The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-30
AMATEURS
STRICTLY
DEFINED
An Effort Made to Purge
Athletics of Profess
sionalism.
THE new ASSOCIATION ACTS.
Attempts to Remedy the Defects
Of the Existing Organi-
cation.
COMM ~~NTS BY LEGAL ATHLETES.
John Elliott Says That the New Plan
Is Good Enough, but I'm
practicable.
John Elliott SAYS That the New Plan
Is Good Enough, but I'm
practicable.

two essential particulars: the definition
OF an amateur and the representation OF
athletic organizations in the association.
A present all athletic organizations are
equally repre- sented in The association, and
a club with a score of members and de-
voted to but one particular brand OF ath-
letics has powers equal to those OF uni
versity or club many times as large and
encouraging hetics OF every kind. The
new constitution substitutes a different
basis of representation by compelling
clubs devoted to a special branch of ath-
letics (boating swimming and The hke),
to form an association or sub-aSsociation,
this association to enter the main assocla-
ton on an equal footing with universities
or general athletic clubs.
Boxing and wrestling clubs are excluded
from the association on the ground that to
enforce strict amateurism, at which the
new association aims, in such clubs, Is
practically impo bic.
judge William 2. Lawlor of the Oily m
pic Club is the president OF the new asso-
citation, and j. P. Cook of the Acme Club
is secretary. Judge Lawlor. speaking OF
the new organization, said last night:
I'VE have endeavored to raise the
amateur standard, and to that end we
have adopted a definition of an amateur
While the universities, for certain con-
siderations of self-interest, have not yet
Withdrawn from the old assocla ton, they
are in sym pathy with our effort to estab-
llsh a higher amateur standard.
Among the clubs OF the new associa-
ton are those who have formerly offended
most seriously the amateur rules. But
the Olympic Club, as well as the others,
realizes that its only hope lies in an en-
pnalic inSistenCe on strict amateurlSm in
the future.
The new constitution, except in the re-
spects above noted, resem bes closely that
OF the old association. 1t provides Tor
general jurisdiction over all kinds of ath-
letic sport. Among Its purposes are ito
provide and enforce discipline in keeping
with the strict needs OF amateur athletic
sport" anc ITO institute, regulate and
award all amateur cham pionships of this
association" The territorial jurisdiction
of the association is to extend over Cali
fornla, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.
Mem bership in the association Is limited
to amateur organizations of not lie S than
fifty mem bers, operated for the advance
ment OF general athletics, and amateur
athletic as, ociations of not less than two
clubs, each hav ng at least twenty me NJ
bers maintained for the development OF
any one of the following branches o.:
amateur athletics: Rowing, swimming
bicycling. court tennis, handball, cricket,
golf, boating, cross-country running,
lawn tennis baseball, football, fencing
and laci o3se.
The main association, through its board
OF governors, is the sole judge of the
qualifications of applicants for admission.
Following are some of the strictest
qualifications which the new constitution
demands of amateur athletes:
DEFINITION OF AN AMATEUR.
Section /. An amateur athlete is one who
has never received nor competed for stake,
adm ion or gate money, entrance fee or
other mpenSation in any form for.
Personal services OF any kind rendered to
any athletic organization, or
Services OF an athletic character rendered to
any individual.
One who has never taught, pursued or as
sisted in the pursuit OF athletic exercises for
pecuniary gain.
One who has never become or continued
member of any athletic organization in con-
sideration of the waiver of the usual initiation
fee, customary dues or other charges or in
consideration OF any advantage to which each
member of such organization would not be
entitled by virtue OF his mem bership.
One who has not entered into competi tion
under d name other than his own from
club oil which he was not a member in good
standing.
One who does not abandon nor neglect his
usual business or occupation for the purpose
OF engaging in athletic training pursuing
athie tics in any form.
One who pursues athletics solely for the
purposes of health, recreation and sport, and
distinct from any other Kind OF advantage.
one who has never pawped, bartered or
sold, or otherwise disposed of for valuable
consideration, any prize, emblem or token re-
ceived in any athletic competition, perform
ance or event.
John Elliott, the acting president OF the
faclhc Association, expressed his opinion
OF the new organization quite freely.
q
but the formation of a new association IS
entirely practicable. The universities
will not think of joining 1t, Tor if they lid
they would not be allowed to compete
with any but mem bers of the association
and conseq iently would have to give up
any idea OF Eastern trips.
THE new association has no standin-
and cannot have any. 1t is significant
that of the three clubs which compose it
two were expelled from the old associa-
ton and the third withdrew from it.
These clubs could not or did not live mp
to the amateur rules of the old association.
and yet they are proposing now TO e.tab-
lish rules still more strict. l have no hesi-
tation in saying that the amateur stand
ing of the old Pacific Association was
never better than it is now. In the words
OF Caspar Whitney the vicious element
has ueen removed"
w. +. Humphrey, ex-p-esldent of the
Pacific Association, expressed somewhat
similar opinion. ''Some OF the men in the
new association are in earnest" he said,
but they rave no material TO work on.
Ii they would come into the existing asso-
citation and use their efforts there in the
cause of amateur athletics great good
might be done.
Dissatisfaction has been growing for
some time in the Olympic Club. 1t and
her clubs had been lax in observing
amateur rules. The Pacific Association,
which nad peen lax in enforcing them, be-