Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-30
PROS NOW WANT TO ORGANIZE
Think a Plan Similar to That Of the
Amateurs Would Be Beneficial.
LEADERS BOOST FOR THE PLAN
Amateur Leaders Think "a Would he
- food Thing for sport and Help
Amateur Athletics In
This Country.

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is such a proposition under discussion
among those who are closely allied with
the professional end Of athletics. whether
or not the movement will result in the
formation Of an association to control all
forms Of professional track and field ath-
letics remains to be seen. AT the present
time nothing more definite than several
conferences on the subject has resulted.
1t is known, however, that there are a
number Of professional inlet promoters
in Boston. Philadelphia and this city who
are favorably disposed toward this move
ment and stand ready to lend financial as
sistance to the project. 1t is their belief
that such IN organization is needed in this
country to control this particular phase OF
athletics, Within the last few years CON
tests between professional athletes have
been increasing rapidly in number.
The Marathon craze, which developed as
a result of the Olympic run in London dur
ing the summer OF 1908, opened the eyes OF
the promoters regarding the financial pos
slbilities of the game. Throughout Europe
the story is an old one, and professional
races at distances ranging from 100 yards
to fifteen miles are common In England
some of the professional sprinting events
ave grown to be classics. Entries ranging
between 100 and 200 in number are not I'M
common, and heavy wagering is a promi-
nent feature OF the contests. Several
American sprinters, famous during their
college careers, rave competed In these
events, and the results have been heralded
around the world by cable.
Firm in the beiief that it is only a ques-
ton Of time that such a situation will arise
in this country, American professional ath-
letlc promoters are considering ways and
means to control professional athletics in
the future. Ernest Hjortberg. the former
athletic trainer and now manager and
raine of professional Marathon runners,
voiced his sentiments on the subject when
he said:
Il see no reason why such a move should
not meet with success. The professional
athlete has been increasing in numbers
rapidly during the last few years. Games
for professional athletes are held annually
by the Caledonian clubs OF Philadelphia,
Boston and this city. Pennsylvania is a
hotbed for professional athletics and match
races at all distances for purses and side
bets are frequent occurrences in the mining
towns and at the county fairs. New Eng
land, too, contains a large contingent Of
athletes who compete for money prizes,
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known in the middle and far west.
Same as Amateurs.
My idea is to have the promoters OF
these professional meets throughout the
country form some sort of an organization
that will control, in a way, the professional
game, just as the A. A. U. does the anna
teur field. 1t would be possible to organize
a regular circuit of meets, starting in the
5000 - - - - ,...LA@w
north as the weather grew warmer. I am
sure 1t would be found that such meets
would draw big crowds. Almost every
other branch Of sport has a professional
organization, including base ball, horse ra-
cling, automobile racing and other lines Of
indoor and outdoor sports. The majority
OF them pay and the top notchers make
big money.
THE athletes and the public would be
distinct gamers by such an organization.
1t would be possible to offer prizes rang
Ing from $50 for a mile event up to and
including 5000 for a five-mile contest. These
purses could be split any way the promo
tiers might decide. For instance. a 500
purse could be divided into 500 for first,
$50 for second, SIS for third. SIS for fourth
and SO for fifth place. For special events,
SUN dS SPIlll races VI N1dIdNlOh COL-
tests, special purses could be offered, ac-
cording to the class Of field entered.
Another benefit that professional ath-
letics would gain would be the appoint
ment of a special board to pass upon all
records claimed. 1t would be the duty Of
the members to credit or reject the times
and distances after examining the reports
of the timers and the men who examined
49, N-nafr mkt 10 49, @,akA.a oIo-kD1 ~
the A. A. u, and it would give profess
sional athletic records a standing which
is badly needed at this time. 1t is a we'll
known fact that new records are claimed
from time to time, and sometimes ac-
cepted, without any organization passing
on the same. Some of these are so absurd
to those who follow track athletics closely
that only one conclusion can be drawn,
either the track was short or the timers
~novices In watch handling.
should Not Wait Too Long.
For my part am strongly in favor of
a body to govern professional athletics in
this country. 1t is needed and the sooner
such an association is formed the better.
II we take charge of the situation while
the game is young we can handle it prop
erly. whereas If delayed too long profess
sional athletics will reach the stage where
neither the public nor the promoters will
have any faith In the game"
When James r. Sullivan. se-cretary-treas-
urer of the Amateur Athletic union, was
interviewed on the subject the other night
he said:
IF the proposed league for professional
athletes is formed and conducted on an
efficient basis / am sure that II will be a
goo6 thing for sport. 1t would nave abso-
futely nothing to do with the Amateur
Athletic union and would not affect that
organization in any way. Indeed, why
should it? Professional boxing, base ball.
wrestling and other combinations have
absolutely no influence on the Amateur
Athletic union and the same will hold good
for the proposed professional league.
Let me tell you we have needed such a
thing as a professional athletic league for
some time. AZ will have many benefits for
amateur athletics. II the proposed Organi-
zation is effected II will mean the drawing
Of a sharp line between professional and
amateur sports. This is something that
has been In demand for many years. VITA
a professional league the Amateur Athletic
vi ion will be able TO put its land right on
the professional and the amateur athletes.
There will be no half way business. A
man will have to come out for one body or
the other. II viii do away with this step
ping over the line a trifle into professional
territory and yet mpt to retain