The morning call., 1894-04-28
THEIR TROPHY TOO VALUABLE.

The board of managers of the Pacific
Amateur Association held meeting last
evening, and as result the amateur
standing of good many of the club men,
bers OF this coast may be in danger. Not
that the board did anything to assail the
aforesaid members directly, but it decided
to enforce the rules of the association
rules that have been and are being Con-
stantly violated.
The question came up by presentation
of petition from the Olympic Club of this
city and one from the Acme Club of Oak
land, asking that the board sanction the
coming wrestling match between Eek hardt
Of the Olympic and Andrews Of the Acme.
which will come off early in May. After
much talk the board returned answer that
the men were to wTestle for a trophy much
more valuable than the amateur rules
allow, and that therefore the match could
not be sanctioned.
The rules allow trophy worth S35 and
no more. Eckhardt and Andrews will
wrestle for one worth $500, for it is not
supposed that the match will be stopped
because the board withheld sanction. II
Will cause great deal of discussion, how
ever, and should either contestant ever try
10 enter another amateur contest there
may be a protest, and they would Ia all
proba bility be ruled out This interpre-
tation OF the rule, and there can be no
other, merely serves to bring again to no.
tice clause which has Teen disregarded
for years. Boxing matches have been
gwen IN the various clubs for trophies
varying In value from $50 to 500 or $780,
Wrestling prizes have been proportlonate
in value, while the trophies for inter-club
matches have sometimes exceeded this
limit. By the strict enforcement Of the
rule which actuated the board in its denial
last evening the winners of all these lro-
phies have injured their amateur standing
The discussion OF the question before
the final decision was announced was long
and earnest. The hoard tried in every way
to get around the question to enforce the
rule and still allow the match to proceed
for that match is the talk of amateur cir
clos on both sides of the bay. 1t was
pointed out that Dy enforcing the rule am
ateur sport would be permanently injured.
for unless trophy of decent value was
offered athletes would not spend the time
necessary to make a creditabls showing at
a meeting. 1t was claimed, too, that the
growth of indoor athletics dates almost
from the time valuable prizes have been
given but all the talk did not change the
rule. 1t is as easy for the camel 10 go
as for EckhardS and Andrews to wrestle
for 5000 trophy, and still not violate the
rule setting the value limit al s35.
This fact was finally recognized and the
sanction was refused.
This does not pass upon the men as
amateurs, however; that will be done
afterward when any one raises an objec-
ton TO their entering an amateur event.
Another application-that of the San
Francisco Athletic Club and the Sacra-
mento Athletic Club-to allow an inter-
club boxing match of ten rounds, was also
refused on the ground that amateur rules
forbade more than four rounds, thereby
striking another blow at a common viola
ton of an amateur rule. The object Of all
this is, so the members f-the board say
10 put stop to thnse amateurs who are at
heart professionals; to prevent men from
entering events for the value of the prizes
rather than the glory of possible victory.
The Young Mems Christian Association
athletic branch of San Francisco was ad-
mtted TO the association, and also the
First National Regiment Club of Portland