The morning call., 1893-10-01

applications for reinstatement by persons who
became professionals before that date shall be
received and acted upon only by tile board OF
governors OF lhe A..A. u" 1t does not require
a keen perception 10 see that the committee
was constrained TO Keep the following impor-
tant considerations fn mind: A desire 10 nlaiu-
tain high standard OF amateur. athletics; TO
act on instructions prescribed by the amateur
law, TO. keepin mind that the board Of gov
ernors must render the final decision, and 10
act accordingly. The meeting OF; tile commit
lee was most harmonious. notwithstanding
The fact that eacn member spoke
and acted like a man accustomed to orig
inai opinion and decision. Nearly every
case was received with different views, but the
conclusion WAS reached without even a vote
being takrn. The committee were as one lnan
IN the determination to uphold a bigh standard
OF amateur chai aclerj that 10 do so It, would be
necessary 10 drawa Chalk line. build stone
fenee upon i! and say, Thus far shalt thou go
and no farther" They. believe that. the only
way to educate the young men OF this coast to
a full knowledge of. this matter is to enforce
and publish the. law. 49,.
Speaking in general. the affidavits and state
ments are very straightforward aud rely on no
conceaiment 10 help their cases.
Case This young man. who In many ways
deserves the elenency OF the authorities, comes
unfortunately under the ban OF the rule OF
February Is, 1898. 1t was his first aud only
oifense. but tile rule is inexorable and deprives
us of the right TO grant or refuse our indorse-
nent.
Case 2-In considering this case the first
document WAS. OF course Thornlon's. affidavit.
If what was stated this is correct, 1t entitled
him to consideration. letter WAS also re-
celved from Mr.. Miner, president OF the Villa
mette RawiDg Club, .attesting To the truth. of
the assertions IN tie affidavit Undecided, the
chairman wrote TO Mr.. Waiter A. Scott of Port
land, formerly pre3idept of the Pacific Coast
Association and captain OF the Olympic Cluo. q
man of acute perception aud broad experience.
MIR. Scntt replied. This is Thernton's 8 first and
only offense as far as can learn, and he has
been waiting for two years to get back into the
ami,enr ranks, and has been very clrcumspecr
meantime. He received no money or prize OF
any kind in the tug-0f-war competition referred
10. From what can learn would recommend
his reins atement."
Tie question OF competing. with a profess
siOnal where gale money Is charged" even
though there is no prize received, Is not easily
grasped by the average person. Therefore.
Mr. Thornton's case has received our indorse-
ment on two grounds: First. because IL Is his
first and only offeDse. committed thoughtlessly,
and second. the unqualified recommendation
of gentleman of MF. Sc0trs standing, given
with d full knowledge'O OF the amateur. rule.
Cases g and 4 are Identical: These men
came under the clause 'aaughE or pursued
athletic exercises as means OF livelihood"
When the committee began its session Ii was
distinctly understood thai, unlike cases at law,
mo precedenis were TO be cited. The amateur
status was in danger Of decline IL stringent
methods. were not adopted; consequently. IL.
was agreed that every case should stand Or fall
on It's own merits. While these men were at.
liberty to make their applications. the COM
mfltee felt that thefe were really no grounds
tor graUting their requests.
f Case 5-1n this case there are no grounds
whatever for ciemency "For several years lie
gravitafed around the smaller leagues" In
other words a professional in the fullest sense
: OF the word, and whose case. Is covered BY.
nearly every clanse:o the definition, asks 10 be
:reinstaied :Mr. Bray ant his numerous friends,
honest no doubt in their motives see many rea-
sons why be should be reinstated.; The com.
mittee, however. do not see one reason, either
in law or equity. TO reinstate such, a man
would set a bad example. fix dangerous pre-.
eedenf and overweight tile committee with ap.
plicatiOns for reinstatement .from all over the
coast; :. - -
). Case e-PreciseIy the same arguments made
against No. 5. can be applied 10 No. 6. But
still further. Not only has MIR. Fihnir by rea.
:son of his competitions In open Gated onlan
gaaifes. been professional, according to tho
amateur deinlion,f all hrs HE, but ne ackn9wE
by SO d0img, he would be violating the amateur
laW. 1t was Ibis poinlin particular, as well as
:inanyFin general, that brought the committee
unhesifatinglysr TO decfslon.i
:. Speaking of. the Mnltnonah. Athletic
:Cnb games held recently, the Tacoma
Ledger says: "1The: games: lacked the en-.
aroused by th6 spring: meeting.
:.Ihe features Of the day were the high pole
yaulting by w. G.. Brown and Foster Beck.
in. which the former established a new
record. of. feet, inches; Stevens new
:record of i99 feet with. this 1gspound ham
|; in the 1NO.yart dash by Holt and Stout.
|: The latter. tins was 5 So seconds, 1-5 sec
:ond under the North Pacific Coast record.
No other reeorde were lowered or even
tied: .:....:
|; There is possibility. thatthe cfamplo
!: ship games, which will be: held. at the
Olympic Club grounds in few weeks,
; will be as we'll attended as the games Of a
year ago. However. the boys are training
hard, and hope to -ast0nish the world In
performances.
|: Although football WILL. according to the
present outlook. be one of The attractive
athletic features .of the winter season in
this city. it must not be forgotten that the
kickers of the north are figuring upon a.
great seasons sport, as the following let
ter from our northern correspondent will
attest: "A mum ber OF Seattle Athletic Club
men came over yesterday to see the Tacoma
team practice in the morning en- the
:Elevehtii-sireet grounds. Among them
were Emmett Russell and Go0rse R. Ran
dali. who were on the eleven last year. and
Fred Calhoun, candidate for q. position
on this years team.
-"There is good deal Of enthusiasm
being shown in. the game in Seattle" said
one Of the visitors. I'VE have a good turn
out at practices and think we will put a.
strong team In the field. We are working
up scheme over there to 60 on tour this
winter, visiting Portland and then going
to San Franciscoto play during the Mid
winter Fair. There we could meet the
Olympic team of San Francisco. the Palo
Alto boys and the University Of Califor-
MIA team. Aside from its being.a pleasant
trip. we are in hopes that the tour will
help fill the club Golfers. The people
whom we have been corresponding with in
the south hold out the strongest induce
ments to us to come. think we will start
about the 1st of January and will be gone