Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-21
Rules Will
Be Enforced.
~ HE declaration of President
James f. Sullivan to the Amateur
Athletic Union, that the strictest

"HE declaration of President
James f. Sullivan to the Amateur
Athletic Union, that the strictest
enforcement of the rules of the
Association is to be insisted upon in
future in all the various associations
which are members of or allied with
the parent body, sounds the death
knell of the laxity which has been
permitted in various districts hereto
fore 1t is eminentfy unfair that in
one or two of the more active districts
of the union the athlete who add
yertently or inadvertently breaks some
of the various regulations set forth in
the rules should be strictly punished,
while his fellow in another district Is
permitted to go scot free for the same
offense The safety Of the national
body and the purity of the whole Struc-
ture of amateur athletics depend on
strict and uniform enforcement, and
the placing of the onus of failure to so
enforce the code upon the national
registration committee definitely fixes
the responsibility
The task Of the various registration
committees throughout the United
States is no easy one. In prOportiIl
to the activity Of the district there is
multiplicity of detail coming up con-
stantly that requires prompt and firm
decision. Often the circumstances at
tendant upon breach of rules in
manner palliate the offense, but the
safety of the whole scheme of control
depends on fearless, strict and I'M
wavering enforcement.
The Amateur Athletic Union has
grown wonderfully in the past few
years Ii has OutStripped the expecta-
ton Of its most sanguine supporters.
1t is the intention, however, to make
its influence more widespread, to eX-
tend it in the younger districts until
more than 500 clubs are enrolled and
the number of entries in open COM
petitions reaches 100000, instead of
half that number competing today.
The associations f1ourishing financial
condition renders this possible and
gives the association the opportunity
to enforce its DEGREES in way it has
never been able to do before
Wherever athletics are popular to-
day the necessity of such control as the
Amateur Athletic Union exercises is
recognized. Where some years a5o
there was an cutlery against the
Amateur Athletic Union there is
practically no opposition to it today.
1t is generally acknowledged that the
efforts of the men who have been in
control of il are directed toward the
betterment of the sport, and that laxity
means not liberty, but license. and soon
brings the whole fabric of athletics in
to disrepute.
1t was the faith in the motive of the
Amateur Athletic Union managers
that enabled it to make its stand
against any discrimination in England
in the coming Olympic games. When
there was a suggestion that foreign
entries be subjected to scrutiny in
those games the Amateur Athletic
Union declaration was made that its
recognition of the afateur status of
the American competitors would de-
termine their rights to compete and
that the disbarment Of one man at
tested by the national body would
mean the withdrawal of the entire
team England was quick to accept
this and avow no intention of going
behind the American guarantee, for,
certainly cast no slur on the American
amateur in athletics.
President Sullivan announced the in
tention of the national body to give its
financial support to the project to send
the team to England. This means that
tidy sum will be al hand as nucleus
to pay the expenses OF team to go
abroad and with the money that will
be gathered by private subscription
and from various clubs will enable
America TO send a thoroughly repre-
sentative team to London, which will
represent her creditably in every line.
The competition for places on the team
should be keen, and will no doubt act
as a stimulus to athletics throughout
the United States.