Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-25
SHEPPARD REMAINS
IN GOOD STANDING
Suspension by N. A. L. OF
Philadelphia Will Probably
Not Be Approved.

NEW YORK, December 25.-Melvin w.
Sheppard, who is the peer Of middle-dis-
tanoe runners, and who won many points
for the American team at the Olympic
games In London in 1908, Is still In good
standing with the Amateur Athletic
Union, despite the announcement Of sus-
pension made by the board OF governors
Of the Military Athletic League Of Phila-
delphia Thursday. when. with William j.
Hayes. Sheppard refused to compete TN a
special event. Both men were on the
floor at the time the event was called,
and each declined to enter the COMPETE
ton. whereupon the board Of governors
announced their suspension.
1t Is the general impression that the
board of governors Of the Philadelphia
League far exceeded its powers In placing
the ban on the two athletes. AS for the
standing In the Amateur Athletic Union,
however. that Is In no way Imperfect by
the action unless the Philadelphia organ
izatton brings the facts to the attention
OF the governing body through the proper
channel, which would make the papers
go through the hands Of Maj. w. a.
League. He has thus far not received
any word from Philadelphia, and admit
ted that he was not sure that the Military
Athletic League of that city had the right
J.
Quaker city Is a member Of the National
Military Athletic League. OF which MAJ.
Turpen Is secretary. and the facts are
presented In proper form to the Amateur
Athletic Union, 1t is likely that the sus-
pension will stand. as the Military Ath-
letic League is an affiliated body OF the
Amateur Athletic Union. For the pres
ent, however, the Amateur Athletic Union
of the existence OF the Philadelphia body
which has issued the ban.
When asked about the matter yester-
day James e. Sullivan. president of the
Metropolitan Association of the A. A. u;
the secretary and treasurer of the A. A.
U. and the chairman of the national reg
istration committee, said: $50 far as We
know the Philadelphia organization
which, / have read in the papers. has
exist. The A. A. U. has an afiiliation
with the Military Athletic League. of
which Col. William Morris is president
and Maj. w. 4. Turpen Is secretary. II
the suspension was through these officers
1t would have weight and we would have
to abide by whatever penalty was in
hicted, but the secretary has not re-
ceived any communication and necessarily
the competition OF Sheppard in any event
which he chooses to enter, he Is in good
standing with the Amateur Athletic
Union. and until something more definite
Is known of the charges against him the
him.
Maj. Turpen, secretary of the National
Military Athletic League, said: Such
question has arisen only once or twice be-
fore. As for the status OF the suspension
by the Philadelphia organization, OF which
] have received no word, am somewhat
iE doubt. ] do not know whether the
suspension would stand as such by the
NJ. A. l. Of that city or whether it would
have to come through the main ONCE. OF
course. We would be governed materially
In any action we might take by the adj
vice from James e. Sullivan. The ques-
ton which puzzles me IL: Can Sheppard
compete In any meets while the suspen-
sion 10 on? When the A. A. U. suspends
the athlete IL out Of competition until
he has had hearing. The point with me
IL whether this would hold good in re-
lation to the suspension by the Military
Athletic League. l have every hope.
however, that the situation will be
strajghtened out amicably."
Yt - the opinion of Col. William Morris,
president Of the Military Athletic League,
that the Philadelphia M. A. L. has ex-
ceeded It's authority in suspending the two
men. He said: ''The Military Athletic
League was organized to rule In relation
to its military members. but the suspen-
sion Of an outside athlete lies with the A.
A. q. believe the Philadelphia organ
isation exceeded its authority, but, Of
course, ] have only the newspaper re-
ports on which to base my opinion.
have received no notification In the mat
ter"