Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-08
WILL ENFORCE THE RULES
GREATER STRICTNEss TO BE OBJ
SERVED IN THE A. A. q.

The declaration Of President James E.
Sullivan to the Amateur Athletic Union,
that the strictest enforcement of the
rules of the association Is to be insisted
upon in future in all the various associa-
lions which are members of or allied with
the parent body. sounds the death knel
of the laxity which has been permitted in
various districts heretofore. 1t is emf
nently unfair that IN one or two of the
more active districts of the union the
athlete who advertently or inadve rtently
breaks some of the various regulations set
forth in the rules should be strictly pun
ished. while his fellow in another district
IS permitted to go scot free for the same
offense. The safety of the national body
and the purity of the whole structure
of amateur athletics depend on strict and
uniform enforcement. and the placing of
the onus of failure to so enforce the code
upon the national registration committee
definitely fixes the responsibility.
The task of the various registration
committees throughout the United States
is no easy one. In proportion to the
activity of the district there is a multiple
ity of detail coming up constantly that
requires prompt and firm decision. Often
the circumstances attendant upon a
breach of rules in a manner palliate the
offense, but the safety of the whole
scheme of control depends on fearless.
strict and unwavering enforcement.
The Amateur Athletic Union has grown
wonderfully In the past few years. 1t
has outstripped the expectation of it's
most sangune supporters. 1t is the in
tention. however. to make its influence
more widespread. to extend it in the
younger districts until more than 800
Clubs are enrolled and the number OF
entries in open competitions reaches $780,
GOO. instead of half that number COM
peting today. The associations flourish
Ing financial condition renders this posi-
BILE and gives the association the oppor-
tunity to enforce its DEGREES in a way it
has never been able to do before
Wherever athletics are popular today
the necessity OF such control as the ANA
teur Athletic Union exercises is recog-
niz d. Where some years ago Their was
an outcry against the Amateur Athl til
Union there is practically no opposition
to Il today. 1t is generally acknowl dyed
that the efforts of tie men who have
been In control of 1t are directed toward
the betterment of the sport, and thar
!axity means not liberty, but license, and
soon brings the whole fabric of athletics
into disrepute.
1t was the faith in the motive of the
Amateur Athletic Union managers that
enabled 1t to make it's stand against any
discrimination in England in the coming
Olympic games When there was sug-
gestion that foreign entries be subjected
to scrutiny in those games the Amateur
Athletic Union declaration was made that
its recognition of the afateur status of
the American competitors would de-
termine their rights to compete, and that
the disbarment of one man attested by
the national body would mean the with
drawal of the entire team. Englanf ;as
quick to accept this and avow no &. n
ton of going behind the American auar-
antee, for, whatever England may hold,
she can certainly cast no slur on the
American amateur in athletics.
President Sullivan announced the in
tention of the national body to give its
financial support to the project to send
the team to England. This means that a
tidy sum will be at hand as nucleus to
pay the expenses of a team to go abroad
and with the money that will be gathered
by private subscription and from various
clubs will enable America to send a
thoroughly representative team to Lon
don, which will represent her creditably
in every line. The competition for places
on the team should be keen, and will no
doubt act as a stimulus to athletics
throughout the United States.