New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-10
NOTES ABOUT ATHLETES.
PAYING EXPENSES FOR CLUB MEMBERS.

The suggestions offered in THIS column last sunday
regarding the paying OF athletes expenses We're
much discussed in att letc circles during the
week. Influential men in all the great athetc
clubs OF the metropolis recognize the evils OF such
system, but nobody suggests remedy. The Mammal
tan Club for instance justified in certain sense
In using heroic means to get fno athletes to compete
under the Cherry Diamond banner. The ciub was NOV
ing into the handsomest athletic clubhouse In the
| country and the members were determined TO make
their club outshine all competitors Tbs anbluOn has
been grauied. Now it might be good idea Tor all
tho local clubs to strive to encourage athletic
exercises among their members Of ordinary and social
standing and for the time being let record breaking
alone. 1t is probably all right for cub 10 maintain
training table Just before big championship meeting
II the expense question stopped them 1t would be all
right but it doesn't The only excuse given FOR the
having of exorbItant expenses Is that II the plan Is
STONED many Of the good athletes will not compete
and that record breaking VIII soon be thng OF tho
past The system which will encourage all club
members to take athletic exercise is better tlan the
present one which Is dscourang 70 the average young
man with athletic inclinaiions The IHbnncs sus
gsstaons however have borne fruit and an issue Is not
far of.
l. F.. Sullivan. secretary OF the Amateur Athlete
! Union, said yesterday
The payment OF athletes expenses Is a question
which has long DISCUSSED and athletic magna:es
have given the subject "A great deal OF attention Il
Is true that the payment OF athletes expenses as 1t
exists to-day, has existed In the past, VIII surely
kill the growth OF amateur sport IN America have
been opposed for years to the system and think 1t
should be modified. / DO not think that any ana
teur athletic club should allow its athletes expenses
of training and furthermore / think the payment Of
travelling expenses should be done away with. The
smaller clubs should be protected by the larger
ones for they the ones which encourage ana pro-
mote sport, and 1t IS record that Just as soon as
good man Is developed he Is more than anxious To
become member Of one OF the clubs that VIII Orsf
| him Inducements greater than the club OF which he
| is member This has been demonstrated extern
.ively in the last few years. Unless some uniform
rule adopted by the A. A. L. the larger clubs Will
continue 10 pay the expenses Of Its men, and exorb
tant ones at that. think that the Amateur Athletic
Union should adopt rule prohibiting the payment OF
| expenses and payment Of entrance fees. Thus you
viii get right the root Of the evil and kill at once
the chance OF extrtion then the athletes will have
| TO stand on their footing and the smaller clubs
will be protected. such a measure, however, would
meet with great deal of opposition and doubtless s
| beaten"
Assistant District-Attorney Barlow S. Weeks, tho
incoming president OF the NewYork Athletic Club.
said II do not favor the paying OF exorbitant ath.
letic expenses; club will do what II can TO dis
| courage such system. 1t may DO much to discoir
age certain athletes, and record breaking may not 10
so plentiful. our club maintains training table at
Travers Island. but other athletic expenses are small
compared TO some clubs" Mr. Weeks, like all mea
oya to their clubs probably evs I'm other clubs
but IS rather slow in seeing them when the evil Is
nearer ones door. Everybody conversant with
the affairs OF either the NewYOrk or the Manhattan
Athletic club could not fail 10 notice the gulf which
exist, between the purely athletic and social f1ouor.
in the clubs. Mr. Weeks Is also opposed to the ANA
teur Athletic Union rule which permits the giving Of
| viii cb NOR, Than
emblcms are worth in actual cash just $21. lie be-
neves that bronzes, which could be used club tro
phieS would be sensible and he does not care
whether they cost $50 or 800.
1t is not generally known that t'as s35 rule which
caused the rumpus the 9TH Regiment games
has only few weeks to live. In fact Tire
chances 10 to that the rule viii be removed at the
coming meeting Of the Union toward the latter part OF
the month. Tie rule made for sparrers and IL
has done no earthly good. the boxing tournaments
Of the present winter will testify. The rule has
been dead letter in most Of the boxing tournaments
while II has been detTiment to athletics which bring
out better class OF athletes W. b. Curtis. OF the
New York Athletic Club, c. II. LuscOmb Of the League
Of American Whcclmen, and ". II. Mcmillan. Of the
Athletic Club OF the Soluylhl Navy compose tie
committee appointed by the Union 10 look into the
matter. The committee has as yet given no opinion
the writer that unless the Unforeseen hap
pens the ridiculous $50 rule will be effectively knocked
IN
be other surprising features at that meeting and other
heads may be knocked in.
Just what action the Union will take in regard to
the athletes disqualified for taking part I'm the recent
-th Regiment games will be awaited with a great
d. al of interest. For the Union to back down from
It's present loss Of prestige, dsension
and probable death. The officers OF the organization
know this: In fact one of the officials OF the Union
made bet the other day that not one OF the Dis
qualified athletes would be allowed 20 compete under
Mon rules before next July The 1th Regiment
of course is leaving stone unturned In Us
efforts to have those athletes reinsated. The 9Th Is
a strong organzaion yet strong a, IL is. II can 10
nothing alone. 1t Is merely pea in the big atm
ctic pot. The 7th however, sesns 10 believe that
the New York Athletic club will second 1t in its fight
against the Union. Whether the New-iork CIuo
Will DO anything OF the kind be better deter
mined after next Tuesdays annual election. The
7h's troubles are similar to those of the Western
Athletic Association In last September certain
athletes competed In games on a sunday. which "ee
not registered by the Unon a meeting Of the
Central Association held and the athletes Were
disqualified. And they have not been pinstated
either
Whether the eth Regiment element in the New
York \. c. is strong enough to compel the winged
foot to fight its battle doubtful. Mr.. Weeks
Of the opinion TINT the New York Club VIII take
no official action in the matter. lie said that those
disqualified themselves and the Board Of Gov
errors Endorsed the Unions rulings. Those athletes
were warned by Captain F. &. Giannln not 10 compete,
but they did 80. nevertheless. Captain Giannni VII
hardly try 10 have them relnstaed still the 'u
Regiment element In the club is strong and II Sad
to control at least 800 voters and that number
votes can make a great showing. even In New
York \. c. election The voting strength I'm the CID
oi tha club /, on record saying that II the NewloA
OF the club Is record saying that II the New-io
club takes up the fight for the eth Regiment he WIZ
Immediately resign from the club.
T1e Metropolitan Association Of the 4. A. L.
will hold a meeting on January 10. The officers az