The Washington times., 1906-11-11
RADICAL CHANGES LIKELY
IN PRESENT A. A. u. RULES
Star Performers Should Be Allowed Compensation for
Appearing Baseball Situation Demands Immediate
Attention and Relief.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

At last it seems probable that the
Amateur Athletic Union Will wake up
and adjust its rules To conditions which
cannot be changed.
The annual meeting of the union VIII
be held I'm New York on Monday. No
vember 10, and on the day before there
will be a meeting Of the national regis
tratiou committee TO consider the cases
of those athletes who have been reg
istered but have fallen by the Wayslde
and now crave readmissiOn
The innovations which will be dis
cussed al the Monday meeting are the
modifying OF the rules so that anna
teurs may De allowed TO play on semi
professional baseball teams, and that
star field and track performers may ac-
cept money for their appearance az IN
door or outdoor meets.
Suggested in The Times.
This Iegalizing of the receipt Of money
by star athletes under certain restrlc-
tions was earnestly agitated IN Inc
Times two years ago. and has Deeh
suggested again on various occasions
since then. Both propositions VIII re
ceive the support of DR.. William Grant
chairman OF the registration committee
40 =
\ L. who has long been aware that
so,net,iue must be done 10 keep anna
teur athletes clean ana at the same
tima satisfy The popular demand for
the appearance OF men who nave h'-
uonal regulations.
The arguments advanced IN The
Times for the establishment OF what
might be called a emi-professional class
we're also adopted by Arthur DuHey
7,-hen ne exposed the methods by when
men who are admittedly attractions NJ
r,neets obtain ample remuneration uhder
-b. alIise Of expenses" Duney was at
cracked on all sides Tor his exposures
land in the heat OF the discussion about
| The ethics OF his course his emlnenuy
y uractical ideas were overlooked
Public Wants Stars.
That star athletes are a great ana
. often necessary, attraction AZ meets
3 which are operated under a heavy eN-
Dense IS too apparent 10 need Iufther
comment That a number of these men
have been appearing with great re
quency many times IN a season at
points widely separated, and that they
were not doing so entirely IoI 'heii
neatrb or for the fun Of the thing, is
. most OF them could not afrOTd TO devote
- much time To athletics unless they
were we'll paid is extremely reasonable
The strictest and most searching in
,-astigation of these men would probao-
lv debar them from participation in COM
petftiou or appearance at amateur
meets Yet. the public is extremely
anxious TO see them. Everybody likes
In he ON hand when a worid-famous run
nar or iumper is doing something bet
ter or faster than il was ever done be-
fore and thousands OF dollars are given
ND each year in gate money by persons
who are hoping that they VIII be on
hand when "A mark is lowered.
Teach Valuable Lesson.
Another angle is that man who has
risen to the very top of the athletic lad
der generally has desirable style and
il is interesting for competitors and
critics TO observe the methods by Which
the masters have reached their high
estate. l. is not only a pleasurable
treat. but Il valuable lesson 10 note the
movements OF men like Duney, Sheri-
dan. Kraenzlein, and others. Illustration
is the best means OF teaching, and 20
witness the performance OF stars is 10
receive a course of instruction.
The moral obIiquity In promoters CIV
ing and performers receiving pay under
the pretense of il being expense money
IS self-eVideuJ Vet human nature is ever
. the same. and as long as the record
holders bring the crowds and are often
The means of saving the hackers OI
meets from heavy financial loss, there
viii be promoters who VIII give and
athletes who Will receive money con-
lrary 10 the rules. Therefore, the ques-
tIon arises: Why not allow these men
10 be paid openly under certain condl-
tions, that they may have the oppoF-
1unity and the inducement TO exhibit
their Drowess in the United States and
abroad. and that the other athletes and
the general public may have the pleas
D. ure and the benefit of seeing the best In
the world in fair and manly competition
Answers Not Satisfactory.
The answer in many cases is that If
people are so deeply interested In pro
1essionals. let the pros. have meet OF
their own. but this is merely begging
the question. The number OF men who
would be included in the class OF special
attractions is not very large, although
they are very important. and TO hold
SEPARATE meets for them would be i'm
practicable, certainly IN this section Of
the country.
Another answer sometimes heard is
that the A. A. L. is only concerned
about the development of the bodies and
minds of young Americans and does not
cater especially 10 the exceptional ath-
letes who establish records. This is not
entirely true as anyone in the sporting
end of newspaper work knows. When
the A. y. l.. is behind a meet the fact
that record breakers are to take part
and the hope that they will set even
better marks is most sedulously adver-
tised and is the basis OF the press mat
Ter. An instance is TO be found in the
A A. L. championships held IN New
York yesterday and Friday. The great
er part of the advertising centered
around the expected doughty deeds in
the. GO and 1,eoO-yard runs and the
weight events.
Human Intelligence Needed.
Deception and underhand work are Ger
tain under the present rules. and IN,
sooner the a. a. I. gTasps the bull by
the horns and conforms To the dictates