The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-18

7 = i
trovcray has arisen between the Ameri-
can athletes and the British Olympic
Association. The American dressing
rooms at the Stadium have been turned
into d camp OF discontent, and there
arc otter competitors. including the
Canadians and Frcnchmcn who nrc
none too satisfied with the way the
events OF the nth Olympiad are being
carried out. e3
Americas chief cnusc OF complaint
III the arbitrary manner In which their
protest against tho nagrantly unfair
method OF conducting the tug OF war,
was dismissed III
,rhe United Kingdom had three teams
entered in the tug Of war made UP OF
the police OF the city OF London, IL YER
pool and the metropolitan forces. THO
drawings brought the American ana
Liverpool teams into the arena hrst.
When the stalwart Americans, neatly
dressed in their athletic costumes.
made their appearance they received
great applause from a. sections VI
the stands. they all wore ordinarY
street sh6es. complying with the rule'
which says:
mo competitor shall wear prepared
boots or shoes with any projecting
nails, tips. sprigs. points, hollows Or
projections of any kind. No compel
itor shall make any hole In the ground
with his feet or in any other way pc
fore the start.
When the Liverpool police appeared
II was noticed that they were wearing
enormous shoes. SO heavy In fact tina,
Il was with great effort they could
Iift their feet from the ground. the
shoes or boots were enormous calf n{ !
fairs that could not by any stretcN
al Imagination be called ordinnr!
shoes Heavy boots arc worn IN tle
British navy. but these were greatly eS.
ceeded In weight by the foot gear OF
the Liverpool athletes, which In az
dillon had steel rims around inc he -,
Matthew Halpin, the manager OF the
American team. when he saw the shoes
S.nmcdiatcly entered q protest to tha
games officials, but he was told thi1
the shoes were those ordinarily WORT
bw liverpool policemen. Mr. Halps,
decided to go on with the first pm
IN order to show low unfairly .he
Americans We're being treated.
Pnlpnhly Unfair.
THO decision was wise one. for tn
apectators In the stands nearby coult
see that as soon as tho United kingdo,.i
tcnm nut their weight down the heei'
of their shoes cut through the turf aht
gave them q hold that was almost I'M
possible to break. The American
made no effort, Rose, the ancnornnai !,
not even winding the rope AROUND ~.
body. and were promptly pu1iea ac'os
the line ~.
Manager Halpin then announced ina
+be American team would not continue
unless the rule was adhered 10. nn'
his protest being ignored, the mel
marched off the grounds. an oil.c'a
nroclatmIpg through megaphone ,hu
the Americans retired because 'se!
have had enough of It.
James E. sullivan. the America
the British Olympic Association. wn
turned II over to the officials OF Tn
Amateur Athletic Association.
AS these officials already had decide.
i, favor of their own team. the profess
of course. was not allowed.
The members OF the American com
mi.tee. the athlItes and everybody con
nected with the team are thorousni,
stseusted and almost disheartened, pu
they are going to fight W. W -
end. ,,.
"The whole truth" said an Epgiis
.nortsman tonight, arises through IN
olympic Associations having assishe
the mana cement OF the various spoI.
to the officials OF the local associa
tions. These associations naturaily "
nreiudiced in favor OF their members
the United Kingdom team WIN Wno -.
thsv have been associated for years
II would haye been far better had tn
officials of/he Olympic association
at>ieast managed the stadium sport
Themselves. for with few men, sue
as Lord Desboroush In charge, ther
never would have been any questlon
fairness in the final decision uiuei 81
circumstances"
Going to Paris.
An American team Is being orsa