The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-06

A Crouching Start.
etc, and already are heard mutterings OF dis
content concerning the dale fixed by the
Olympic Club for the championship games OF
the Z. &. A. A.
"Now TO convince you that the Olympic Club
is Ia no wise al fault i'll this particular. suifi-
Client TO say that it has no authority
to fix a dale for a championship meeting. and
if the writer or the individual interviewed hau
any knowledge of athletics such bad break
would certainly not have appeared IN print
The date for championship meeting must
be selected at meeting OF the Pacnc AsS0ca.
lion of the Amateur Athletic Union and not
by any club which is q member OF the assOcla-
ton.
Institution OF these championships il has been
the custom TO hold them late in the spring, and
generally on Decoration day, and that the date
seemed most acceptable 10 the members OF
other clubs. apparently. until May 80, 1892
when the Berkeley athletes carried OF every
thing in sight
Now, then. the Pacific Association Is the
only one OF the associations affiliated with the
Amateur Athletic Union that has held an out
door championship In the spring Of the year,
and when that change was made 1t was at the
request of the Berkeley athletes that the Pacific
Association changed the original date, which
was Thanksgiving day, to May 80. This oc-
cured In 1889. All championships should be
held in tie latter part OF the season so az TO
make a fitting wlnd-up OF the years track
athletics.
The article further goes on 10 say: Some
time after the university closed in June dele
gates TO several athletic clubs met In San Fran
cisco and elected 10 hold the championship OF
1898 on September g. but that no representa-
tive of Berkeley had voice in the meeting.
aud thereon hinges the present diflcuiy, De-
cause 1t Is claimed that no notice OF the meet
ing was sent TO either Walter Henry OF the
Berkeley club or E. Mays Of the Mutuomah
Athletic Club of Oregon
This is quite funny. by the way, considering
fhaf nf 1RSA ri
held since 1892. Consequently neither MIR.
Henry nor MIR. Mays should feel at all aggrleved
because they were not notified; THE CALL ex-
planned The situation thoroughly last Sunday.
Now, TO convince you OF the aDSurdify OF
such an article as appeared on the LIST inst. In
the Examiner. all that Is necessary IS TO read
the following extract from 1t: Now, the
students say that If the date SET for the cham
plonsbips Is adhered to. Berkeley will not send
a team nor will several of the clubs. and the
reason for this is that between August IA,
when the university opeuS, and September 8,
there are only twenty-five days to devote 10
training, whereas from six 10 eight weeks are
required.
Amateur Athletic Association making such
blunder?
why there is not AN amateur on the Coast
but Is aware that the olympic Club or any
other club cannot fix date for the champion
ships. and, besides, a meeting OF the associa-
ton has not been called yer, therefore, now
could there be date set for the meeting?
"Acting az the official Handicapped OF the as
ISOLATION i have time and again suggested that
the championships be hold as late In The season
as possible, so as to give the members OF the
clubs representing the Pacific Association OF
the A. A. U. a favorable opportunity TO be in
the very best condition possible when the
struggle for championship honOrs Is at hand.
1.-The university athletes are anxious to have
the coming championship held in October. and
/ for one will support that measure, as there Is
| nothing would give me greater pleasure than to
see every man represented In the track IN the
,nfn L. 1f 1 n n.
letes OF Berkeley, PalO Alto and other clubs
representing The Pacific Association Will look
as do upon the ABSURD article which may
cause among those ignorant Of athletics un-
pleasant feelings toward the Olympic Club. l
dare say meeting of the association Will be
called for some evening next week."
| In reference to the article IN question, the
following letter has been received by the sport
ing editor from prominent amateur athlete.
| 1t spa ks for itself:
EdYtor Call: Under the heading of athletes
| at War Again." in the Examiner OF the 1st
| inst. there appeared statements coming from
| the University club that need correction; the
! purport OF them being that there exists an an.
| tagonistic feeling among the athletic clubs
which form the ,'anilic Association OF the ANA
| teur Athletic Union against the University
| Club. IL seems TO me that this Is repetition OF
| what occurred last season, but In many respects
| different when the truth is told.
| As the Pacific Association OF the Amateur
Athletic Union has not met this season as yet
there cannot possibly be any dat fixed for the
|
ment made by the University Club that the dele
gates from the athletic clubs met In June and
fixed September AS the day for the cOas
championship TO take place Is not true. Ii Il
was so, their action would be at variance witt
| the bylaws of the Pacific association.
! If Inc members of the University Club would
only pause ana think for moment they w0uit
! readily understand that such action by thu
association would be Illegal and that they
could appeal 10 The higher body and have tht
meeting declared nun and void.
l assert, and l make the statement on my
personal knowledge. that the athletic clubs
| which form the association have nothing bu
the kindest feelings toward The U. C.'s, ant
| whoever the parties are in the University Ciut
| who go to the trouble OF raising these news
| paper discussions they are not true amateurs
nor have they the interest OF amateur athletic.
at heart.
| There is a combined effort among the ath
letic clubs on the coast to try and popularizt
amateur sports this year, and they hOped Il
| have the assistance OF The University Club bu
apparently they are doomed TO disappointment
| am surprised that Mr. Henry should allow
himself 10 be interviewed on the matter II
question. MIR. Henry IL young man whom
have always had the highest regard for AS al
| athlete ana a gentleman. He states that III
saw Mr. Macarthur, but thOaght IL useless Il
discuss the matter with him. When II is takel
into consideration that MIR. Macarthur is ths
president OF the association, lie should have
! been tho first person To b. Consulted but MIR
Henry evidently preferred TO take the state
| ment made by some space-Wrlier. who haf
| CLEANED his Information from some unreliable
| source.
| There Is no amateur athletic association Il
| this country which holds championships in TIT
spripg except the Pacific. and until 1889 III
latter has always had rs meetings on Thanks
| giving daV, and this change was made at III
! renuesy OF the University Club. II seems {
me that IL is Impossible TO please every one
hut certainly IL must be admitted by every fair
| minded person that the University CLUB create
more discussion in athletic circles than IN
combined clubs forming the entire association
| and why? iEDo.eo'