Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-21
NEW ATHLETIC WAR IN SIGHT
Pennsylvania Starts Something by
Accepting Entry of Hamilton.
ATHLETE HAS CASE PENDING
Claim IL Made that He Ran a Foot
Race In Iowa for Money and
He Makes NO Defense to
the Charge.

PHILADELPHIA, March S.-It looks as
though the the Amateur Athletic union VIII
soon have another war on its hands. The
University OF Pennsylvania has accepted
the entry Of Frank Hamilton for its relay
meet at Franklin field the middle OF next
month. and II the college authorities permit
him to run the Amateur Athletic union
viii be placed in a position where 1t must
either content itself with seeing its rulings
disregarded by an allied body or fight
some months ago the registration com
mfttee OF the central association brought
charges OF professionalism against Hamil-
ton. accusing him OF running a f~ootrace
In Iowa last summer for money. The case
dragged along until recently a meeting was
held. Hamilton was not ready with his
defense and secured a postponement. The
hearing twas put off indefinitely, and al
though Hamilton stands suspended. no
definite action has been taken on his case.
Hamilton, it is said. has prepared a case
and IL ready to go before the authorities.
He has rounded up a bunch of affidavits
which may convince the registration COM
mittee that he received nothing but his
legitimate expenses. He claims he did not
know that the man he competed against
was a professional.
Since his enforced retirement Hamilton,
who gained his greatest fame as a mem
Der of the Chicago Athletic association, has
entered a medical school at Louisville, Ky.
AS he could easily prove his connection
with the institution. and as the number
Of years OF competition or study require
ments do not figure at the Penn games.
the only obstacle to his entry was his dis
qualification by the Amateur Athletic
union.
Apparently, the fact that he is not in
Flavor with the authorities has not in
fluenced the Pennsylvania people. His
entry has been accepted and as matters
stand now he win be permitted to com
pete. His case received sufficient adver-
Using to make it certain that Penn is fully
aware of his suspension.
Similar Case Before.
Some six years or so ago the Amateur
Athletic union had just such a case to
handle and did not conn out OF 1t With
flying colors. At that time a prominent
western athlete was declared a profess
sional for playing base ball with a semi
I professional team in Chicago, Later he
went to college and when he tried to COM
pete the Amateur Athletic union demanded
that his entry be rejected. The Amateur
Athletic union wanted its ruling upheld,
but the western conference colleges per-
mitted him to compete regardless of his
standing In the Amateur Athletic union,
The conference notified the Amateur
Athletic union that II was running it's own
athletics and would not brook outside
dictation.
The controversy shook things up all over
the west and some of the western col
leges would not enter men in games sane
tiond by the Amateur Athletic union foi
years. After about three years of pickering
the athlete was re-instated by the Amateur
Athletic union.
The central registration committee, it Is
expected, will call upon Hamilton to de-
fend himself in the very near future. Al
the first hearing the evidence against him
was so strong that It appeared impossible
for him to clear himself. The man against
whom he competed declared there was g
purse and a heavy side bet Ringing or
the result of the race. He has been al
o~ut-and-out professional for some years. H,
will testify against Hamilton.
TIL whole question now is whether tn,
Amateur Athletic union will again attemp
to interfere with college athletics. II 4
does. the old trouble may be revived.