The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-26
Both Sides Probably at Fault
In Discussions at OLyn1pfcs
English nsularity and American Confidence Make Fine
Recipe for Rows-Good Feeling Between Two
Countries Receives Severe Blow.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

been something Of the same in London
IS very likely
Anyone who has seen the amenities
between some Of our leading performers
on this side when much was at stake
can we'll believe that they have pulled
or a lot OF stun Objectionable 70 the
British. Even the athletic events be-
tween our leading colleges are at times
marred By charges Of using ringers.
while the disputes over the selection OF
referees for big football matches are
looked for every year as matters OF
course one look at a lot Of American
athletes protesting a 5ecision or ming
ling with them az times and hearing
the way they not infreqUentIy denounce
the treatment by the successful opqO-
nenIs Of the officials OF the contest.
would be enough 20 make US pause IN
giving full credit 20 all the American
kicks from London, while II you have
spent years In athletics on this side
you viii not only pause, but demand 70
be shown clearly before you are con-
WINGED.
Trouble Was Sure to Come.
Even granting that the Americans have
been absolutely right in every instance,
and there can hardlybe doubt that they
were deliberately robbed in the tug-ot-
var, there still remains the almost Ger
tainty that many OF them have By their
manner and chestiness irritated and ex-
asperated the English. The result OF
such a course would be that every time
they had legitimate protest, IL would
be regarded as only another Of their IN
reasonable outbreaks, and would receive
little serious attention.
On the other hand. there Is lust a.
good reason for believing that from TIA
very start the English were determined
70 beat the bloomin' Yankees BY hook
| or By crook. and that they determined
! they would not stand for absurd and
/ tricky Yankee protests When that at
/ titude Guc<ed up against the American.
/ its wonder there was not even mora
trouble than has been reported
Real SpOrtsmen Sadly Needed.
The only thing that could have saved
/ the situation was for the entire conduct
! Of the Olympic games on the field 20
| have been placed IN the hands OF few
/ broad - minded. thoroughly cultured,
weil-bred, well-mannered. real sports
/ men, capable Of seeing al least an inch
and half beyond their noses. For the
| English 20 appoint such a committee
was not 10 be expected for a moment
After the barring Of the BelEians from
the Henley regatta this year there IS
much doubt whether there are enough
! sportsmen n England OF the type spec
I fled 70 nil the job. so the Americans
/ had 10 take what the gods might send
/ in the usual superciIious. superficial,
/ mentally in-grown cookneys and pro
vIncials which seem 10 be in charge OF
F, the meet
( II the English had put the games IN
( the hands Of the proper kind OF men,
/ and the Americans had placed their
/ team under The control Of a committee
b Of two or three sure-enOugh leaders,
/ with orders TO suppress with an Ak
J all such individuals as Ralph Rose and
/ few others on the team who make
| Themselves Obstreperous on all occa-
/ si7ns, much OF the friction might have
I been done away with
Far-Reaching Distrust.
| That the English government. and the
American. TOO, cid not take a more &C
| tive and fOrcible part in running the
meet, even II unOficiauy. is an evil
dence OF fatheadedness on both sides.
/ The Olympics might have been made q
| memorable epoch in the movement for
q more solid friendship between the
two nations, a little courteous con
sideratiOn and a few mutual conces-
. siOns would have done a world Of good
internationally.
Now, the vicious attacks and tho en-
! Uttered spirit cropping out Will be dis
/ seminated by the million OF spectators
and all the newspapers Of both COUn-
/ tries. with the result that when the
| Olympic games are over there viii be
/ more III will. suspicion. and distrUsC
| between the masses Of the people in the
two realms than there has been az
I any time in the past twenty years, Z
/ state Of mind which no amount Of Off
cial or diplomatic exchanges Of assur-
/ ances Of esteem will be able 10 entirely
smooth over for twenty years 10 come.
Serious Diplomatic Side.
This may seem a lofty and too serious
view 20 take Of wrangles growing out
of series Of games, but II is fact that
these Olympics, the manner IN which
they were conducted. and the manner
in which the athletes conducted them
selves. were capable Of doing more %
cement the entente cordiale between
/ England and America in the minds OF
their citizens az large than q hundred
Fourth Of july dinners in London with
everybody arriving in hacks. logged out
in dress suits and alternatelytO asIing the
President and the King. The dinners
and such ike incidents are mere formal
affairs where If anybody tried 70 be a
/ rOwdy and emit a knock he would be
! dropped out Of the window before he
got on the mark. while the Olympic
games are something which 20 directly
TO the hearts OF the masses
We would respectfully suggest that
| Andrew Carnegie might have spent the
money he gave 10 The Hague Tribunal
| better II he had used it TO hire an able
] bodied fOOl-killer to work Oh the Eng
lish officials in the Olympics and some
Of the American representatives By 50
/ doing he would have done more fer
peace than his peace court will do IN q
| century