The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-11

ducements of all kinds to compete for
them. This, of course, is rank pro-
fessionalism and will undoubtedly be
discontinued very shortly, as there is
now an agitation on in the east, start
ed by the president of one of the clubs
that has been doing this thing the
most, to turn square about and make
a rule compelling an athlete to have
held a continuous membership of one
year in the club which he represents
previous to the time Of competition. If
this rule is adopted, and it undoubted-
ly will be. athletic clubs will rank
with one of the forces fighting for
clean athletics.
Abuse of Amateur Meets.
The so-called open amateur athletic
meet is a source of much abuse. These
meets are usually gotten up by some
promoter, who wishes to make all the
money he can through big gate re-
ceipts, and who will admit any man
to his entry list who claims to be an
amateur. Very frequently this pro-
moter, in order to make his meet a
success, will go out and endeavor to
hire some Well-knOWn athlete to COM
pete in order to make the meet at
tractive from the standpoint of the
spectator and incidentally to supply
good advertising material. These meets
are on a par with picnics, days" at
resorts given by various mercantile in
situations, county fairs and the like
where the prizes are given in merchan-
O disc. There is nothing but a slight
technical difference, which would not
satisfy an honest athlete. between
fIve-dollar gold piece and an order for
five dollars in merchandise on some
house where the order can be readily
turned into cash. This abuse is preva-
lent i'm our own state and is doing
much to stimulate a desire in the
young athlete to make money or its
equivalent out of his athletic ability.
What Constitutes Professionalism.
The Amateur Athletic union has a
rule which says, AN athlete becomes
a professional if he sells or pawns his
prizes"
Baseball games are often arranged
at these days and similar affairs
where professional athletes are al
lowed TO compete on the teams with
amateurs. The Amateur Athletic
union has another rule which says, "A
single professional player on the team
makes that team professional" In this
connection l do not think it VIII be
amiss to state the various acts that
make an amateur athlete a profess
sional IAN athlete becomes a pro-
fessional if he
/ Enters a competition for money
or for prizes for more than $35 in
value.
.. Sells or pawns his prizes.
g. Accepts a purse of money.
4. Enters a competition under
false name.
8. Enters a competition open to a
professional or knowingly completes
with a professional.
6. Issues a challenge to compete for
money or its equivalent.
7. Receives reward for becoming or
continuing a member of an athletic
organization.
s. Teaches, trains or coaches in any
athletic sport for money or any val
liable consideration.
Amateur Bicycling Professional.
Bicycling comes next in the line of
sports tainted with professionalism.
For the rider who is a professional,
who makes no claims to the contrary,
completes openly for money, there is
go criticism. On the other hand, it is
easy TO be seen that the rider who calls
himself an amateur, receives merchan-
disc orders. turns these orders imme-
diately into cash and in some cases
even sells these orders to the race pro-
moter at a discount is nothing more
or less than a professional. The riders
at our own track are simply class A
and B professionals. A the fast bunch
and b the comparatively slow bunch.
Next comes so-called amateur box
ing" AS a rule this form of sport
starts out clean enough. but the anna
teur boxer who completes at first for
development and prizes usually de-
generates as his ability increases, and
is very soon willing to fight for
small prize or side bet.
In contrast to all the above is that
acme of athletic cleanliness, regu-