The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-24
WHITNEY CAUSED IT
His Criticisms Have Aroused the Pa
cifc >Coast.
1T HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN
The Sporting Editor of Harper's
Weekly" May Be Induced to Ex-
plain Certain Things-Foot-
ball Circles Concerned.

'sir Oracle" Caspar Whitney has
reached San Francisco and his arrival
there has stirred up a great deal OF
discussion about amateur sport, In
which the Butte football team is one
Of the largest bones of contention. w.
+. Humphreys. president of the Pacific
Amateur Athletic association, charges
Whitney with discriminating against
California athletes and stands up for
the Butte team in q manner that viii
make him exceedingly popular in this
city. Mr.. Humphreys statement in re-
gard to the Butte team is fair and
honest, and IL is pleasing to note that
the crimson and cream has such an
influential friend.
The Examiner gives the following
account of the disputes between sport
ing authorities which have followed
Mr.. whitney's arrival at San Fran
cisco:
There is a clash in local athletic cir
cles as to the Interpretation of Caspar
Whitney's motives in criticising the
method of conducting amateur sport
in California.
William Greer Harrison, ex-president
of the Olympic club, thinks the sport
ing editor of Harper's Weekly is doing
good work in pointing out the errors
that have been allowed to pass unno-
ticed here. So far as he can see Whit
ney is working in the interest OF pure
amateur sport.
w. +. Humphreys, president Of the
Pacific Athletic association. takes a di-
rectly opposite view and charges Whit
ney with discriminating against Cali
fornia athletes incidentally the ques-
ton OF the exact standing OF the Butte
football team is raised.
In a dispatch from Seattle published
in the Examiner yesterday, Mr.. Whit
ney is quoted as saying a great many
harsh things about local amateur sport.
Incidentally he praises the condition
of amateur athletics throughout the
Northwest. One Of his main objections
TO the local methods of conducting am
ateur sports is that the Pacific assoc
citation has allowed professionals to
participate i'm their games. The man.
agers OF the Pacific association fatty
contradict Mr.. Whitney's statements.
and claim that he does not know what
he is talking about.
whitney, on the other hand, declares
that the information which he has pub
lished was thoroughly reliable. He
claims to have agents throughout the
coast who keep him thoroughly in
lOiHltu as W amateur kDOIIS.
When Whitney's charges were first
published the management of the Pa
cific Coast association determined to
investigate the standing of the various
clubs and organizations on its roll of
membership. A committee was APP
pointed to conduct this investigation,
consisting of w. +. Humphreys, John
Elliott of the Olympic club and W. r.
Berry of the Reliance club. Another
will he hold On Monday
ing. The secretary OF the association
was instructed by President Hum
phreys yesterday TO send a letter to
Mr.. Whitney. inviting him to be pres
ent at the meeting on Monday even
ing.
Il am a member of the board OF gov
ernors of the Amateur Athletic union
OF the United States" said William
Greer Harrison. land l have watched
this thing very closely. l think that
Whitney hos made his systematic at
tack on the coast with the best inten-
tions. | do not think for a moment
that he had any idea of trying to kill
or give a black eye to amateur sports
on the coast. Our trouble out here has
been a certain carelessness that GER
tainly needs remedying. We have not
paid sufficient attention to the rules as
laid down by the authorities. We are
so far from the East that we cannot
follow closely as we otherwise would
the methods adopted by the clubs east
of the Rockies.
"Of one thing am certain. and that
is that the Olympic club is purely and
simply an amateur organization. and
that all sports legitimately carried on
under its auspices are as far as possible
conducted in accordance with the rules
of the association. don't think there
IS any more professionalism among
the amateur athlets OF the coast thav
among those OF the far East. OF course
a club may be imposed upon by ring
ers.' A man may represent himself as
being an amateur, and at the same
time has professional record OF which
the club conducting the sport is en-
tirely ignorant
$50 far as whitney's charges against
the Reliance football team are con-
cerned. / have nothing whatever to
say. for the reason that cannot speak
authoritatively. But i will say this
IRE Olympic football team is an anna
teur organization pure and simple. II
is not tainted by professionalism o
any kind or degree. What is more.
Will say that so long as John Elliott
has anything TO do with the conducting
of sport you may rest assured that Il
will be carried on in strict accordance
with the rules OF the association.
OF course II is not pleasant to read hi,
constant attacks on the methods Of
running amateur sports in California
But nevertheless some of the points
which he makes are excellent and viii
bear good fruit We have been a little
too slack here at times. and I thinl
E a very good idea TO have every rule
OF the association enforced as rigidl,
as possible.
NOW when whitney sneaks of .hs
Butte team as a professional organiza
ton. I heartily agree with him. Their
is no use Of mincing matters. Tn
Butte team was composed Of men Sc
lected from different parts OF the coun
try. The fact that the players did no
receive actual money for their worl
does not bar them from being classe,
as professionals. The managers AFT
davit 10 the effect that the eleven wa
an amateur concern cuts no figure.
think II was the general impression
that they were professionals"