The Washington herald., 1909-03-14
GOOD FOR The A. A. U.
James A. Sullivan Talks Of
Professional Runners.
REGISTRATION At HIGH MARK
since Hayes-DOraRdO Race Athletes
Have Been Enrolled by Hundreds.
Marathon Craze Is Making This
Country Strongest in World in Dis
tance Runnins-SeOres Brisons.

New York, March BIN a widely-Cir-
culated article James T. Sullivan is
quoted as saying that the American COM
mission Is in favor Of eliminating the
marathon run from future Olympic meets
because Of the widespread interest in pro-
fessionsl running that has been one OF
the direct results Of ;he event and the
turning pro OF number Of champion
athletes.
There is nothing TO IT, While he would
naturally prefer 10 see amateur athletics
grow without the AID Of professionalism,
the president OF the A. a l. IS willing
10 take things as they come. and, as the
registration in the A. A. L. since the be-
ginning Of the marathon craze has been
about double that during any other cor
responding period in the history Of the
governing body, he viii continue to en-
courage professional marathoning as far
as his ONCE viii permit him.
Heavy Repatriation.
The professional marathon craze, said
Mr.. Sullivan to-day. rs the best thing
that ever happened for the A. A. L. OF
course. I do not like to see the amateurs
joining the money-getters. but when the
question Is looked into from all sides
there is every reason why the A. A. L,
instead OF working against il. should en-
courage 1t.
Since the Hayes-DOrando match in
Madison Square Garden last fall the reg
istratiOn in the A 4 L. has been greater
than ever before. Everybody wants to De
an athlete There IS an unprecedented
amount Of athletic activity among the
boys and young men now ar a time Of
the year when most Of their training
must be done indoors. When the weather
moderates sufficiently they viii swarm
the parks and uptown streets until the
handling Of them becomes a real problem.
Our Runners Lead World.
But for the professional runs the ANA
teUr marathons. now held in various
parts Of the country on an average Of
two or three a month. never would have
been thought Of These runs are making
America the strongest country in the
world in long-distance running.
THAT England's lOng-standing superior
ity over all the world in long-distance
running was a thing Of the past was
pretty well proved when athletes wear
ing the American shield finished first,
third. fourth. ninth. and fourteenth in the
London marathon. All the amateur mar
athons that are now being held are tend
ing 20 make this country stronger than
ever IN this branch Of athletes. No for
eigners have been able TO duplicate the
records made by Jimmy Clarke. jim
Crowley. Bob Fowler, Lewis TeWanina.
and other Americans. And there are
others pretty nearly as good who have
not yet had = chance TO distinguish them
selves.
Cannot Beat Yankees.
IF there IS ever any effort to do away
with Olympic marsthons fl VIII be made
on the other side OF the Atlantic. It NAV
be that after the officials OF the next
Oiympian finish scoring up American run
ners they viii feel compelled TO DO some
thing. because as our boys are running
just now the foreigners win not have a
look-in- You can take my word for it
that If they limit the entry to twelve men
from each country, every Yankee will
have finished by the time the first for