Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
THE OLYMPIC CREW.
Question Now Seems to b, College
or a Club Eight.

With the first touch of something like
spring weather the rowing men of New
York. Philadelphia. Boston, Baltimore
and Washington are turning their faces
riverward. and the thought uppermost
in their minds is the makeup of the
American crew that will represent this
country at the Olympian regatta in Eng
land next July.
The committee who has been named to
pick the crew. President James Pilking-
ton of the National Association of ANA
teur Oarsmen and Mr.. Julian Curtiss, the
collegian and writer of aquatic matters.
will meet this week at the Marlborough
Hotel in New York to map out the pro-
gram and decide how the crew will be
selected
A free trip to celebrated Henley, with the
delightful incident Of trip across the
Atlantic, is a great incentive for all the
oarsmen of the country, and the an
nouncement of Messrs. Pilkington and
Curtiss will be awaited with intense inter-
est by not only the individuals. but the
Clubs.
The time for picking the crew is very
short, when one takes INTO consideration
the tests that members Of the many
rowing clubs will be forced to make ere
they make good before the committee,
and there is growing opinion that final
ly the committee will have to fall back
on one of the college crews as the typical
representative one for the occasion.
A plan has been advanced by a promi-
nent oarsman of this city which has COM
mendeu itself strongly as an excellent way
to meet the conditions and give the men,
bers Of the National Association Of ANA
teur Oarsmen chance to show the best
test against the collegians. The Sugges-
ton is to allow Boston, New York Phila-
delphia and Washington to select two men
each for the crew. the selections to be
made by the officers of the local associa-
ton existing in the localities named. and
that they be sent to central point for
training throughout June, and then after
the Poughkeepsie race they row the win
ming college crew over the distance rowed
at the Olympian regatta-one mile and d
sixteenth.
The money necessary for the keeping
Of the crew during June could be appro-
priated from the sum now being raised by
popular subscription, and the subscribers
would not object to the money being used
this way in order to get Americas fastest
and best crew for the Olympian.
Washington has a right to be considered
in the selection of the crew, for having
tional regatta last season it is only just,
proper and equitable that certain members
of that great crew should be represented
in the makeup of the all-American.
Unless this method of procedure is fol-
lowed" said the oarsman who makes the
at least a months work together they
might as well give up the idea of a crew
being formed from among the clubs, for
the collegians will have them beaten be-
fore they start. Personally / want to see
the crew come from the boat club boys.
but / am convinced that the fast-gOing
Cornell lads from Lake Cayuga would be
by far the best crew to send unless the
months training is given 10 the club
men"
That the probability of sending college
crew over exists is shown by the fact that
sorne of them are practicing the Henley
distance daily over the course used for
training purposes. Syracuse, Cornell and
Columbia have made known the fact that
they will gladly make the trip should 1t
fan to their happy lot to be the chosen
crew
A strong feeling is said to exist in New
York and Philadelphia rowing circles
against the selection of a college eight for
the trip. and the club men intend to use
every endeavor to prevent the consumma-
ton of such a selection They are work.
ing like beavers to get the best men out
as candidates for the crew. and the spring
regatta Of the Harlem River Association
will show more senior oarsmen out for
training than ever before.
1t is, therefore, fight between the col
lege oarsmen, marshaled by Mr.. Julian
Curtiss on one side and the rowing club
men, 4ed by President Pilkington.
Who will win out? Watch the meeting
at New York this week.