Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-07-18
RIFE
IN OLYMPIC
GAMES
ENGLISH AUTHORITIES
ACCUSED OF UNF AIRNESS
American Tug-of- War Team
Walk off Field When Protest
is Ignored Outlook Gloomy
For Success of Meeting.

tby Morning journal sDeelsi Lsass5 wirs.l
! London, July IA serious con-
troversy has arisen between the Amer
lean athletes and the British Olympic
association. The American dressing
rooms at the Stadium have been turn
ed into a camp OF discomfort and there
are other competitors. including the
Canadians and Frenchmen who are
none too well satisfied with the way
in which the events of the fifth
Olympic are being carried out
Americas chief cause OF complaint
Is the arbitrary manner in which
their protest against the flagrantly
unfair method OF conducting the tug
Of war" was dismissed Every un-
preiudiced spectator present at today's
meeting was convinced that the Amer
leans We're justified In refusing to go
on with that event
The United Kingdom had three
teams entered In the tug of war, made
up of the police Of the city Of London,
Liverpool and the Metropolitan force
The drawings brought the American
and Liverpool teams into the arena
first When the stalwart Americans.
neatly dressed In their athletic cos
TUNES made their appearance they re
ceived great applause from ali sec
lions of the stands The compliment
was well deserved as they certainly
looked a fine body Of men. ready for
any Kind Of contest They all wore
ordinary street shoes, complying with
the rule, which says;
mo competitor shall wear prepared
boots or shoes or boots or shoes with
any projecting nails. tips, springs
points, holows or projections of any
kind No competitor shall make any
hole in the ground with his feet or in
any other way before the start"
tne americans in wearing ordinary
shoes, naturally believed that the
team representing the United King
dom would do the same. particularly
as the rule under which the contest
was being conducted was made by the
British association Their dlsap-
pointmeut, therefore, was all the
greater when upon the Liverpool po-
lice appearing, II was noticed that
they were wearing enormous shoes,
so heavy in fact that II was with
great effort they GSs;ld lift their feet
from the ground. The shoes or boots
were enormous calf affairs that could
not by any stretch OF imagination be
called ordinary shoes. Heavy boots
are worn Ia the British navy. bur
these were greatly exceeded In weight
by the footgear OF the Liverpool ath-
.etes, which, in addition. had steel
rims around the heels
Matthew IL Halpin, manager of the
American team. who was watching
hings In behalf Of his men, when he
iaw the shoes, Immediately protested
o the game officials but he was told
hat the shoes We're those ordinarily
Rorn by Liverpool policemen. At
lrst Mr., Halpin made up his mind
o take the team off the field without
attempting to pull, but finally decided
o go on with the first pull In order to
now how unfairly the Americans
we're being treated. The decision was
wise one, for the spectators In the
tands nearby could see that as soon
$ the United Kingdom team put their
Weight down the heels OF their shoes
mt through the turf and gave them
hold that was almost impossible TO
reak.
The Americans made no effort.
ng the rope around his body, and
'ere promptly pulled across the line.
Manager Halpin then announced
hat the American team would not
ontinue until the rule was adhered
o. and, his protest being ignored, the
len marched off the grounds. an Of
cial proclaiming through a mega
hone that the Americans retired be
"a a.a 81 A.
The facts la the case were reported
the American committee. and
ames r. sullivan. the Amctkan
preferred a farluai p4o-
ST 10 the British Olympic association.
no turned Il over to the officials of
L. Amateur Athletic association. As
ie officials already had decided in
vor of their own team the protest.
course, was not allowed.
The members Of the American COM
ittee, the American athletes and
'erybody connected with the team
r. thoroughly disgusted and almost
shortened. but are going TO fight IL
u To the end
r'rhe whole trouble" said an Eng
80 sportsman tonight. ARISES
rough the olympic ASSOCIATIONS
wing assigned the management OF
s various sports 10 the officials 0f
!" local associations. These associa-
lns naturally are prsiudlesd in favor
the United Kingdom team. with
bonn uhet hafn been assoclaied for
afa.
"a would haFe been Tar hfiisf HAD
.r Officials oi thf DlymIic asaoeia-
Yn ~ least manaffd fhr stadium
iNfiH ihfmeFlfft ~ NuA mfn SUCH
iHfl i}falHiqufl lH shaFsf ihsra
NNia urfef hstn AftN HNt 4utsllau
isifnfsf IA iHl nH4l tltl.iaA Hna.r
Nt flfi pHlFIaiiln
AN tWffIfsa lssH q N.ns olssn-
'i 81 lsht laN q Pee ialt .f.iI4
H.HH