The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-29
FOR PURER ATHLETICS.
Amateur Athletic Union Issues q
Manifesto.

President Mcmillan. of the Amateur Ath.
letic union, in his annual address, saysI
There may not be quite so many organized
associations in the union as there were q
rev years since, when the athletic fever
swept the land from extreme to the
other; but 1t is the general habit of the peo-
pie to give specific attention to such different
forms OF exercise as opportunity offers. The
tennis court is an ever-present adornment to
the landscape; golf is but a recent addition
to the catalogue, but its advocates are legion1
we have become a nation Of bicycle riders;
and where formerly good swimmer was q
rarity, visit to our river banks, lake
shores, or ocean beaches during the summer
months brings to view thousands.
Time was when large assemblages gathered
to see competitions between the adolescent
Drawn and sinew Of the land and then dis
persed to think no more of such matters
until some succeeding event of like character
should call them out again, Things have
changed to this extent. that now these same
spectators have become disputants in athletic
life; they are not only discussing the strong
points Of individual or team efforts but they
are studying what form Of exercise will best
benefit themselves. 1t has not been long
since some few nationalities were specially
indicated as being physically superior, but
be more concise, the people Of this country
concede nothing in this respect to any other
nation.
Athletics have suffered from the Same
causes that have depressed business and other
conditions, but the trend now in all matters
is advancement and progress.
win the approaching hOped-fOr prosperity
OF the country and the greater ability OF our
communities to participate in sport, there
also comes the necessity for the Amateur
Athletic union. the greatest federation for the
promotion OF physical culture that the world
has ever known, tc frame its rules and laws
SO that he who runs may read They should
be in simple verbiage easily understood,
clear in defining, and, above ALL should be
rigidly enforced. Since the world began the
spirit of emulation, natural ambition and an
intense desire to excel, has caused and will
continue to cause, those who strive for both
personal satisfaction and public applause to
proceed to extremes in their efforts for
victory. The spirit of Justice must govern
all competition. There must be honesty in
athletics. or else the cause we honor and
love so well will become vitiated and weak
ened and the fabric we have raised totter
ana crumble to ruin. No matter whether
the individual or the organization be Of su-
perlor or inferior caste, wealth or position,
the spirit of our republican institutions
which is. absolute moral equity in the de,
clsion OF all contentious, must and shall pre-
vail.
In line with this idea special attention Is
called to the action of the Atlantic associa-
ton IN requesting the national body to take
action in the matter of registration of ath-
letes. 1t is claimed that it will absolutely
prevent maliciously disposed individuals from
taking any unfair advantage, that it gives
to the handicappers all over the country full
knowledge of the capacity of competitors and
amounts to total prohibition of impersonation
by unknown athletes desiring to pose as
amateurs when they should not. 1t is ad-
mitted by advocates Of the plan that whilst
the trifing fee required may be insufficient
to support the increased expense, yet the
fncalcuable benefit to fair and square deal
ing will far outreach any loss that might
be sustained financially.