs
there are IN the military Organizations throughout the
| ,tnte can any one doubt that the,e would he the
most important athletic game held in the country each
| wear, And under such conditions any one doubt
that the National Guard would attract all the sturlcst
| and best yonng men In the country 10 It! Instead OF
being led around by any other organization in athletic
matters, each Of the others would haze 10 cater TO It.
| II may be asked BY some doubling Thomas:
| 80 /, such thing practicable Is it not vision
ary!7
| Well look al ii more fIom practical point Of
view Look at the high prices secured by many OF the
city organizations for ticket of admission 10 their
| games and then the large and brill
liant crowds which present. on the qucs-
| ZION of whether not these games woni
be self,upporrIne. the last suggestion oh
! yously mly answers It. That being disposed Of,
| the next question Is one OF management. without
proper arrangement such project would be failure
| without doubt. But the fact that many men In
the National Guard have large experience In man
aging lust such affair, ~ This, only smaller
scale leaves little or nothing to be feared in this
| direction. The last question l.:
viii such scheme result In any good to TN
National Guam''
II this question can be answered In anything except
the affirmative the who IS qualified 10 do has
| not vet made himself known General Porter allowed
the scheme to 70 by the board last fall because he
expected at that time 10 go OUT OF once, and he
decided IN allow his successor to carry the plan
Lie will ,nhonhtcdly make a great mIs take. however