The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-08-05
Is Fairness Another British DelusiOn? /?

as the "fairest sportsmen in the
world" They have pointed to the ath-
letic fields OF Eton and Harrow, to
their great football teams. their t-ick-
et players. golfers and oarsmen as
thorough sportsmen who did not play
merely to win. but enjoyed the rigor
of the game. They hav, ,e and
again denounced the Free n and
Americans for letting professional
ism" creep into athletics.
So that when II was decided to hold
the Olympic games in London the
ter. American. crossed the tape first,
and far outran the Briton. Halswelle.
Yet the judges called 1t mo race" on
the ground that the American had
bored" or ''pocketed" the English.
man. The Americans declare there
could have been no foul and that the
English oficials and announcers did
everything In their power to interfere
with Carpenter. aasr'4si.. as
In the great Marathon race, in or.
der to de- 1t the American runner,
English oficials actually lifted his
exhausted Italian competitor across
the lire.
Whether they are mistaken or not,
the American athletes are convinced
that the Englishmen have dore ev.
erything they could to deprive other
nations Of athletic honors. They as
sert that they have resorted to every
means. fair or foul. to win each con-
test.
This Is In marked contrast with the
cordial welcome Americans afford
British athletes. and the enthusiasm
with which we receive SO thorough a
sportsman as Sir Thomas Upton.
Appearances are against the Brit
'sh. and unless they can support their
rulings by convincing evidence. their
for fairness and sportsman
ship will suffer.-Baltimore Sun.
athletes of other nations confidently
expected an open field and fair play.
The American athletes. however. as
'ert that the British have not treated
hem with the generous fairness that
'hould be accorded honorable adver-
,aries.
According to the dispatches from
London, the drawings were secret and
we're 30 contrivsd that the best Amer
can runners were punched" In the
'ame heats. 20 that the Americans
we're contendfng against one another,
living them few chances In the finals;
while the English were numerous
Pough to enter In every heat. giving
'yem a great advantage.
In the tug Of war" the British, Il
, alleged, won by q bold trick. When
The team Of giant Liverpool policemen
y SIked on the grounds II was seen
hat instead Of the light shoes worn
BY the other contestants the English
men had on immense boots. with iron
heels. The other nations refused to
pull. and only the Americans remain.
ID In the contest. though they stood
no chance Of winning.
But the ,decision that has aroused
The indignation Of Americans is that
IN the 4oo-meter race. ]. c. Carpen-
explained most interestingly. The
slosing part Of his address ne devoted
70 Q discussion OF the winter legumes
-clovers and vetches--and the meth
DDS to be followed to secure the best
results from these forage plants In
connection with the ordinary farm
crops OF this section and the ordinary
grains and that old standby. the cow
pea.
Prof. Daniel, who spoke on the
subject Of Industrial Education, made
\ most interesting talk. He Is a
speaker OF remarkable force and
and he made a lasting i'm
preston.
Col. Watson was the last speaker at
the morning session. He made
plain. straightforward talk on the
present day conditions in farming in
this State and emphasized the need
Of immediate and radical changes He
had a mass OF facts and figures that he
quoted to prove that the farmers are
sending more money out OF the State
each year for things that they could
produce themselves than the net VAL
ue Of all the crops produced in this
State. 1t was a most interesting pre-
sentation Of a vital question and in
cidentally showed very clearly why
the farmers Of South Carolina remain
poor instead Of growing richer each
year.
At the conclusion OF Col. Watson's
address the institute was adjourned