The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-05
.LOAGB0AT ACCEPTS
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
Unless Money Is Returned He
Will Be Protested in
the Future.
Tribune Special Sporting Service.

Tribune Special Sporting Service.
NEW YORK, May 4.-The announce
ment from Toronto that Thomas Long
boat, the Canadian Indian long distance
runner, has received purse of $500 as
a reward for winning the Boston A. a.
Marathon race, marks another epoch
in the lively life of the aborigne. Lo-
cal athletic authorities are already pro-
pounding the question: Is Lougboat Il
professionals According TO the dis
patch from Toronto the red man re-
ceived number Of medals, watches and
other gifts as tokens of the esteem in
which be is held across the border. The
City Council also donated 5000 as
nucleus of fund to be subscribed for
the purpose of sending Longboat to
ing accepted the money Longboat, ac-
cording to the Amateur Athletic union s
rulings of the past, becomes a protes.
sional. The case of Barney Weters,
one of the greatest of American sprint
ers, now coaching at Williams college,
is similar In many particulars. Back IN
the days when Wefers was at his best
ers of his time he entered the annual a.
A. Z. meet at Manhattan field. His was
career of victory and upon hls re-
turn to his home at Lawrence, Mass, he
was greeted with a band, speeches and
fireworks, after which dinner was ten
dered him, About the boards were
gathered the friends OF n lifetime, and
following the banquet the Mayor of the
town arose and presented Barney with
q purse containing some $500. Wcfers
accepted with speech of thanks, but
the 4. 4. I. was on his trail and Bar.
ncy was up on the carpet in no time.
There was a little heart to~heart talk.
and the nurse was returned to its do
nors. II 1T mad not been, Wefers would
have lost his amateur status in short
order, and the only thing that saved
him was his statement that he dld not
know he was transgressiug the y. a. L,
rules in accepting the donation after II
had been subscribed in the manner ii
was.
Must Return Money.
OF course, bongboat is not under the
Jurisdiction Of the American 4. A. L.,
but that body has an alliance with the
Canadian 4. a, L., and is waiting TO
see what steps the Dominion body will
should the rcd man send in his entry
for a race to be held in the United
States he would be protested at once by
some Of the other runners. lie followed
the example OF Sherring, the winner OF
tho Athens Marathon race 4 year ago;
but INlcrf1nS announced luaI hc was
through with long,distancc racing af
ter that event, and for that reason there
has never been an opportunity for the
States union to protest him. although
be is practically listed MS profcs
slona).
With Longboat conditions are differ
cnt. He is just entering upon an ath-
letic career which promises 10 be the
sensation of the decade. If the ac-
ccpting of subscribed fund as a re
ward for winning = road running con,
test is to make him n professional, it
is up to the Canadian and American
unions To take such steps AS will save
him from his friends and preserve his
amateur status. II is hardly fair for
tho two governing bodies to permit the
aborigInc to retain the purse in igno-
rance that it is running his amateur
standing until, perhaps year hence,
some prospective competitor protests