New-York tribune., 1911-02-13
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Rules Is Rules, Just So Sure as
"Pigs Is Pigs"
THE DINNER OF SP0RTSMEN
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

hodv. is right Rules is rules, JUST 50 SUI
as pigs is pigs" Carelessness or loose
ness in enforcing the rules not only opens
the way 10 much confusion but encourdseS
the athletes. who II appears must oe rHeu
with an iron hand 10 practise eVaslohS, u
not something worse. for their own se'llsii
ends Mr.. Sullivan has felt called on in the
last week 10 emphasize the importance VI
living I'M 10 and enforcing the rules as they
are written in the book. Both the hanol-
Gamer and the chairman of the registration
committee OF the metropolitan ASSOCIATION
were called 10 account in a courteous way
for failure TO do their complete duty at the
games Of the Irish-American Athletic Club
a few davs ago. The offences were not Of
a serious nature, but they indicated GER
tain looseness which. if allowed to 60 OH,
would lead TO much harm. Mr.. Sullivan
said that it was not his purpose to swing
the big stick" and if the clubs and the
athletes do not approve of the rules the
sooner thew are abrogated the better; but
the fact remains that Mr.. Sullivan did only
his plain duty. and that it might be better
81 the big stick" so called. was swung
harder and oftener.
The sportsman's dinner on WEDNESDAY
evening was well conceived and shouid
make good in spreading the gospel Of field
erd track sports. such as hunting polo,
racing and steeplechasing, 70 say nothing
Of bringing together in closer relations
lovers Of the horse and the dog. Harry w.
Smith. the we'll known master of HOUNDS
and amateur rider, was the originator OF
the idea. or at least he is the one who took
the initiative in bringing the dinner about
II is hoped the response and cooperation
Of sportsmen will be of a kind 10 justify
the dinner being made an annual hAture'
and that much missionary work can be
done in arousing fresh interest in the var1-
Gus branches of sport involved. RACING
needs all its friends at this time and with
whole hearted support no fear need be felt
of its dy,ing an unnatural death in this
state, as the Calamity James have been pre-
dieting. Much has been done in the last
year or ,wo 10 stimulate the amateur side
OF the sport, and these efforts in time will
bear rich fruit.
Speaking Of amateur racing word must
be said for the United Hunts Racing Asso-
citation. which continues 70 carry out the
purpose for which il was organized IN the
face Of much discoura cement and the loss
OF much money. Dates FOR two meetings
in June we're deciled on last week, and 1t
is hoped that the weather gods. which have
frovned on practically all the meetings
held in the last three years by the assocla-
ton Will De more kindly. The weather on
both days OF the meeting last November
was so cold. dismal and dreary that the
crowd which did turn out was striking
tribute 10 the sport. The crowd was not
big enough. however. TO make the meeting
q success financially. but this apparently
o,lyfr, r
plans for this season. The United Hunts
Racing Association and the newer Hunts
committee. with those who control its des-
TIMES. can be congratulated
Byron Bancroft Johnson. the car Of he
American League has suggested that the
two automobiles offered 10 the baseball
PLAYER in each major league who proves
most valuable 10 his team during the COM
ing season be awarded by vote Of all
members Of the Baseball Writer'S Associa-
ton. DO not hesitate 10 say. as a member
of that association. that in my opinion the
suggestion is not a good one. If the auto
mobiles, the offering of which or of any
premiums was frowned on by both major
leagues at their annual meetings, must
bn awarded and the baseball writer's are
willing TO be a party TO the i'll advised
scheme. the vexing problem should be
solved by the Official scorers in both
leagues. who OF necessity must see a ma
1ority OF the players in action throughout
the season.
There is no way apparently for the base
ball solons TO prevent the offering Of pre-
mtums for good work so long as the pre-
rniums are not accepted by the National
Comm isssion or either major league, unless
perchance one more arbitrary rule could he
made which could preclude a player ac-
cApting such a prize without facing sus-
pension or something worse. Such action,
however would hardly be advisable. The
conditions under which the two automo-
biles have been offered by the Chalmers
COMPANY this year are not likely TO lead
10 an unsavory scandal, which threat
ened TO mar the contest for the batting
honors last season. The personal man TO
man competition will be lacking as the
conditions are so broad that there can be
nc telling who IS in the lead at any par
ticular time. Some interest may be aroused
toward the end Of the season by the per
sonally expressed opinions Of various news
paper critics and writer's. but there could
be no hrihing or extra striving, as the YER
dict OF the Jury would not be rendered
until the season was over. That verdict,
however. is sure 20 be questioned, no mat
Ter how carefully and conscienuously the
evidence is weighed.
Another challenge has been sent 70 Aus
tralia for the now famous Dwight + DAVIS
CUP, which stands for the international
lawn tennis championship. The same for
nslity was gon through last year but
the executive committee Of the National
lawn Tennis Association defaulted on the
challenge with the feeble explanation that
= representative team could not be secured
and that under the circumstances II was
deemed advisable that none should be
sent II is not likely that any assurances
have been given that a representative team
can be made up this year. and the eXecu-
tive committee faces the same problem
+bst was solved in such weak and vocil-
1s,ine wav last season. II is hoped. how
ever for the sake Of the sport IN this
country. that a better spirit will obtain
and that. falling 70 send the strongest and
most representative players, the second
rns, will be intrusted with the task OF
irving 10 regain the trophy II strikes
r,e that some consideration is due the de-
Tending country and that challenges
should not be issued with string attached
ar with a big it, as mental reservation
wrestling has been abused in this coun-
,ry So many bouts have been DECIDED De
fore the men took their places on the nat