Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-18
PROTEST NOT ALLOWED.

London, July IA serious contro-
versy has arisen between the Amerl-
can athletes and the British Olympic
Association. The American dressing
rooms at the Stadium have been turn
ed irto q camp of discomfort and there
are other competitors, including the
Canadians and Frenchmen, who are
none too satisfied with the way in
which the events Of the Fifth Olympiad
are being carried out.
Americas chief cause of complaint
is the arbitrary manner i'm which their
protest against the "hagrantly unfair
method of conducting the tug-of-war
was dismissed. Every unprecedented
spectator at today's meeting was con-
WINGED that the Americans were justi-
flee! in refusing to go on with that
event
The United Kingdom had three teams
entered in the tug-of-war made up of
police of the City of London, Liver
pool and the Metropolitan forces. The
drawings brought the American and
Liverpool teams into the arena first.
When the stalwart Americans, neatly
dressed in their athletic costumes,
made their appearance, they received
stands. The compliment was well de
served. as they certainly looked a fine
body of men. ready for any kind of
contest. They all wore ordinary street
shoes, complying with the rules which
says:
mo competitor shall wear prepared
boots or shoes, or boots or shoes with
any projections of any kind. No COM
petitor shall make any hole in the
ground with his feet or in any other
way before the start"
The Americans, in wearing ordinary
shoes, naturally believed that the team
representing the United Kingdom
would do the same. particularly as the
rule under which the contest was be-
ing conducted was made by the British
Association. Their disappointment
therefore. was all the greater. when,
upon the Liverpool police appearing
II was noticed that they were wearing
enormous shoes, so heavy in fact that
1t was with great effort they could lift
their feet from the ground.
The shoes. or boots. We're enormous
calf affairs that could not. bv anv
stretch CT the Imagination. be called
ordinary shoes. Heavy boots are worn
In the British navy but these were
greatly exceeded in weight by the foot
gear of the Liverpool athletes, who in
addition, had steel rims around tn,
heels
Mathew b. Halpin. manager of the
american team. who was watching
things i'll behalf Of his men. when he
saw the shoes. Immediately entered a
protest tn the games officials but he
was told that the shoes were those or
dinarily worn by Liverpool policemen.
At first Mr.. Halpn made up his mind
TO take the team off the field without
attempting to pull. but he finally de-
cided to go on with the first pull. in
order to show how unfairly the Amer
leans were being treated
The decision was a wise one for the
spectators in the stands nearby could
see that as soon as the United King
dom team put their weight down the
heels of their shoes cut through the
turf and gave them hold that was al
most impossible to break. The Amer
leans made no effort, Rose. the anchor
man, not even winding the rope
around his body, and were promntlv
pulled across the line.
Manager Halpin then announced
tnitt the American team would nor
continue unless the rule was adhered
TO and his protest being ignored. the |
men marched off the grounds. an Off ,,
cial proclaimng through a mega phone
That the Americans retired because
they had had enough of it,
The facts in the case were reported |
TO the American commission and |
James T.. Sullivan, the American COM |
preferred formal protest |
to the British Olympic Association.
who turned it over to the officials of |
the Amateur. Athletic Association. AS
Continued ON. Page Two.) s.vv