The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-13
UNION PLANNED
OF ALL ATHLETICS.
Promoters in Larger Cities
Would Include Entries on
Field and Track.
MARATHON CRAZE STARTS lT
Such Body Would Assist in the
Classifying Of
Men.
MARATHON CRAZE STARTS lT

New York, February 1.-THE pro-
posed formation OF a professional ath-
letic association is growing In favor.
and the recently announced fifteen
mile professional race in Madison
Square Garden has revived interest
In the affair. Several informal meet
ings have recently been held by prom
lnent professional athletes, and while
nothing definite has been determined
upon II is well established fact that
the formation OF an organization to
control professional athletics Is under
way. Whether or not the movement
will result in the formation OF an
association to control all forms or pro-
fcssional field and track athletics re-
mains to be seen.
The movement is not confined to
New York. as 1t Is known that there
are number of professional athletic
promoters in Philadelphia, Boston.
PittsDurg. and Chicago, who are fay-
orably disposed toward this move.
ment and stand ready to lend finan-
cial assistance to the project. 1t Is
their belief that such an organization
Is needed in this country to control
this branch OF athletics. Within the
last few years contests between pro-
fessional athletes have been increas-
ing rapidly in numbers.
Started by Marathon Craze.
The Marathon craze, which develop
ed as result of the Olympic contest
run in London during the summer OF
1908. opened the eyes OF the promo
ters regarding the financial possibili-
ties of the game. Throughout Eu-
rope the story is an old ono. and pro-
1 fessional races at distances ranging
from 100 yards to fifteen miles are
numerous In England some of tho
! professional sprinting events have
| grown to be classics
Entries ranging between 100 and 200
In number are not uncommon and
! heavy wagering !s a prominent feature
OF the contests Several American
sprinters, famous during their college
careers, have competed In these events
TWO decades ago professional sprint
ing was popular in the Eastern Sta ties.
! and annual events patterned after the
/ Sheffield and PowderhaT handicaps In
England, attracted big fields The alb
| sence, however. of any controlling bod
| led to ''crookedness'' on tho part of .bc
athletes. and the sport died out. since
that time professional events have been
practically confined to the Hibcrnian,
scottish and English games.
!, Recent Change in Conditions.
! The last rev years, however. have
brought about a remarkable change in
the conditions in the professional,
4 ranks. The acquisition OF such sterl-
ing athletes as Harry l.. Hillnan. Jr.,
lawson Robertson, John J. Hayes ].
+ T. crowley. James j. Lee. Matt Maio-
ney. Charles Mueller. Nat C. Carimell
and others has established a nucleus
FOR a powerful professional organiza-
ton.
Although professional athletic
league would in no way conflict with
the Amateur Athletic Union. II Is I'M
derstood that the latter organization
would prove beneficial for amateur
athletics. 1t would mean the drawine
OF sharp line between the amateu,
and the professional, which 1t has beer
impossible to do for some tim, past
rms has been necessity In amateu
4 athletics for many years. and with ,
/ professional league honestly operate
1t would leave no alternative for tn,
athletes but to come out flat-footcd 10
one organization or the other.