Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-30
MAKES CHARGES IN TURN
Papke and Kelly to Meet for Mid
dleweight Honors.
LATTER FAv0RITE IN BETTING
First Test of the New Two-Year'
Olds - American Association
Wants Chicago Franchise.


halp.n OF the New York Athletic Club.
whose reappontment as manager of the
American Olympic team aroused storm
OF criticism. has made a long statement,
in which he defended himself against the
attacks which have been made publicly
and privately since the action of the
American Olympic committee was made
public. Halpin names as his detractors:
Martin ]. Sheridan. IrishAmerican A. c.
Robert Edgren. New York A. c.
Ray c. Ewry New York A. c.
Harry L. Hillman. New York A. c.
H. V. Valentine, New York A. c.
ID. A. Sullivan, Butte, Mont.
w. D. Eaton. Cambridgeport Gymna-
SUM, Massachusetts.
r. G. Leavitt Cambridgeport Gymna-
SUM, Massachusetts,.
With the exception of Edgren. who ac-
companied the party in the interest of
business, every athlete named was an Of
fetal member Of the Olympic team Sc
1ected by the American committee to COM
pete at Athens.
There is general regret felt in athletic
ranks that this affair should have as
sumed proportions because either side of
it could have been stopped on its course
by little judicial consideration. Had the
1rish-Amerfcan Athletic club adopted
some other method of manifesting its dis
approval OF the selection of Halpin by the
American committee, or had the latter
body read the signs of the times rightly
and appointed a manager WHO would have
proved less Objectionable than the man
selected and whose popularity among the
active athletes would have insured the
proper amount of respect for the individ-
iIal and the position. no such prominence
would have been given to this teapot tenn
pest. As the matter now stands, the
charges will not tend to help the cause of
amateur athletics OF lessen the labors of
the American Olympic committee in their
efforts to raise the necessary funds to de-
fray the expenses of the trip.
Followed Instructions.
According to the statement of Halpin
the troubles that beset the trip to Athens
occurred before the games were held. He
states that his work in connection with
the tour was laid out by the American
Olympic committee and that he religiously
followed its instructions. He also dis
claims any responsibility for the travelling
Arrangements and hotel accommodations
both of wnicn, he says, were the work of
the American committee. for which he
could in no way be held responsible.
Personal Animosity Alleged.
Halpin insists that the attacks and criti-
cisms were not caused by his treatment
of certain of the athletes during the trip,
but the continuation Of a bitter quarrel
for athletic supremacy between the New
York Athletic Club and Irish American
Athletic Club, and made more bitter by
his protesting Martin ]. Sheridan for pro-
6essionalism short time before the trip
TO Athens. In connection with this he
said:
1t Is almost public property that before
the American team left New York the an
fagonism OF some members of the team
REACH such state that Martin J. Sheri-
-6xS was requested not to permit any of
his fubpates to use personal violence on
me NrtJg the trip to Athens and return
In Ns9reral instances Halpin cites Incl
dents % support of his assertions that
personaA animus is responsible for the at
ta9k. Among other things he says:
~one athlete whose animosity toward
me<probably was stirred into life because
OF my having said that he was a grating
amateur. my claim being that he toured
l New York and New Jersey giving exhibit
lions in jumping at circuses and INSANE
eionedCeames. for which he received prizes
Gsallowed by the Amateur Athletic Union
rules. This same man upon his return
|. Drunkenness Charged.
Two other members of the team have
eesn ft to take exception to my manage
ment. In so far as one is concerned his
atheism is probably caused by the fact
tat i got him out of serious difficulties
We the police in Naples and saved him
mon oReoable imprisonment. He proba-
bly, hos forgotten when he got beastly
drunk at the Hotel De NapoIi and
smashed furniture. insulting women and
otherwise conducting himself along lines
IA rowdy or according to his own ideas of
Q gentleman. The damage done on this
occasion in this particular hotel was paid
Tor by me out of funds of the American
Olympic committee.
The other mans grievance against my
MANAGEMENT probably dates from the time
in Naples when he tried to hold me ND
for money out of the Olympic funds
which ! refused to give him. Aside from
these two instances. the last two men
were the first violators of discipline on
the outward trip. At a late hour one
night I located the men regaling them
selves with liquor in the smoking room.
Inasmuch as they persisted in such &C
tions. called a meeting of the team men,
bers and informed them that a continuance
of such actions would result In their dis
barment from competition. Even this
threat failed in its purpose. and they re-
sorted to underhand methods in order to
evade my discipline.
An Unfit Companion.
Despite the fact that one OF my detract-
crs has seen fit to laud one of the men
who was a constant menace to the good
name and reputation of the team, 1t is