Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-07-18
D|SCORD RIFE.
NOLYMP|C
GAMES
ENGLISH AUTHORITIES
ACCUSED OF UNFAlRNESS
American Tug-of- War Team
Walk Off Field When Protest
is Ignored; Outlook Gloomy
For Success of Meeting.

! 10 lSlIOlOut OullOUk OlOUllty
| For Success Of Meeting.
IBy Morning Journal spseip' Leased wlFs.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 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-
prejudiced spectator present at today's
meeting was convinced that the Amer
leans were 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,
| 1870 fbSA oHN NuN NAENiVHpitAaiA
The drawings brought the American
and Liverpool teams into the arena
first When the stalwnrt Americans,
neatly dressed in their athletic cos
TUNES, made their appearance they re-
celved great applause from all Sec
tions 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, hOllows or projections OF any
kind. No competitor shall make any
hole in the ground with his feet or In
any other way befoTe the start"
The Americans II wearlha ordinary
shoes. naturally believed that the
team representing thu 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 disap-
pointnent, therefore, was all the
greater when upon the Liverpool po-
lice appearing. 1t was noticed that
/ they were wearing enormous shoes.
80 heavy. In fact. that II was with
great effort they could lift their feet
from the ground The shoes or boots
We're enormous calf affairs that could
not by any stretch OF imagination be
called ordinary shoes Heavy boots
are worn In the British navy, hut
these were greatly exceeded In weight
by the footgear of the Liverpool ath-
letes. which. in addition, had steel
rims around the heels
Matthew II, Halpin. manager OF the
American team. who was watching
things In behalf of his men. when he
saw the shoes, Immediately protested
to the game officials but he was told
that the shoes were those ordinarily
worn by Liverpool policemen. At
first Mr.. Halpin made up HIS mind
to take the team off the field without
attempting to pull. but finally decided
to go on with the first pull In order TO
show how unfairly the Americans
were being treated. The decision was
a wise one, for the spectators I'm the
stands nearby could see that as soon
as the United Kingdom team put their
weight down the heels OF their shoes
cut through the turf and gave them
a hold that was almost impossible to
Ibreak.
The Americans made no effort.
ROst. the anchor man, not even wind
ing the rope around his body. and
were promptly pulled across the line.
Manager Halpin then announced
that the American team would not
continue until the rule was adhered
10. and. his protest being Ignored. the
men marched off the grounds. an Of
: fetal proclalming through a mega
phone that the Americans retired "be-
cause they have had enough OF IT,"
The facts in the case were reported
10 the American committee. and
James f. sullivan, the AHeii.an
commissioner. preferred loin.al pee
test 10 the British Olympic association.
who turned Il over to the officials OF
the Amateur Athletic association. As
the officials already had decided In
favor OF their own team, the protest.
OF course was not allowed.
The members Of the American COM
mittee. the American athletes and
everybody connected with the team
are thoroughly dlsgusted and almost
dlaheartened. but are going to fight It
Out TO the end
''The whole trouble said an Eng
lish sportsman tonight. arises
through the olympic associations
having assigned tho manaeement Of
the various sports 70 the officials OF
the local associations. These associa-
tions naturally are preiudiced In favor
OF the United Kingdom team. with
whom they have been associated for
years.
1T would have been far better had
the officials Of the Olympic assocla=
tlon at least managed the stadium
; sports themselves, 70 With men such
a. Lord Deaborough ID charge there
would never have been any question
OF fairness IN the final decision under
: aux circumstances
: An American team la being organ
/ lied % take naFl IN two days sports
IN Paris. % be held on 1aIf "a and
! August
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