The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-30
THAT BIG RACE.
The Mclaughlin Moynihan
Match May Be Abandoned.

Announcement was made in The Spy
few weeks ago, to the effect that a
match race between James j. Me
Laughlin and James j. Moynihan would
be one Of the features of the Holy Cross
indoor tournament next February.
To the average lover of track ath-
letics, this announcement conveyed
only the impression that there would
surely be a red-hot race on the even
ing Of the games.
But to those who are at the head of
amateur athletics in New England, the
officers of the New England Associa-
ton of the A. a. T.. another phase at
once presented itself Would they be
warranted in granting a sanction for
the games, knowing that the McLaugn
lin MOynihan race was upon the card :
In order to insure a successful meet
ing, the A. A. L. must grant a sane
ton else all those athletes taking part
would be liable to suspension for par
ticipating in a series of games that did
rot have the stamp of approval of the
A. A. L.
The reason why the officials of the
\. A. u. would hesitate to grant per-
mission for the games when Holy Cross
filed its application, would be because
of the doubtful standing of James j.
Mclaughlin. His case would surely
have to be investigated and action ia
ken upon it before the secretary could
c0nscientiously make out the sanction
and assign a date.
The charges brought against Nc
Laughlin are that he trained the South
bridge high school track team for four
weeks in preparation for the Worcester
county interschOlastic meeting at
Spencer last June. 1t does not stand
to reason that Mclaughlin, having
nothing in common with the South
bridge boys, would care to spend four
weeks with them unless an inducement
was offered in the way of remuneration
| for his services. He was at that time
working in w. p, Brennan's gents fur
nishing store in this city, but made
arrangements with his employer where
by he could be off to train the high
| school team. This is the first time
that Mclaughlin has attempted to
compete in amateur games since
coaching Southbridge.
From present indications, it would
/ appear that the race will be quietly
dropped from the program. Jerry Moy-
milan, whose amateur status has never
| peen questioned, would hardly care to
| jeopardize his standing by competing
against Mclaughlin, when the facts in
the case are brought to his attention,
no2 would the officers of the Holy Cross
Athletic Association. when they return
! from their Christmas holidays and I'M
derstand the situation, care to force an
issue and insist that a sanction be
granted. Such insistance might involve
hard feeling that would not soon be
smOothed over.
| With the McLaughlin-M oynihan race
practically a dead letter, the special
event would be 1000 yards special
with Moynihan and Johnnie Bray, the
| Williams College runner, as principals
! The promoters of the games had Bray
/ in mind in the first place, but thinking
that match between two local men
might prove a little better drawing
caro-, decided to invite Mclaughlin
/ Bray has told his friends at Williams
/ College that he would like an opportu-
nifty to meet the Holy Cross runner in
match. And evidently that day is not
| far distant