The morning journal-courier., 1908-07-20
AMERICANS PLIGHT Our Athletes at Olympic Games Contending With All Kinds
 of Trouble. CLIMATE IS RESPONSIBLE Men Suffering from Effects of Change able Weather--Hopes of Getting
 Lead This Week.
CLIMATE IS RESPONSIBLE

dom, which before the opening of the olympic games at the Stadium had big lead over all other nations in tho number of wins In tho contest for su- premacy in all sports, most of which however, were scored in competitions in which no other nation took part, almost doubled that lead during the past week, and, furthermore, over took the American team In the count for track and field events But this has not served to dishearten the American athletes and those of their countrymen who accompanied them to England. James F. Sullivan. the commissioner representing the United States. said to the Associated Press this evening:
 We have come here 10 win tho championship in field sports and we are going tc do 80 despite the handi- cap from which we are suffering This handicap has been twofold. Tn the first place the men came to q country having the worst possible cli- mate for those unused to 1t, and this affected them very seriously, moro seriously than those not engaged in the games have any idea ot IL Is not only that the men cannot get Into their best form, but the weather con ditions make them low-splrlted. They thought to get a little .unshlne at Brighton, but 1t has been as bad there as in London.
 "The other handicap against which we have had to contend is the manner in which the heat drawings have been conducted The drawings have gone against US in the 150o metres race, when our best men, Sheppard and Halstead. were pitted against each other, and the same thing occurred In the 800 metre event, the heats ot which will be run off tomorrow, Sheppard and Halstead having been drawn against each other for a second time. Bromllow and Ramey also have been put into heat together in this event while in two other heats of the 500 metres not single American has beeh drawn. It is either extraordin- arily bad luck or the manner in which the drawings have been made that has resulted fin such unfavorable con- ditions for the Americans. We have tried to find out how the drawings are conducted but have not been able to get anything from the Amateur Ath- letic association officials except the reply. the drawings have been made in the usual way
 As soon as l saw the drawing last evening l went after the secretary of the Amateur Athletic association and pointed out the injustice of these. and the matter Is to come before the com mittee. We do not care what repre- sentatives of other nations our men have to run against but 1t Is unfair to pit them against each other in the heats"
 < MT. Sullivan concluded by saying:
 "The United Kingdom had its innings In the distance events last week: the Americans will have their turn this week in the sprlnts, hurdles and jumps"
 The men who are to uphold the su- premacy of America In these sports nave been training at Brighton. They came up to London this evening, al- though suffering from the effects of the climate, still they are determined to gather In the great majority of the prizes. It will be impossible to surpass the United Kingdoms total of wins in all sports, but the Americans expect very early In the week to wipe out the lead of IA points in the score for field sports which the representatives of the United Kingdom at the present time hold over them.
 The figures up to Saturday night counting by the American method in the field and track events are: United Kingdom 54, America 40.
 Eleven events still remain to be con tested, exclusive of the Marathon race In all of which the American team will add to their score These events are. standing broad jump; running broad jump; high jump; pole vault; 100, 2oO 400 and 800 metres flat races no and 400 metre hurdle races and the relay race.
 While of course the Americans real. lze that none of these will be a walk over they do not fear the European competitors as much as they do the two Canadians, Kerr, the sprinter, who has easily beaten everyone he has met In England and Archibald, the clever pole vaulter. If the Indian, Longboat. is allowed to run in the Marathon, whcf 1t Is believed he will, the committed having already decided not to allow tho protest filed against him by the Ameri can committee, It is likely that tho prize <n this event again will go tC Canada There have been reports 1T circulation of accidents to the Inda1 runner and also that he Is not well but those who know the ways of Long boats manager do not give these muct consideration There is lot of money being bet on the result of the Mara thon, the Engllshmen freely backing A Duncan, of the Stafford Harriers, wht covered the course at the trials in two hours, 15 minutes, Beal who ran sec ond to Duncan, and T, Jack, another smart long distance man, while tho Canadians are ready to support theil many almost to any amount
 The Americans who will compete II the Marathon are; Joseph Forshaw Missouri A. C.. Sidney H. Hatch, F'irs Regiment A. A.. Chicago; John J Hayes, rish-American A. C.; T P Morrisey, Mercury A. C.; M. J. Ryan lrishAmerlcan A. C., Lewis Tewanina Carlisle Indian School, and A, R. Vel ton, Y M. c, A.
 Tewanna is thought to have a goot chance of winning, but he is feeling th' effects of the climate and is also com plaining that his knees are giving hin