New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-26
MR.. FREEMANTLES LETTER
WHY ENGLISH coLLEGrANs WON'T COM
PETE WITH AMERICANS
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE iNrEhoo''
LEofATE ASSOCIATION OF AMATEUR ArH-
LETEs CONSIDERS THE DECLrNATIoN
OF THE CHALLENGE 49, MIR.
sHrRAs's COMMENTS.

sHrRAs's COMMENTS.
Tho Executive Committee OF the intercollegiate
| Association Of Amateur Athletes OF America met
last night AT the Fifth Avenue Hotel those pres
ent being oliver Shiras, Cornell. president Il. q.
McVitty Princeton. treasurer; j. b. Briggs, IT.,
New-York University. acting secretary; II. w.
Howe Harvard: ]. N Swift. Yale; J. ID. Wlnsor'
University OF Pennsylvania and r. X. Bird. Co
lumba.
One Of the principal subjects before the meeting
was the declnation Of oxford and Cambridge to
participate with the intercollegiate Association In
n series OF games proposed by the latter. the nrst
OF which was to have been played In England and
the second IN America. This letter was received
Thursday night by President shiras and Is of con-
siderable length.
The entire correspondence upon the matter OF the
international games was given out for publication
upon the recommendation Of Mr.. Shiras. and with
the consent Of oxford and Cambridge.
In view OF the criticisms OF Mr.. Freemantle.
president of the oxford University Athletic CLUB
and Mr. Jackson treasurer Of the same club, IN
terest attaches to the first letter by which negota-
lions were opened with oxford and Cambridge III
which the matter OF the eligibility OF contestants Is
frankly set forth as follows: Each Of our con-
testants Is required to be certified to by two pro-
fessors OF his college that he has been student IN
n regular course at the college since the hfteenh OF
the previous October. You could regulate your
qualification TO suit yourselves
AS Won doubtless know. we have been very strict
Of late years about requiring our atnletes 10 W
bona fde students and strict amateurs we IeeI
that we draw the lines strictly as you ana
therefore would be quite willing TO arrange WIN
you an any student an amateur qualihcaton 'ha'
you might submit"
From the correspondence which follower II was
inferred that n satisfactory agreement would be
reached The announcement OF the refusal OF the
challenge was therefore. a surprise.
obarta prpsf
In the formal declinauon or the chaIlehse rreS'-
dent Freemantle says:
"Mv committee regrets that It does not see
,ts way tust vet to advise It's club TO enter
upon such meetings. either by Itself or IN con-
function with the Cambridge University Athletc
Club The time has not yet arrived when ,ne
truest interests OF amateur athletic sports woud
be best served By such meetings taking place ne
tween English and American universities or III
deed, between England and America
AS regards oxford and Cambridge. II Is uniVer-
sally recognized that no question as 10 the amateur
and student OF their athletic representatives,
has been or can be raised, but on the other mana
II nv committee are rightly adyised-there are
difficulties surrounding both these points IN many
American universities and colleges, which render
these questions of status alike uncertain ana UNI
satisfactory. While recognizing gladly that Some
American universities md colleges are dong their
best TO remove such difficulties and to render the
status of their amateurs and students both certain
and satisfactory my committee feel that the
most prudent course would be, in your interest az
well as their own for them not to accept the
present proposals under the existing conditions. ,
There are also minor difficulties which would
have to be adjusted. hut as the situation Is, IN our
Judgment still governed by that most important
diffculty 10 which have alluded 1t Is unnecessary
for to refer TO those difficulties when are not
important.
As regards the matter OF the amateur status OF
American intercollegiate sport. the whole question
was summed up BY Mr.. Shras. who said; In the
intercollegiate games held in New-York last year
there were between six hundred and seven hundred
entries made and not OF these contestants was
challenged as to his eligibility AS the rivalry among
the colleges having membership in the association
is a keen one. IT Is not likely that any man OF
questionable amateur standing would be able to
make his entry unchallenged'
The Executive Committee did a great deal OF
business last night in preparation for the general
meeting Of the association at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel tonight Among several important questions
was the disposition OF the case OF the University OF
California which not made public.
The committee decided tina; the intercollegiate
bicycle records made at last years meet, with pac
ing assistance should not stand