The sun., 1908-01-18
ALL-BRITAN VS.. ALL-AMERICA
CHALLENGE FOE COLLEGE ATH-
LETIC MEET TO BE SENT.


At a meeting OF the executive and ad-
visory committees Of the intercollegiate
Association Of Amateur Athletes Of America
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel last night a
resolution embOdying a formal challenge
for an athletic meet between all the col
leges OF the United States and all the col
leges Of the British Empire was adopted.
There have been international competi-
tions between teams from England and
this country before notably a dual meet
between the New York A. c. and London
A. c.. as well as a Yale Cambridge dual
meet and several Harvard-Yale-Ox Oxford
Cambridge meets, but this is the first Oc-
casion upon which an All-Britain against
All-America contest has been suggested
While not officially so stated it was given
out to be understood that this meet II
arranged would supersede the tentative
games which are in process Of being ar
ranged between Harvard and Yale and
oxford and Cambridge.
The date suggested by Gustavus T. Kirby
OF Columbia. chairman OF the advisory
Olympic games in London. The idea was
entirely Mr. Kirby and il was his corre-
spondence with Lord Desborough. chair
man Of the British Olympic COMMITTEES
Of the Olympic ga mes, that started the
whole plan fOr the meeting.
Mr.. Kirby on December Of las, year
wrote a letter to bord Desborough in which
he outlined the plan. The thought has
come 10 me. said Mr.. Kirby. that 1t mi Kht
be possible for the intercollegiate associa-
ton to send to England an athletic team
some Of the members Of which would un-
doubtedly be selected by the American
committee as representatives Of this country
in the Olympic games. and all of which
could compete on an American college team
against a team from the universities and
colleges OF the countries over which the
King OF England has dominion
Mr.. Kirby noted that representatives
of Oxford and Cambridge have said that
a competition between their colleges and
the members of the !. c. A. A. A. A would
be unfair. because IL would be the principal
colleges Of this country against only two
OF the British institutions.
This conclusion Of Oxford and Cam
bridge he wrote TO Lord Desborough,
SIS not at all in accordance with views OF
representative university men Of America.
for the reason that while Oxford and Cam
bridge is each a university the component
parts Of each consist Of many colleges.
schools or departments. some Of which
have a larger enrol ment than many Of
the American colleges.
The results OF dual meets would indicate,
however. that a contest between Oxford
and Cambridge and Yale and Harvard il
more apt 20 bring forth a better chance for
success Of the English universities than IL
the competition would be against the col
leges Of the intercollegiate association, and
lit is for this reason that am suggesting
EA<s EOS Only CzfUrd AM, Cambridge par
ticpate against the colleges Of America.
but that there DO added thereto athletes
from such other universities or colleges
in the United Kingdom. &c. az representa-
tives OF Oxford and Cambridge would con-
slider proper to add to their teams.
AT the same time the intercollegiate
association should have the privilege Of
adding to a team from the mbers Of it's
association athletes from universities or
colleges not members OF the association
II in the opinion OF the intcrcolIeg gate asso-
citation such university or college ard such
representative were up to the standards
OF the association and worthy to represent
America and that association
Mr.. Kirby sent a copy OF the rules and
laws Of the !. c. A. A. A. A. and asked for
a reply that might be put before the eGec,i-
tive committee az it's meeting last night.
He told Lord DesborOugh that the matter
had been undertaken purely on his own
initiative.
reply was received from Lord Des-
borough, dated December 70, in which he
said that he had referred the matter TO
the honorable treasurers Of the Oxford
and Cambridge universities athletic clubs.
The meeting you suggest would no a very
interesting one but whether IL is possible
TO bring it on in the time do not now know.
letter subsequently was received from
c. n. jackson Of the Oxford University
A. c. on behalf Of himself and the Rev
J. II. Gray, Cam bridge University A. c.,
explaining that when the next term began
on January 10 the matter would be brought
TO the attention Of the committees Of the
two universities.
This correspondence was read last night
at the meeting, and subsequently the follow
ing resolution was adopted ordering that
the correspondence be filed and That the
act OF Mr.. Kirby in sending such a oom-
munioation be approved, and. further,
and TO the end that the athletes now stu
dents in the universities and colleges sit
uAtsd in the British Empire may meet in
friendly competition against the athletes
now students in the universities and col
Ieecs now situated in the United States
Of America. and may do 80 at time when
the athletes Of the world will be gathered
together in the metropolis thereof for COM
petition and recreation. be IL
RssOired. That this association issue, and
by this resolution does issue, a challenge
TO the universities and colleges Of the British
Empire 70 compete against the universities
and colleges OF the United States OF America
under and in accordance with the sug gest ions
set forth in Mr. klTby's communication.
request was embodied that Lord Dos
borough. Mr.. jackson and the Rev Mr..
Gray would receive the challenge and
refer II 10 the proper persons.
[ Mr.. Kirby was enthusiastic over the idea
and said that he hoped earnestly that IL
would be accomplished IL was regarded
as important that the representative OF
Harvard and Yala Who ware thmGa votad