The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-20
SULLIVAN AND A. A. u.
IN PITIFUL BACKDOWN
Allowed HaSknS to Run in Boston Races on Weak
kneed Plea That 1t Was a Closed Event
Foolish Quaker Writer.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

AS an original and unique method OF
four-tushing. the stand taken by the
Amateur Athletic Union in the matter
OF the suspension of 6. p. Haskins. the
Universi.y OF Pennsylvania mile runner.
who was suspended By the registration
committee OF the South Atlantic Asso-
citation VI the A. 4. L., is positively the
limit
Incidentally. James +. sullivan presi-
dent or the union, who has been ram
paging around the country bluffing rural
athletic clubs and giving himself out as
the old original No. on the revised
list of never-say-die reformers. is pre-
scented in a rather yellow light. and his
halo Will need considerable busting be-
fore it will again shine brilliantly
enough TO create any special impression
on the minds of the amateur athletes OF
the South
Crawled Before Penn.
Mr.. Sullivan decided on Saturday
night that. although Haskins had been
suspended for high-handed foul which
| endangered the legs OF "a number Of fell
! low-cOmpetitors In the haif-mile run at
Richmond on January %. he was stin
qualified to run for Pennsylvania IN a
special relay race between that uni
versity and Dartmouth. which was a
feature OF the open meet given 1y the
Boston Athletic Association. in Boston.
on February 9. PENIS team finished
first and. in passing upon the protest
/ against Has<ins made by the Dart
mouth manager. Mr.. Sullivan an
nounced that IL was a closed event con-
trolled by the Intercollegiate A a A
and that the protest would not stand.
This decision comes from a man who,
Arthur Duffey claimed advised him TO
expose the condition in amateur ath-
lctiCs. and then turned around and de
nounced him In a scurrilOus manner. 10
say nothing of assuming the liberty OF
wiping out Duffey's mark OF 9 3-5 sec
Onds from the amateur records before
1 asking the consent Of any OF the other
Othclals Of the A \. L.. hence the ath-
1 letes OF the South are not at all sur
prlsed 10 see him crawl before the Uni
VersIty Of Pennsylvania and the Inter
collegiate A. A a.
Reasons for Suspension.
Haskins was not suspended for any
such technical or PAPER reason as not
being registered, or for failing to remit
his entry fee. but for an extremely dirty
and unsportsmanlll1e trick that was IN
worthy Of any college man. His cEok-
ing Of Pete Herring was an action jypi-
cal Of the lower class of professionals,
and brought reproach upon himself and
his college. II the much Wanted and
loudly advertised treaties between the
a. \. T-Snd the Intercollegiate A. A. A
and other organizations do not recog-
nize a suspension for such. causes. It
ne. ~
would be recognized.
As a matter Of fact Mr.. Sullivan un-
derstands fully that Haskins should not
have been allowed 10 run at Boston. bat
because his suspension came from the
South Atlantic Association and not from
the Metropolitan or New England As
SOCIations. ne lacked the nerve TO an
force the obligations which ne has been
SO Instrumental ~ formulating and de
hOcrately laid down for fear Of start
ing something which lie could not finish.
What Will Englishmen Think.
That's a fiEe line of sportsmanship and
craftsmanship TO come from the man
who runs over to Europe every now ana
then and tells the foreign athletic au-
thoritics what a wonderful and iron
bound Organization we have over here
IN the A. a. L. II he VIII curl up under
such slight ur"VOCatiOH the English
amateur officials may well wonder what
protection their athletes VIII have II
they come 10 the jamestown or any
other games OF this side. and happen
10 come into conflict with the Boston
Athletic Association. New York Athletic
Club. the intercollegiate Amateur Ath-
letic Association. OF the University of
Pennsyiyai.sa.
Students of amateur athletics who are
frank enough TO assume a practical in
stead of hol-eT-Ihau-thOU attitude have
not been afraid 10 state that in their
opinion some provision Should be made
by which worlds recOrd-nOlders such
as Duffey and other men who have been
declared professionals could compete AT
amateur meets. and thereby benefit sport
and interest the general public. but Mr-
Sullivan and the other spotlight re-
formers have decried any such move.
Mercy no, A bas the horrid pros.
Consign them to outer darkness! has
been the cry. and a struggling organi-
cation in small city. or a city where
there was not general support Of field
and track games. has been refused the
privilege of adding professional attrac-