The Washington times., 1907-12-28

NEW 1Ohh. Ice. @c.-AdLLUGW l.
Halpin. manager Of the American team
which will compete in the English
OIympiad, yesterday made a verbal and
a written reply to the charges of several
athletes and athletic men regarding his
conduct as manager OF the Olympic
team that competed At Athens last sum
mer. Halpln said that he had been
maliciously attacked by men who had
on the trip to Athens "msdo him
ashamed that he was manager Of an
American team"
4 would rather resign than tell all
that happened on that trip 10 Athens,
and the true state of affairs that cX-
listed all the time we were gone" said
Mr.. Halpin. Il am not a 'squealer,' and
/ would not say a word now II / did
not feel common justice to myself de-
mands it. For the good of the sport
il would be best that 1 keep quiet.
THE story published regarding me
pushing in the front of a Greek official
at Athens is a falsehood pure and sim
pie. The story says the Greek official
was serving wine. They had walters
for that purpose and not officials.
when we arrived at Naples the ath-
letes wanted to drink water. I called
halt on this at once, stating that we had
distilled water with US. There was a
kick at this. I had 10 be strict with
the athletes.
Any trainer would have done the
same for the simple reason the team
went 10 Athens 70 win honors and not
10 have a good time. AS manager Of
the team / showed my authority as
such, but always acted in gentlemanly
way. Reports to the contrary are un-
true.
Ashamed of Team.
THE actions in the dining room at
times were such that I was ashamed
that 1 was manager OF an American
team.
IN one of the evening papers last
January. when I was running on the
independent ticket for captain Of the
New York Athletic Club, an article ap-
peared which was written by the man
whose anImus toward me Is well known
in part it said:
Matthew P. Halpin, independent
was opposing E. T. Haubold. the regu-
lar candidate. Halpin received his sup
port chiefly or his record as manager
of various Mercury Foot teams and
handler of the American team at Athens
Il can't for one moment understand
the trouble unless ii is politics"
Halpin's written statement follows:
Halpin's Statement.
Although It has been my most earn
est desire not to answer the venomous
attacks made upon me by certain men,
bers Of the late American Olympic team
which went to Athens in 1906, the un-
fairness Of my enemies and requests Of
friends force me 20 defend myself, but
not to the end 1 intended taking, be-
cause those in authority ask me not to
thTesh the matter out in the papers. but
wait until the specific charges are made,
after which adjudication will be made
by the committee. One Of my chief
reasons for not having taken this action
heretofore was that i had no desire
10 cast discTedt upon any other team
which might journey abroad on a sim
liar competitive mission
If any ono has a protest or COM
plant 10 make with respect to my man.
agemenU Of the team which went to
Athens, I think It should be properly
addressed 10 the Olympic committee.
"In all Likelihood the many rabid !
statements made concerning my treat
ment Of certain men on that trip eTla-
nate from the Irish-AmeriCan Athletic
Club. which has not had kindly feel
ing for me since L was factor in the
protesting of Martin J. Sheridan, of that
club, for professionalism several years
ago. ! am free to confess that think
that the bitterness then engendered has
never died out.
matter is threshed out before the Olym-
pic committee not alone Will be able |
TO make good for my seeming harsh |
treatment of these certain men, but viii
also be prepared TO prove many things
70 their detriment.'
The New York World which is lead
ing the attack on Halpin says. in COM
menting upon his statement:
Specific Answers Demanded.
Whoever those in authority may be.
and Halpin does not specify them. they
have effectually tied his hands, and he
is now in the position OF man bound
hand and foot and placed IN the way
OF the offended athletes so that each
one that passes him may without fear
give him a kick.
What the men who are interested
want to know is why is not Halpin
a free agent? Who controls this man
so that he may not answer the attacks
made upon him by w. D. Eaton. Har-
vey Cohn. Billy Frank Dan Sullivan.
B L. Leavitt. P. ]. Sullivan, and others
OF the Olympic team that went to
Specific charges have been made by
these men and published in this news
paper. Halpin has had ample Oppor
tunity 10 tell his side. but he refuses
However. he sticks TO the job of man
ager. The criticisms seem TO come from
no other motive than the knowledge
that Halpin is not qualified to manage
the team. They are not made in the
interest of any other man, so far as
the World has been able to ascertain.
Following are some specifications
from men who were on the team that
went. to Greece:
Cohn's Charge. .
Harvey Cohn says: "Halpin caused
the American team to lose some points.
Had he been a proper manager, I think
Billy Frank would have finished sec
ond, II not first. instead Of third in
the Marathon race. Before the race
Halpln was asked to provide Frank
with a bag in which he could carry
supplies which he might need while on