The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-22
ATHLETIC UNION.
Reports That a Rival to the A. A. u.
Is Being Formed.


1t is said that the project Of establishing
new athletic union, TO bring together
several well known clubs whose members
were dissatisfied with the government OF
the American Athletic union, is under way
and that the movement would probably
result In the appearance Of a formidable
rival TO the established union. One of the
statements about the new project an
nounced us its originators Mr.. Ballantine,
one of the owners Of the Knickerbocker
Athletic club OF New York, and Henry
Cornish, the well known athlete who
manages that club. Mr. Ballantine could
not be seen, and Mr. Cornish sent out "a
denial that he or any one else connected
with the Knickerbocker club had issued a
call for a meeting TO form an association
antagonistic TO the American Athletic un-
ion.
The union, which embraces the Metro
politan, Atlantic, Southern and Pacific as
sociations, all of which have authority
only In their own provinces, Is accepted as
the authority in amateur athletics IN
America, and its rules determine the stand
ing of all amateur athletes. The union
may also suspend or disqualify any anna
teur at discretion, and its action on such
matters is final Even the wealthy New
York Athletic club, with its membership
of $500 men, which left the American
Athletic union about n year ago, holds all
its games under the rules of the union. IL
the union Is formed. IL will embrace some
Of the wealthier and more powerful clubs.
Nothing could prevent it adopting an en-
tirely different set Of rules governing anna
teur standing from the ono now accepted,
and there might result split among track
athletes similar 70 that which occurred
among football players somo time ago
when the big colleges started playing un-
der two different codes
John G. Gulick, secretary of the New
York Athletic club, said that there had
been great deal Of dissatisfaction lately
among many persons connected with the
American Athletic union because Of the
methods Of the organization Tho chief
objection Is To the character of some of the
clubs which belong TO the union" he said,
land which have n controlling vote and
voice in its meetings. In the second place,
many feel that the larger clubs do not have
tho representation and control which their
interests and memberships should ontitle
them to- A small club OF 40 or so mem
bcrs, barely able to struggle along, has a
vote equal to that Of the largest club in the
organization. Each club sends three dele
gates to the union meetings, and these del
egates cast a unit vote
There has been, consequently, good
deal of talk among athletes in reference to
the inadequacy of the A. A. L. for some
time, but il has not crystallized into any
thing previous 10 this project. Such n
scheme, If properly fostered, is likely TO re-
suit in success. Although i have never
heard such an undertaking discussed
among New York Athletic club men, L
think that they would be disposed to look
favorably on anything Of the sort If con-
Quoted on n higher plane than that Of tho
A. A. L. If the proposed union Is form
ed, am inoliEed To believe that its stand
ard should he much higher than the pres
ent one, ard its rules moro strict"
Barlow s.. Weeks, captain of the y. Y.
a. c., who oversees the athletic affairs of
the club, and William B. Curtis, athletic
editor Of The Spirit of tho Times, arc
said to have bcon asked 90 cooperate in
starting the now organization. Mr. Cur
tis Is not an officer of the club ut present,
and Mr.. Weeks Is merely q member of tho
board of governors OK oflicio, so that nei-
ther of them can represent the club under
the present circumstances. New York
Tribune.