The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
ROUGH ON ENGLISH AMATEURS.
Tho Sporting Life Thinks the Situation
Demands Inquiry.

Dc"f'nOs inquiry.
An interesting sequel to the news published
concerning the international NATL races. for
which the New York A. c. is negotiating. ap.
pears in the Sporting Life of May 8. English
critics seem to look with disfavor on the enter
prise, and 'Old Blue" seizes the occasion to
impeach certain English amateurs, presume.
bly, those int crested In the present match
making. He thinks the situation demands the
attention of the English athletic authorities.
and says:
Talk about the ways OF the Heather Chinee
being peculiar. why. those Of some of our fn-de-
steele amateurs Guido them altogether. The
correspondence in the Spirit Of the Times anent
The Connect vs.. Bacon matches must have OPEN
ed the eyes OF English and amateur athletes no
end. Twas meet and right that Mr.. Holman
should issue a disclaimer on behalf of the l.. A.
c.. and it was refreshing to note how promptly
he did 80. Surely this latest development Of
amateur matchmaking must rouse the A. A..
A. into action at last. Putting aside the side
bet of 81 900 incident. all real amateurs are
wishful to know II such Il fragrant breach OF
etiquette-to put 1t very mildly-is to be al
lowed to go unquestioned by the powers that be.
Can any member of tile l.. A. c. presume to ar
range such a match or matches without the
sanction Of the governing body. exactly ms one
contemporary has it, az IL Bacon were a pro-
fes sional and Bredin his trainer? =.
JeSultlCal. perhaps. nut l am not sorry tnaC
events have fallen out as they have, for n good
many of us see land at length. a searching
Inquiry by the A. A.. A. will only reveal what
/ insisted upon months ago. 1. e., that there
are som half-doZen athletes posing as anna
teurs who have not the ~faintest claim to such
a title. Instead of inducing such to compete
at our big meetings, and lauding them as little
gods. they must be asked to explain certain
matters affecting their status and be dealt
with accordingly. 1t Is pure rubbish to tax
of not having. proof. for nine ont of every ten
athletes laugh such an assertion To scorn;
moreover. the A. A. A. know 1t to be rubbish.
If no other course is open. adopt the \. c. IT,
licensing modus operandi. and make the sus-
pected parties defend their position and ex-
plain the sources of their income. After all.
this is only "a matter Of justice to thousands
Of bona tide amateurs who delight In obeying
the laws of the A. a. A. both in the spirit and
the letter.
THE whole English press, and a goodly
portion of the American ditto has risen to the
occasion right nobly. condemninR the laxity of
our athletic rulers in no uncertain strain.
Everybody adnires your honest professional.
but this pseudo amateurism business has fair
~ sickened the IN ,st o~pen-minded of us ALL, I
never remember such u burst Of genuine indig-
nation from every quarter before, so ] repeat
that recent events have not occurred in vain.
That opportunity. which sydney Grundy de-
clares knocks at everybody's door once In a
lifetime. Is now at hand for the A. A. A.. to
make the most of. VIII they avail themselves
thereof