The Washington times., 1907-12-24
FORMAL PROTEST
AGAINST AALPIN
BY /. A. A. CLUB
OBJECTION VIII Be Acted
Upon-Hanging Fire
For Several Weeks.

NEW YORK, Dec. 2.-The Irish
American Athletic Club has made a
formal protest against the appointment
OF Matthew p. Halpin as manager Of
the American team Of athletes for the
Olympic games in England next year.
Halpin. who is a member OF the New
York Athletic Club, was appointed man
ager OF the team by the American Olyn-
pic committee three or four weeks aEo.
He acted as manager OF the American
team which carried all before il at the
Olympic games at Athens, Greece. last
year.
When Halpin was first named some
objections we're made to his appoint.
ment but they were not considered
seriously by the committee. This formal
protest will have to be acted upon,
however. although. judging from what
James +. Sullivan. Julian Curtis, and
other members OF the committee have
said, it is not likely TO be entertained.
Resolutions Formed.
The formal protest was made in the
shape Of a resolution at the regular
monthly meeting OF the board Of direc-
tors Of the Irish-American Athletic Club
two or three days ago. It follows:
OF the Irish-American Athletic Club pro-
test against the appointment OF Mat
thew Halpin as manager Of the Ameri-
can team Of athletes scheduled TO com
pete in the Olympic games at London
next summer.
THE protest is based on the almost
unanimous report Of the athletes who
went TO Athens last year under his
management. The record made a the
games by the members of the Irish
American Club and their splendid per-
Centage in the total Of points scored,
which won the honOrs for the United
States on that occasion. are matters OF
Ut iversal knowledge and are glOriously
treasured by our organization.
The charges OF uncivil and some
times boorish treatmen. which some Of
these young men received from Halpin
have been fully proved TO the satisfac-
tiOn OF this organization. Members
Of other athletic associations who were
also on that famous team have cor
r0bOrated fully the charges made by our
men and reclte specific complaints of
their own along the same general line.
Sweeping Charges.
1T is the opinion Of the Irish -Ameri-
can Athletic Club that as it is proposed
10 send to London next year another
great point winning body Of athletes.
several OF whom earned honors at Ath-
ems. a protest IL their behalf should
have some weight. The conclusion Is
impressed upon the club that Halpia is
not mt person 10 represent the United
States abroad On such an important
mission. either by temperament. educa-
uon or personality.
In making this protest We desire to
be distinctly understood as having no
candidate 10 offer for the place"
Sullivan Sees Complaint.
This resolution was shown last night
TO James E. Sullivan, secretary Of the
American committee which selected Mr.
HalPin as mana ger Of the team. Mr.
Sullivan said.
The charges Of the Irish-American
Athlete Club are not specific enough.
They do not go far enough. Mr.. Halpin
may have been 'UnCivil and 'bOOrish' to
certain athletes. but TO whom and when
and where Let the Irish-American
Athletic club come forward and give
the facts TO the American committee.
May Not Qualify.
Again. the Irish-American Athletic
Club viii not. as it says. send to Lon
don next year another polnt-winning
body Of athletes Neither win any
other club. The Irish-American Ath-
leuc Club should know that the men
who will compose the American team
Will be selected after two try-outs. one
IN the East and the other I'm the West
next June. It may he that no athletes
Of the irish club will qualify IN these
try-outs. In which event how could the
Irish club send team TO London?
There will be no dead ones on the
American team, and no 'butting in will
be permitted by the American commit
tee The Irish-American Athletic Club
Carno' go over the heads of the mem
bers Of the American committee IN order
20 send team 20 England. for this
committee is 10 pass on all American
entries. I know plenty Of athletes who
made the trip 10 Athens under the man
agement OF Mr. Halpin, all of whom
viii indorse him unQualifiedly. Some Of
them are Lghtbcdy, Foreshaw. MouI-
ton. and Pilgrim, and there are many
others
Has No Grievance.
Il fail to see where the Irish-Ameri-
can Athletic Club has any grievance. for
that orga nization does not know TO a
certainty that any of its athletes will
be picked for the team. Haven't they
got 20 qualify first in the try-outs2
7 can say now that in the event OF
the selection Of any Irish-American
men, II they do not want to go. they
can stay at home. We will be prepared
for such an emergency. for We shall
nave second string team which will
bring the houors 70 America
Il don't know what the American
committee will DO about this resolution
against Halpin. but the Irish-American
Athletic Club should make its charges
against him to US, and these charges
should he specific, not general"
MEUT OOuT mFIEIO