New-York tribune., 1907-01-10
HONOR J. E. SULLIVAN.
BIG CROWD At DINNER.
The President Lauded as America's
RepresentatiUe 1thlete.

York Athletic Club last night to James E. Sulli-
van, president OF the Amateur Athletic Union Of
the United States. by those who have apprec-
ated the great work that he has done for many
years in the interest of pure amateur sport.
More than two hundred persons attended the
dinner Those at the speakers table were John
p. Doyle William T. Brown, Fred w Peck, ].
w. Spaulding, Colonel William S. Morris, DR..
Luther Halsey Gulick. Gustavus T. Kirby. Con-
troller Herman A. Metz. James L. Sullivan, Bar
tow S. Weeks, Julian w. Curtis, John r. Van
Wormer, James Pilkington, Daniel F. Cohalan,
the Rev. F. j. Sullivan and P. J. Conway.
Mr.. Weeks acted POSTMASTER and the
speakers were John r, Van Wormer, on Amer
ica's Representative Athlete-Theodore Roose-
velt'; DIR. Luther Hasey Gulick, on Athletic
Morale Julian w. Curtss on Football in
America; James PilkingtOn on Amateur Row
Ing in America; Gustivan T Kirby. on Inter
collegiate Athletics; Controller Herman A Metz.
on Municipal encouragement of Athletics;
Daniel F. Cohalan. Champion Athletes;
Colonel w S. Norris THE Soldier in Ath-
letics." and j. T. Mahoney, on The Amateur
Athletic Union"
Behind the speakers table was large paint
ing Of President Roosevelt From one side
strung large American flag. while on the other
was a flag bearing the colors of the New York
Athletic Club.
@AA' 'NNfN" ti4 liiS opCIIl6 duuleSS icdu lClbeis
of regret from President Roosevelt, Mayor Nc
Clellan. Superintendent of Public Schools Max
well, Henry Chadwick, Ralph d. Paine Ban Il.
Johnson r. H. Saxton and H G.. Spalding.
Inc last named said 1t was worth a trip of three
thousand miles to hear Jim talk and this
called forth loud applause.
Mr.. Weeks. III introducing Mr. Sullivan, who
was the Srst speaker, said that he was a man
loved and respected by all. He said all his
s In5 b s.TKe nome pm j. and every time n ne struck
tribute to Mr. Sullivan for all he had done in the
interests of athletics said he was pretender.
and instead of talking acted. Every stood
up and sang For He's Jolly Good Fellow"
before Mr.. Sullivan was able to speak
1t plain that the warm welcome had af-
fected him. as his voice Quvered at the be-
ginning of his address, and only those close 10
him could understand what he said.
He spoke of the fine work done by the Amer
lcan team at the Olympic games last spring. and
referred particularly to the performances of
American Athletic Association for the part 1t
played. He read cable from abroad crticsing
American athletes, and said that the Amateur
Athletic Union would decide who were amateurs,
and If any man rejected by the Olympic
committee the whole American team would be
withdrawn.
Mr. Sullivan praised the good work of the
Church Athletic League and the Public School
Athletic League. The city authorities, he said,
did not properly support the good work that is
being done in this line. Plenty Of Fairgrounds
for the children is what is wanted in this city,
he added and ended his remarks by saying that
the evening was the most pleasant to him OF
his life, and was easily the blue ribbon
In responding to the toast, Americas Repre-
sentative Amateur Athete-Theodore Roose-
Felt, Mr.. Van Wormer said in part
According to an accepted authority. the word
athlete was derived from the Greek word
athlein," which meant ito contend" 1t signi- |
ned In ancient Greece combatant, pugilist. |
wrestler or runner. Athletics were studied as a
branch of art by the Greeks, and this led TO the
general adoption of various useful rules as To |
diet, exercise and other cbserVances which would
contribute to physical health and strength.
Athletics, to use another definition is the ex-
hibiuon of mans physical prowess in games OF
skill and endurance, and though during numer- /
Gus centuries II has had a variety Of manifesto
tons, 1t Is pretty much the same to-day az It |
was at the time OF the Olvrnriau games which /
were given some twenty-five hundred Years ago |
when Greece was at the height Of her civilization
and power.
boys and girls of America and will do even more |
They have became a national necessity. Unless |
lhe children or the poor are properly made ac- /
qualhled with and developed In and strengthened |
by the athletic instruction and exercise now pro /
yided, but still measurahly inadequate. their /
poorly nurtured bodies. feeble indigestion and |
abnormal organs Will not protect them against |
the lnsdious diseases that lurk everywhere In !
their environment
But what powerful influence one virile man |
can give 10 the animate generation. young and |
old. of a country like America! ConspIcuouslv
above all others. there is man who has done /
this. and that Is Theodore Roosevelt While
born In favorable environment socially. he did /
not covet idleness; he did despise work: he /
did not harbor thought OF class: he wanted the |
career OF plain American boy who should enter
his own destiny in the fear and admonition OF the
Lord. He did not have at the outset even a
strong body.
Grave fears were entertained lest his vigorous
mind and soul should wear out the fraiI phv-
sique. But the Dutch determination masterful
will. instinct to overcome obstacles, ambition 10
excel in the manful rvalries OF life enabled him
TO build up, through vigorous athletic practices
q physique of cast steel. absolutely Indifferent
TO physical other hardshps, wonted TO the
most arduous and exhaustive feats of strength
and endurance. apt and ready aheld. In the
the rivers and upon the seas:
never backward about applying to his powers
any test, no matter how severe: a wrestler, a
boxer, Oarsman, familiar with the foils not
with football and baseball, at
home on horseback. an enthusiast in the pur-
suit Of big game where dangers lurS an athlete
who believes and demonstrates that precept
and practice ought to be on speaking terms with
one another
His example is inspiration which. II prop
erly studied, disspates encouragement He
teaches the good old fashioned athletic. well
as the Scrptural. doctrine that insists that the
Lord works through human instrumentalites;
that the Lord helps him who helps himself: that
one should keep the body always sound and
healthy that the mind and the soul may H.
umine. uplift and amplify the human effort.
Roosevelt is the spirit and embodiment
Of amateur athletics.