The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-17

SAVES
MEETS
Clear Floor at Federal
Games Meant
Much.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

- = @AN-i-%NS - Ae@N~-e
Indoor. field, and track meets were
practically saved in washington Satur-
day night last by the manner in which
". G. Stuart. manager of the Federal
Games. kept the fioor clear OF unneces-
sary persons. and even made officials
who were not working keep themselves
out OF the line OF vision.
Persistent press work. llberality in
bringing outside stars, and promises to
give the public chance to see the
games drew an excellent crowd, but one
which would have been much larger had
it not been for the miserable fiaseo at
the George Washington Univ erslty meet
on January Is. when those who paid
the highest prices for seats We're prac-
tically defrauded by the number OF fat
headed persons VINO crowded the fiG-
ishes and lined the sides Of the track.
Had Stuart not made good in his meet.
the public would have been justified in
ignoring al such attractions in the
future.
Up to Future Managers.
Now that it has been clearly demon
strated by actual experience that the
floor can be kept clear there Will be alb
soUtely TO excuse for any ser OF meet
managers who in the future rail To do
equally as we'll. Should they faII down
or the job they should be branded not
only as Incompetent. but as willing to
take money under false pretoases, fer
it is nothing less than that to Charge
patrons for something they cannot see
because OF the gross negligence, in
competency, or Indifference of those in
charge.
George Washington's mistakes may be
credited TO inCXpericnce and lack OF a
BoOd example on tie part of previous
promoters, but Georgetown has had ten
yearS' experience and has never solved
the problem 10 aLV great extent II is
10 be hoped that Georgetown read the
lesson set before it in the Federal
Games and VIII act accordingly.
The Federal games program was long.
varied. and contained a number OF star
events. yet the proceedings adjourned
about ll:05 p. 10, which also made a
big hit. Every race was called prompt
~, and those who did not respond were
left out A case was that I'm the 900
yard open handicap. where a youth who
was q few seconds late in responding 10
the call, saw the field start without
him. The howl he put up had a most
salutary effect upon those entered in
subsequent races.
Thanks Due Stars.
, The thanks of the Washington follow
ers OF athletics are due Martin Sheri-
dan, Matt McGrath. y. J. Cartmel, Guy
Haskins. and the other stars who took
part. They have been coming here for
several years. and offer the only oppor-
tunity which very many OF The local en-
thusiasts have TO see the most prOmi-
4
Grath and Sheridan are especially 10 be
thanked Both were denied leave of
absence by the New York city police
department. OF which they are mem
bers. and both only got away by making
unusual efforts, leaving the city on the
dead run. as it were, and both could
have been excused had they failed 70
appear. Their thoughtfulness ior the
lovers of sport who were at the hall
to see them cannot be TOO highly APP
preciated.
That Mercersburg Academy would be
a powerful factor for the point trophy
offered by the Pennsylvania alumni at
the Federal Games was well known TO
the students or interscholasuc FORM. Dut
that IL would make an exhibition of the
other Contenders was hardly expected
The youngsters trained by kraenzleln,
the old Pennsylvania champion broad
jumper, high jumper and murder
made thirtV-eight points in the inter-
scholastic events its nearest rival being
Tome Institute with eight. Mercersburg
went after the points in its class but
Tome would have made a much better
showing had points been counted hap
hazard as they have been at other
meets Gill, of Tome, for instance, cap
tUred three 50-yard dasheS, in itself a
remarkable feat. which would have
made the showing for that school al
least fifteen points, and possibly more
ONLY one of his wins was In the inter
scholastics. and he was credited with
but five points on the trophy.
Attach Numbers Securely.
There is one criticism of the meet,
and Il should be borne in mind by the
Georgetown officials. After things got
we'll started a large proportion Of the
athletes lost their numbers entirely,
while others had them hanging On pre-
cariously by one pin, so that they
might as well have been of. The num-
hers we're pinned at each corner at the
Ton. and when a IAN was going at
min speed the cloth frequently doubled
up on his back. The result was that
i'm many races, particularly relays, It
was impossible for any except those
personally acquainted with the runners
to tell the individual or team IN the
lead.
The number should be pinned on Sc
curelv at all four corners, and no man
should be allowed to start without It,
Il h Il