New-York tribune., 1908-07-18

London July l7-America cut little figure In the
decision OF events in the Olympic games to-day
J. L. Eisele. the old Princeton distance man. won
his heat in the s.eno-metre steepechase, and Dan
iels Hepner and Rich qualified for the finals In the
l0O-metre swimming contests, but. aside from these
performances, other nations most OF the
honors.
serious controversy has arisen between the
American athletes and the British Olympic Asso-
citation. The American dressing rooms at the
Stadium have been turned into camp Of discon-
tent and there other competitors including the
Canadians and Frenchmea. who are none too well
satisfied with the way in whidh the events of the
Olympic games are being carried out.
Americas chief of complaint is the arbi-
trary manner in which their protest against what
they call ''the nagrantly unfair method OF con-
Quoting the tug OF war" dismissed. Every un-
prejudieed spectator present at to-days meeting
convinced that the Americans were justified
In refusing go 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 forces.
The drawings brought the American and Liverpool
teams into the first. When the staiwart
Americans, neatly dressed in their athletic
tunes. made their appearance they received great
applause from all sections OF the stands. Tho
compliment well deserved, they certainly
looked fne body Of men, ready for any kind OF
contest. They all ordinary street shoes, COM
plying with the rule, which says:
NO competitor shall wear prepared boots or
shoes, boots shoes with any projecting nails
tips sprigs, points. hollows projections of any
kind. No competitor shall make any hole in the
ground With his feet in any other way before
the start"
The Americans, in wearing ordinary Shoes nat
uraly believed that the team representing the
United Kingdom would do the same, particularly
as the rule under which the contest was being con-
Quoted made by the British association. Their
surprise, therefore, all the greater when, upon
the Liverpool police appearing, it noticed that
they were wearing enormous Shoes heavy in
fact that It was only with great effort that they
could lift their feet from the ground. The shoes,
boots, enormous calf affairs that could not by
any stretch OF imagination be called ordinary
shoes. Heavy boots worn in the British navy
but these greatly exceeded in weight by the
sootgear of the Liverpool athletes which. in add-
zion, had steel rims around the heels.
HALPIN ENTERS A PROTEST.
Matthew p. Halpin. manager OF the American
team. who watching things in behalf OF his
men, entered protest TO the games officials. but
he told that the shoes were those ordinarily
worn by Liverpool policemen. At first Mr.. Halpin
made up his mind to take the team of the field
without attempting TO pull but finally he decided to
go with the first pull.
The decision was a wise one for the spectators
in the stands near by could that as
tie United Kingdom team put their weight down
the heels of their shoes cut through the turf and
gave them hold that IL was almost impossible to
break. The Americans made effort, Rose, the
anchor man, not even winding the rope around his
body, and were promptly pulled across the line.
Halpin then announced that the American team
would not continue unless the rule was adhered to.
and his protest being ignored, the marched
on the grounds, official proclaiming through a
megaphone that the Americans retired because
.hey had had enough of it,
The facts in the were reported to the Amer
lean committee and James E. Sullivan, the Ameri-
commissioner preferred formal protest to tho
British Olympic Association, who turned II over to
the officials Of the Amateur Athletic Association
AS these officials had already decided in favor OF
their own team the protest, of course, was not al
lowed
When Mr.. Sullivan, Barlow S. Weeks and the
other members of the American committee learned
that the protest. in the tugofwar had been disal-
lowed they expressed the fear that this would dis
hearten the team Mr.. Sullivan. after he had
arlined the shoes worn by the men OF the United
Kingdom team said: 1T is absolutely Illegal and
there is justification to allow men to anchor
themselves with shoes such the United Kingdom
team wore"
The whole trouble" said English sportsman
tonight. arises through the Olympic Associa-
lions having assigned the management Of the
various sports to the officials of the local associa-
tons These associations naturally are prejudiced
In favor of the members of the United Kingdom
team, with whom they have been associated for
years. 1t would have been far better had the off,
cials OF the Olympic association at least managed
the Stadium sports themselves, for with a few men
such as Lord Desborougb IN charge there never
would have been any question Of fairness in the
dnal decision under any circumstances"
An American team is being organized to take pari
In two days sports at Paris be held July q
and August j. The French committee to-day called
on the American committee and presented for