Sunday morning globe., 1901-10-27


are Too Pre.cccupied with the Clubs
and Rival Athletic Factions in the
Association.
There is trouble brewing and on tap for
the management of the " NJ. c. A. It is an
enterprising management too, and it has
thrown new life and activity into the asso-
citation i'm Washington Literature by the
wagon load has been distributed. discount
ing the namboyant circus descriptive writer
or the able editor of a railway tourist guide
And phenomenal increase Of membership
has been the result, showing that after all
printers ink and rich imagination can re-
susitate and galvauize anything but a de-
capitated Chinese Boxer But all is not
lovely at the palatial home of the Y. NJ. c.
A. on C street A gathering storm Is about
to break over the unsuspectiug heads Of the
management and the trouble has come about
in this way:
Il appears the membership of the Associa-
tion has increased sorapidly that the new
comers have no place to hang their hats in
the building aforesaid In other words, the
old timers are organized into cliques, clubs,
aud factions TO such an extent that they
monopolize the gymnasium the bowling
alley and all the other desirable "attrac-
tions" Of the building or home on C street
Here is the story of the spokesman Of a
group Of ten young men who propose to
kick November /, when they step up to the
captains desk to pay the balance of their
annual dues:
The only thing us new corners can enjoy
is the bath and swimming pool And even
on Saturday nights the water from the pool
is let out and we are barred from enjoying a
swim on the most desirable night in. the
week. This is done. ! understand to ac-
commodate the colored employees who
might easily without distressing themselves
come around on Sunday morning and let
out the water and especially as the build
ing rs closed to us on Sundays.
The thing of monopoizing all that is de-
srablc IN the association has gone too far,
and il a change is not made many of the
new members will retire For instance,
there is leaders night" cadets night, 4"
basket ball matches" aud other club con-
tests to such an extent that nor the new
comers can make any use of the gymnasium
nor the bowling alley
The physical culture boss" orders us oil
the floor; an the appliances for athletic
exercises are tied up, and we are permitted
to gaze at but not participate in the contests
between rival clubs of a basket ball game
or other athletic sport. The professors"
of gymnastics and physical culture super
intend these games or participate in them
and we poor devils of late comers can look
on with our 0abby muscles and undevel-
oped physiques which we joined this asso.
citation TO improve or perfect, without a
ghost of "A chance TO do so. If we do hap
pen to get in ahead and obtain possession
of the floor the first thing we know ion
rushes these clubs, mp goes all the athletic
appliances and of the floor we git" to
make room for the privileged gangs" rum
ming The place. Resistance would be use
less as we wogld be "frcd' ucoutineutly
by these well-deyeloped athletes and the
professors VINO captain or superintend
the games.
As for the bowling alleys there is no more
chance for a new conner TO get iu game
than there is for Seth Low To- be elected
mayor of New York Now about ten of us
poor chaps on the outside have put our
heads together and we are going to find out
IL there is any night in the week when we
can have safe aud undisturbed possession
of the floor the bowling alleys, and other
athletic exercises and appliances which we
paid our money and joined the association
TO have the use off, If not why we viii re-
tire aud Join some athletic club where
we can have the use of these appliances TO
develop our physiques and spend the even
iugs more advautageously than gazing on
Cadets" ." Leaders, 20 "Maroons, "Gtcys," 4"
or whatever these clubs call themselves,
who have all the fun they want and which
we are called upon to pay for without the
satisfaction of participation or the use of
the gymnasium appliances.
1t will be inferred from the foregoing
that there 10 real grounds for complaint
against the management, and that assurcdly
the printed literature of the association ex-
aggerates TO some extent the advantages
held out in lowery and seductive language
to young men TO join the association
The gymnasium ought to be free 10 all as
individual and not as club members No
club or rival factions ought to be permitted
on any night of the week 10 drive the iudi-
vidual members of the floor of the gymua-
stun. The same language applies TO the
bowling alleys. If these rival clubs or
factions desire to have contests, let them
rent some hall where they can indulge in
such sports The gymnasium of the " NJ.
c. A. and its bowling alley should be pre-
served at all times for individual members
TO exercise and enjoy themselves as the
printed literature promises AT present
young men joining the association are sim
ply buncoed by the promises held out and
which are entirely ignored The old.umers
and the already well developed athletes run
the machine and the new members, who are
in need of physical development, are de-
barred from the use Of the appliances for
that purpose In the gymnasium.