The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-06-28

antagonistic, however, to the alleged amateur who is in reality a profes- Sional
 As an illustration of A. A. U. work, Fourth of July celebration arranged by the A. A. U.. under the guidance of the Mayor of Greater New York, Hon. Vim. J. Gaynor. The Amateur Athletic Union realized that an extra feature for the celebration would be athletics. and will have athletic games in all the parks of Greater New York, twenty in number.
 Speaking of the growth of American athletics. and the policy of the A. A. U., what the latter has done for anna teur sport is best told by glancing over the figures showing the number of men and boys competing today and twenty-two years ago. We can care fully say twenty-two years ago we did not have over fifty athletic clubs in the United States. and today we have thousands. Few colleges and schools took up competitive sport then, but to- day there is not a school or college that has not it's athletic association. Twenty-two years ago. the number of athletes competing in the United States could be safely placed at two thou sand. and today the figures that have been compiled by the A. A. U. show that millions of young men are com peting in athletics under the control of the A. A. U. and its allied associa- tions. The last statistics filed with the secretary-treasurer of the A. A. U. prove that over two million boys are taking part in competitive athletics. That is the kind of work the A. A. U. has accomplished during it's twenty two years of control.
 The activities of Greater New York show conclusiyely the value of the A. A. U. control. It is the stronghold of fI0 1a ..1- L of twenty-two years stands out as a monument to it's usefulness. All groups that are doing something for the betterment of the boy, for the bet torment of the city's affairs. from an athletic point of view have been or Amateur Athletic Union. The strength of the A. A. U. in New York can be understood when one glances at the numbers that are being controlled and benefited by it's work.
 The latest addition that has been made to its membership is that of the Playground Association. which will control twenty play-grounds in New York. The A. A. U. officials, in CO., operation with the Park Commission CTS, Messrs. Stover, Higgins and Ken nedy. organized during the past week with Howard Bradstreet as it's secre- tary. It means the direct control of millions of youngsters in the city of New York who use the different play grounds for athletic purposes. There are now in New York city controlled by the A. A. U. and working under it's rules. five hundred thousand young lads who appreciate the true value of athletice exercise.
 The Amateur Athletic Union for twenty-one years has been fortunate in it's selection of officials. During these twenty-One years it has never been called upon to pay a cent Of sal ary to the many officials that work in its interests. nor even their expenses. It has board of governors consist ing of fifty-nine men, located in all sections of the United States, and these men cheerfully give up their time and money for the cause of ath- letics and in the interest of the Anna teur Athletic Union of the United States. It has in it's treasury over $17, 900, and is today the strongest ath- letic governing body in the world