New-York tribune., 1908-12-12
ANGRY AT AMERICANS
DUE TO OLYMPIC GAMES.
Viescs of J. E. SaLliOan on the Inter
national Committee.

Athletic Union a resolution had been voted empoW-
ering its members to constitute international
committee to regulate the Oympian Games. These
feelings shared by all the members OF the Inter
national Committee Of Olympan Games, including
the United States members, Professor W. N
Sloane and Allison Armour Doth Of whom are just
now in the United States, but who nave been COM
ruunicated with by their European colleagues); by
the British members Lord Desbcrough and Dr de
Courcy Laffan, and by the delegates OF France
Germany, Italy. Austria, Hungary, Bohemia
Greece Sweden Norway, Australia, Spain and rin-
land
The International Olympian Committee, consti-
tuted in 1884, which has the firm support OF anna
teur sportzrnen and athletes IN Europe, and which
each year gains in strength and influence has no
intention of ahdcating it's authority abandoning
its task. Moreover this coDlnittee has decided 10
in Berlin May, under the honorary presl-
dency and upon the personal invitation Of his i'm
periaI highness the German Crown Prince TO select
The place where the Olympic Games Of 1872 SHAH
take place, and which viii be the Fifth Olympiad
The international committee Of thirty-four mem
Ders representing all the countries participating IN
the Olympian games, has already received INVITA-
tions the governments of the leading european
countries in regard to the future meetings forward
ing offers of the municipalities Of numerous cities
and towns which have been proposed as places for
holding the OIympian games. The last meet
ing, as every is aware, took place in London,
and international committee points out that be-
cause the representatives Of the American amateur
athletes had difficulties with the members Of the
British Council that occasion, there is no rea-
why the American amateur athletes should on
that account blame ignoTe the international COM
nittee.
The OIynpian games of 1907 took place at The
Hague. under the patronage OF the Prince Consort
and in the historical palace Of Binnenhof and the
Minister OF Foreign Affairs received the members
Of the iuterna tonal committee in behalf Of the
eminent Of Holland during the meetings Recently
the municipality Of Prague presented TO the inter-
national committee a beautiful challenge trophy for
the Olympian games These, together with many
other examples that might be cited, show that the
present international committee of the Olympan
games has become firmly established. and enjoys
the undisputed recognition Of all the countries in
Europe The opinion in amateur sporting and ath-
letic circles here is that it would now be folly to
attempt TO create rival institution that such
efforts would inevitably lead to disappointment and
failure The feeling is that 1t would be q. great
mistake and cause deep regret II the American
Amateur Athletic Union should confound this mat
ter with the action last summer of the British
Olyrnptan Jury IN London.
The quarrel between the amateur athletic unions
OF the United States and OF Great Britain does not
by any means imply a quarrel between the Anlerf-
can Amateur Athletic Union and the internationa!
committee Of the Oympian games which IS not
responsible for the details OF organization nor for
the rulings of the British OIympan COMMITTEES and
jury. Baron Pierre de Coubertin and the mem
bers Of the international committee assert en-
phatically and categoricaly that they kept whoyf
aloof from the quarrel between the American and
British amateur athletic unions that they took no
part whatever in behalf England against the
United States. and, in short. that they remained
absolutely impartial. The members OF the interna-
tonal committee maintain that they are the trus-
tees, It were, Of the Olympian idea and that
being recognized such by all the countries in
Europe, they consider il their duty cali the
attention Of al interested in amateur athletics in
the United States TO their position in the matter
They feel confident, when the facts are known,
that the American sentiment OF fair play viii
them out in their protest against what they regard
an effort to cut the ground from under their
feet, and which they are convinced would be dis
astrous to the true interests of amateur athletics
America and in Europe c. I B.
In a letter received yesterday by Professor W. NJ
Sloane, OF Columbia University, from Baron de
Couvertin, the latter says.
It has been announced il American papers that
had appointed committee with power TO form an
international organization for the purpose of dis
next Olympic games" 1t is the business Of the
9e1f Nav under the patronsgs and uD0n the kind
Invitation of his royal highness the Kron Prtnz
decide Where the nth OIyE1Elad llsl2 IS TO lake take
have been directed by a few American leaders
5yTn 6gpc ies Committee M But fhey have fled ana
strong and powerful as our committee stands, there
to be no possibility OF OverthTOWlnB the pres
ent organization.
The resolution to which Baron de Couvertin takes
umbrage was passed on November 10 at the annual
meeting of the Amateur Athletic Union of the
United States. It reads:
That the union appoint committee, consisting
of James z. Sullivan, Barlow s Weeks, Joseph 3.
HaGca0e EyeTeIE a - -, sF9%n s ana - C5usEa'tS I ~ -
number others, who need not be members of this
union Of it's allied bodies, in an effort to bring
amateur track and field sports Of the nations Of
the world 10 the end that there be discussed and
and place of the next international or Olympic
contests and the to be decided the rules and
regulations governing such contests, and all other
matters having to do Herewith
President James E Sullivan, Of the Amateur Ath-
Ietfc Union said night that Baron de Coubertin
and the other members OF the international com
rttee were mistaken in The view they Of this
resolution. He said IL was not the object Of this
committee to ignore Professor Sloane. but rather
TO consult with him. American athletic leaders. he
said were not satisfied with the work done by the
international committee.
The international committee as organized
said Mr. Sullivan, lis OF little Its chief func-
tion is TO meet and select place for the Olympic
meeting Then II leaves the work Of carrying out
the games to another body. My associates believe
that il should have a wider scope Of influence.
II II had been organized along different lines there
would have been none OF the quarrellIng which
suited at the meeting IN London last summer.
We believe the international committee should be
reorEantzed and we intend make effort 10 ae-
conpltsh this. II Is now an imperative body We
want IT to take hold of the Olympic games and see
decide where the Olympic games OF 1872 shall be
held but we viii be in a position to decide Whether
America Is 10 be represented