Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
ATHLETES FACING
BIG TEMPTATIONS
Top Notch Men Are Great At.
fractions, But Greedy for
Money.

IL DeglnS to look as If the sweeping
victory of the American team in the
Olympic games in England last summer
had worked for evil in our own athletic
midst, and that the interest and excite
ment aroused over the winning of the
Olympic Marathon by John J. Hayes
after its sensational ending, which led
up to the disqualification of Dorando, had
opened the doors to greedy commercial
ism among our athletes and athletic pro-
motors. The bomb burst last Monday,
when the registration committee of the
metropolitan association of the Amateur
Athletic Union suspended six athletes,
four of which were Olympic champions
and two national champions, on the
ground of professionalism, if such it may
be called from the meager accounts to
date. The high standing of the men in
volved and the fact that their offenses as
charged have been condoned in some
quarters make the action of the COM
mittee the more important Just how
important will be determined only at the
hearing Wednesday, when the men will
be heard in their own defense and final
action taken.
Conditions Bad.
The condition that exists In the track
and field athletic world today is deplor-
able If one-half the rumors that are float
ing around or any of the charges made
are based upon fact. Where there is
smoke there is sure to be some fire. and
while the six athletes on whose standing
the slur has been cast may be able to
clear themselves, as it is hoped they
will, there is every reason to believe that
the time has come for a good houseclean-
ing.
There was quite enough pickering in
athletic circles previous to the Olympic
games, from which no good resulted so
far as can be seen. but under the con-
ditions that obtain at present the regis
tration committee would throw Itself
open to censure If it did not take cog
nizance of all that has been written and
said recently concerning some OF our
leading amateurs. The action, which
looked radical at the time. appears to
have been more or less justified under a
rule of the Amateur Athletic Union Ca
rule, by the way, which needs revision).
and following the statement that the ath-
letes in question were duly notified and
asked to give an explanation. 1t has been
claimed that it was not fair that the
men should be tried and condemned with
out hearing, on the ground that the
law of every land holds a man innocent
until proved guilty. 1t is not the purpose
to champion the registration committee
Of the Amateur Athletic Union or pre-
judge the men who are under cloud, but
in point of fact the athletes against
whom charges have been made have not
been punished as yet, and will not be I'M
til they get fair trial. The suspension
In this case amounts simply to the de-
tention of man under charges before
his trial.
Exorbitant Expenses.
On the face Of it, such Of the charges
as have been published do not appear to
be of a kind from which the men will
have any difficulty in clearing them
selves unless the registration committee
is holding something back. The demand
for exorbitant expense money is an Of
Tense against the laws Of the Amateur
Athletic Union. but $35 can hardly be
termed an exorbitant demand for ex-
penses from Philadelphia to Buffalo and
return. This, of course. may be only one
count. in which case some of the men
may be forced to join the professional
ranks, or at least absent themselves
from amateur meetings. Nothing is so
inimical to the best interests of the
ade as an amateur, and nothing is SO
offensive to the spirit of fairness as
petty graft. There is nothing against
professionalism in athletics. The profess
sional runner, base ball player or what
not Is deserving of the same respect and
consideration as the amateur If he plays
fairly. There is no place for the semi
professional, however, for a man must
be one or the other If he would hold
the respect of his fellows
Stars Getting Theirs.
The present unfortunate condition of af-
fairs is the Inevitable result of the grow
ing popularity of track and field athletics
and Marathon running, and the conse-
quent publicity and general advertising
which the men have had. 1t has been
fostered also by those promoters, whether
for amateur or professional games, who
will go to any ends to secure the stars
for their respective meets. When one
bids against another the athletes are
bound to be open to temptation. against
, which all are not strong enough to stand.
In coming out from set of athletic
games recently the following remark was
overheard: "I'll bet Sheppard got good
price for running tonight" The speaker