New-York tribune., 1906-12-22
MESSAGE TO ATHLETES.
FOSTER AMATEUR SPORT.
Aggressive Campaign Demanded by
President of 4. ~.


James f. Sullivan. president of the Amateur
Athletic Union, has written a letter or MESA ge
TO the board Of governors and delegates at large
In which he makes an appeal for aggressive
campaign and outlines the policy of the present
administration. He points out that few changes,
if any. are necessary or advisable but that the
good work of encouraging amateur sport and
protecting the amateur must be carried on TO a
point where the amateur definition. which has
always been open TO much discussion. will be
better and more clearly understood.
He calls attention to the fact that the success
of the Metropolitan Association of the A A. L.
is largely due TO the encouragement given the
Church Athletic League, the Intersettlement
Athletic League. the Catholic Athletic League.
the Sunday Schools Athletic League, the Mill
tary Athletic League and the Public Schools
Athletic League. These leagues are mainly
composed Of the younger generation. and it is
in the interest Of these leagues that the Amateur
Athletic Union do its best work. He urges
each association in the A. A L. to have created
one or more of these leagues in cities where
possible.
He also says ii should be the aim of the Anna
teur Athletic Union through its associations to
organize and foster municipal athletic associa-
tions. and suggests that the Mayor of each city
be the president OF the municipal athletic asso-
citation. having as members OF the committees
the persons who are in charge of each play
ground-making uniform rules. and paying par
ticuar attention to the definition of an amateur.
He calls attention TO the need of a general
intercollegiate association TO work in harmony
with the Amateur Athletic Union. and to make
eligibility rules and uniform athletic laws. and
suggests that it be called the American Inter-
collegiate Association. Mr.. Sullivan does not
seem to realize that such association is al
ready organized in the Intercollegiate Athletic
Association of the United States, and that
thirty-three universities and colleges have
Joined il.
Mr.. Sullivan also calls attention TO the ques-
tiOn Of the control Of the sChoolboy athlete, and
says, in part:
The control of the schoolboy athletic element
should naturally be taken care of by the col
lege athletic associations. But in national
way the colleges make no attempt 10 control
the schoolboy athlete. Nor they. because
the colleges themselves lack national assocta-
ton. As a result scholastic athletics are not
organized. There is absolutely no head and in
many parts Of this country to-day among school
boys no attention is paid TO the amateur defni-
tion. nor is there the slightest regard for egi-
bility rules. AS result schoolbOys in certain
sections of this country are being brought UP
with no knowledge Of the amateur definition.
no regard for eligibility rules, no regard for
studies. And it's all wrong. We must teach
the schoObOy that he must play fair in athletics.
We must educate him. teach him the difference
between the amateur and the professional. and
If we go along these broad lines feel that we
will accomplish a great deal for organized sport
IN America. Inc SchOOlDOy Is the very rOunOd-
tion. If get the schoolboy started on an
honest basis the rest of it will come quite
natural.
The honest professional is a person whom the
Amateur Athletic Union has no quarrel with.
We admit there must be professionalism; there
must be professionals. The Amateur Athletic
Union has no desire To antagonize the profess
sional-far from ii. But it's the deceitful ANA
teur-the amateur who is taking money. sign
and perjuring himself every day-that the Anna
teur Athletic Union is trying to root out. But
he can only De stamped out by the cooperation
OF all who are interested I'm amateur sport. And
/ feel confident that II we go have
g1ne I'm the past the Amateur Athletic Union
viii within the next few years have alliances
with athletic associations at home and through
out the entire world
In speaking of the union as a whole he says:
want 10 state that the Amateur Athletic
Union Is stronger to-day than ever before. We
are all working with the one object-the bet
terment OF competitive sport But we must not
stay idle or be satisfied with what has been
done There is a great deal more to be accom-
phshed and the strength OF the Amateur Ath-
letc Union viii come from increased member
snip In each section OF the country; therefore
hope that the officers OF the different associa-
tions will at once strive TO increase their mem
Dershlp ana endeaVor TO organize Sunday school
athletic leagues, church athletic leagues. public
school athletic leagues etc, and thereby build
up in each association Of the Amateur Athletic
Union an association that will be credit to
in years to come.
In answering critics, all of our members of
associations can state, without fear OF being
contradicted. that the Amateur Athletic Union
is without doubt the purest governing body of
amateur track and field sports I'm the world. And
that means great deal. II is quite true that
there will be found occasionally an amateur who
Is not honest, but legislation will not stop
crookedness in sport We must all try to instil
into athletes that spirit Of fair play and honesty
think that is better even than legislation be-
cause legislation will not stop dishonesty.
In referring 20 the growing need of public
Fairgrounds and baths. Mr.. Sullivan says:
ask each association through it's officials
and through the officials Of clubs that are mem
bers OF the association to take up the question
or the promotion os Fairgrounds and public
gyInnasiums and baths. The Amateur Ath-
letic Union since iJs inception has stood sponsor
for such institutions and great deal of the
work that is now being done in playground
movements, public gymnasums and public
baths can be attributed TO influences that the
Amateur Athletic Union is responsible for II
is quite true that In some cities these institu-
uons are quite popular and are being operated
successfully; but in many other cities they are
being neglected and no move whatever is made
for their establishment Therefore II will be alb
solutely up 10 the officials OF the Amateur Ath-
letic Union and the officials OF its club members
10 initiate all movements that are for the good