The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-11-26


row that the road of the Atlantic Assoc
citation has departed from that Of the
A \. l.. there viii be no regrets IN
Washington.
The Atlantic Association of the A. A
T. mas been ar undesirable factor In
athletics for long time. and since the
delegates have seen fit to expel 1t and the
men who have controlled its affairs-
there is some hope that Philadelphia viii
be aroused from its lethargy and take
the place to which it is emitted By the
size of its population and the number of
its athletes.
For years the conditions in Philadel-
phia have been adverse to the growth Of
amateur athletics there. but. strange to
say. have been highly instrumental in
advancing amateur sports in Baltimore,
Washington. and other cities. The origin
Of this trouble dates back to 1893 and is
an interesting commentary On the way
I'm which an organization supposed to
have for it's purpose the advancing of an
esthetic ideal may become the subject
of petty and dirty politics for the g.oriii-
cation OF private individuals.
Selfish Ambitions.
The officials Of the Atlantic Assoeia-
tion in 1890. by unfair tactics and dis
j regard of ali but their selfish personal
ambitions brought about rupture in
/ that organization which caused the Sc
lcession CT what is now the South At
lantic Association. of which Washington
/ is a member. For three years the revolt
continued IN fun swing and proved one
of the most successful efforts ever made
/ to combat not only the authority of the
a. A. L. but the clique into whose hands
the affairs Of the national body have
largely fallen. It was a long. desperate.
| expensive struggle in which the busybody
/ fgureheaGs of the Atlantic Association
We're beaten TO a standstill and the a.
A. L. itself was made to realize that 1t
is still few points shy of divine power.
and must display at least ordinary jus
tice in its dealings or find itself disin-
tegrating
An election started the blaze which
finally became a confiagratioR- The
Atlantic Association annual meeting
was held in Baltimore in 1899. Phila-
deIphia was represented by Harry Nc
MILAN, John Kelly. who was treasurer.
and possibly one or two others. The
Baltimore delegates were divided into
! two factions, one controlled by DR..
1 Merrill Hopkinson, who was president
of the Baltimore Athletic Club. and
the other by NIvison Long. Henry z.
WiIkens. Gus Brown. and others repre-
sentIng the Maryland Athletic Club.
and clubs affiliated with ii.
Manipulated Convention.
When the delegates were sent to the
meeting no trouble was anticipated. but
the Maryland Athletic Club had an
nounced its intention Of trying to land
an ONCE or two. as It had done much
4 i
some Of the best field and track men
in Maryland. It had worked hard for
the cause. had spent money, and was
always willing 20 allow its track al
Maryland Oval 20 be used fer training
and meet purposes. Wherefore II
thought there should be some recogni-
ton extended. The meeting was held
in the CarrclltOn Hotel on Light street
but before the delegates formally as
sembled Mcmillan. Kelly, and others
had a sort OF caucus across the street
In Sheehan's restaurant, where they
took dinner. and. It was charged
framed UP a slate to their own salts
faction. After the meeting was called
to order the slate was put through
with a rush.
Being beaten was not what the
Maryland Athletic Club and it's asso-
ciates objected to so much, but thes
claimed that Kelly, Mcmillan and com
| pany were voting the proxies of club:
which had no existence as athletic or
ganizations, but were mere paper clubs
for voting purposes only. These paper
, clubs were protested violently. but Nc
} MILAN and his followers treated The
real clubs represented with arrogant in
difference ran the meeting with ar
iron hand. distributed Offices as they
fur began TO fly.
Controlled by Paper Clubs.
An investigation into the affairs of tn,
Atlantic Association was begun and evi
dence was accumulated to show tina
some Of the paper clubs had no NOR,
right TO be classed as athletic organi
cations than so many sewing circles
The careers of Kelly. Mcmillan. ans
company. We're investigated, and the,
were found 10 be one continuous reeor,
Of offieeholding without any return II
the way OF plugging the game or adm,
either outdoor or indoor sports. No
only that. but it was shown that the,
I We're using their paper clubs year ate
a year to control the elections. and Their
seemed 10 be no prospect whatever o
Baltimore ever getting a square deal.
Armed with this record Of the PhiIa
: delphia crowd and a record of their owl
hustling, the NJ. a. c., and it's friend
determined to protest TO the annua