New-York tribune., 1908-01-19
INTEREST IN BIG MEET
j. T.. SULLIVAN PLEASED.
Thinks College Challenge Viii In
sure Stronger OIym pic Team.

James f Sullivan president Of the Amateur
Athletic Union and member Of the American
olympic committee said yesterday that ne
heartily Endorsed the action Of the Inercollegi-
Association Of Amateur Athletes of America
in sending a challenge to England for set #
dual games betw the pick of the college ath-
letes in that country and this He in favor
OF il for two reasons: First that Il would
strengthen the American Olympic team and
second that it would stimulate increased inter
est among the colleges. All college men with
whom the subject was discussed expressed sim
liar views.
Mr. Sullivan said he believed the American
challenge would be accepted, Whether or not
the meeting is arranged depends 10 a large ex-
tent upon Lord DesborouSh. chairman Of the
British Olympic committee with whom Mr.
Kirby has had an extended correspondence on
the subject. Lord Desborough himself a fine
athlete and one Of the best fencers in the world.
is really the power behind the Olympic games
and has their success at heart. Everything
that can be done to advance them he will do.
If the American college athletes will go TO Eng
land with the idea that they will compete not
only with the college athletes but also the
olympic games il is almost assured that the in
ternational university meeting will be arranged.
According TO Mr.. sullivan. this is Lord Desbor-
ough's plan. His great interest in the olympic
meeting dates back the games at Athens In
1906 He was a competitor at that time and
returned 10 England with the determination TO
duplicate the athletic carnival in Great Britain.
Lord Desborough interested King Edward. and
he Immediately told him TO go ahead and that
he would back him up.
The American challenge is now in the bands
of the athletic powers of oxford and Cam
bridge universities. and d reply is anxiously
being awaited by the entire American college
world. GustavUs T Kirby. who has done much
for college athletics in America member
Of the intercollegiate Association Of the ANA
teur Athletes OF America advisory committee
for many years, is naturally greatly interested
in the fate of the challenge He believes
international college meeting would prove one
OF the greatest events ever held and rival in
interest the Olympic games themselves. The
dual college meeting would be held a week
after the Olympic games. IF the plan carries
out. there may he not only dual track and
field meeting but also competitions between the
college men Of England and America in rowing,
golf. lawn tennis and other sports.
Many Of the American college men would
undoubtedly compete on the Olympic team
should the challenge not he accepted. Guy Has
kins. Of Pennsylvania, college champion in the
mile and half mile runs: y. J. Cartmen. of
Pennsylvania 100 and 220 yard college cham
pion: J. b. Taylor. Of Pennsylvania, the fast
est quarter miller in America; Captain Dray Of
Yale holder Of the worlds pole vault record
and the great distance runners of Michigan and
Cornell would undoubtedly win places on the
American Olympic team; they would be of
double value should there be two sets Of games
held in England this summer.
PENNSYLVANIA is anxious to send the entire
track team abroad, and Michigan has ten men
VINO she thinks would uphold Americas prestige
abroad Harvard and Yale both desire 10 COM
nete against oxford and Cambridge, but would
be satisfied TO he represented on the American
college team All Of these colleges will gladly
pay their expenses
Mr. Sullivan believes that when the time
comes to pick Americas representatives there
will he an abundance Of material, and the great
difficulty will be in selecting the best material.
This will be the greatest year in the history
of the sporting world. is his opinion. The con-
,ril,utjons TO the American Olympic commit
zee are expected to be much larger than in
1ang