The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-29
SOME FOOTBALL
GAMES CROOKED
Investigations Now Stirring Up
Anger of True Sportsmen
in England.
PROFESSIONALS PLAYING
In AMATEUR LEAGUES
Several Sensations Already
Sprung and More Promised
in Near Future.
BY RICHARD DAHLoREN.
ial Cable to The Tribune.

BY RICHARD DAHIGREN.
Special Cable to The Tribune.
LONDON. Jan. 2s.-There is n scandal
in football circles which has caused no
end OF comment. There are we'll au-
thenticated cases OF bribery, attempts
to brlbe players and body snatching"
that is, stealing members from one
team to strengthen another.
II is stated on authority which 1t is
difficult to diabelieve. that IN a recent
made TO fix the game, and thus per
petuate a swinde on the public. II Is
satisfactory to all who cherish honestg
The offer was treated with scorn. and
hard struggle followed.
ion. and two clubs that have .riveted
attention by the brilliance Of their play.
An agent OF one sent a message that he
wished to see the captain. The skipper
player. and complied with the request.
To the captains amusement he was Of
fered s150-s60 for himself and $40 apiece
for the remainder of the team.
What for?'
ITO lose the match"
The captain of the other team indg-
nantly refused to sell his club and the
trainer and chairman of his club The
situation was considered i and the facts
This is shocking story. but true. No
one but the captain, trainer and the
bribe which had been dangled before
the eyes OF a player The captain was
unI, pnneryed that such a. a proposal should
told his team, which struggled to the
'S = Most lost Games Are s&aighs.
The one comforting reflection Is that
ss pei, cen; Of the league games are
pabe tha football 81
honestly fought out The man who
wishes either to buy or sell game is
not wan5ss sst,nr In fSotSs o3 tSe ntereasue board
held at Carlisle. MiddIesbrough were
fined $3.50 and ordered to pay the costs
20 or the eEy sans e e ~
formerly of the latter club and now with
Mlddlcsborough.
Davidson was an amateur. but desired
to turn professional. and knowing he
would not be allowed TO continue his
employment at Glasgow il he did so.
he communicated with Middesbrough.
Terms were arranged, situation prom
ised. and Davidson gave notice to his
employers three weeks before he asked
for his transfer from the Airdrie club.
or intimated his intention Of leaving.
All the correspondence was produced:
and 1t almost seems inconceivable vt
club of the experience. of Mid6'es-
preaching and agreeing on terms even
with an amateur. without the consent OF
his club. The league held that MIddles-
brough should at once have communi-
Gated with the Airdrieonians when DsL-
wilson took the first step OF offering his
services There were those who argued
OF nominal sum, but the Scottish mem
bers did not want to be vindictive, Hence
only fine OF $3.50 was imposed.
of the Airdrieonians, was adjourned. He
also, 1t was alleged. had been improperly
tampered with by Middlesbrough.
The evidence Of the player is material,
and the board Is determined either to
have the case proved or dismissed, and
to place any blame on the responsible
parties.
odorous Mess Is Probed.
The inquiry into the breaches Of tho
rules as TO professionalism by Cumbrian
clubs looks like proving more serious
matter than people thought When j. F.
Byrpe. some seasons ago, organized an
agitation with respect TO this matter. II
was maintained that the Rugby union
committee did not proceed far enough
with northern Investigations. The mem
bers were far too easily satisfied with
not probe the evil to the very root. And
so. in Cumberland the minor clubs and
the payers smiled In their sleeves.
Northern Rng6y union h,, t9iSs ,b ,tt msaveiea az
the other body
Now. however, some other prominent
players have taken the matter up. and
have placed their evidence not only be-
fore the Rugby union. but also in the
newspapers.
Such clubs as Aspa,ria, Blennerhasset.
Cockermouth, Wigton. Worklngton and
Silloth have been indicted. and even a
school in the county is declared to have
winked at the laws
Registered Northern Rugby union
players have taken part in the Rugby
unions county championship Men who
have been paid large bonuses and wages
by Northern Rugby union clubs have been
the county committee
did not think that such payments had
been made.
II will not do for the club delegates 10
the county committee TO plead Ignorance
OF the status or the players There even
seemed glorifcation over each delin..
quency, There will be another sort OF
feeling when the Rugby Football union
issues Its declaration.
More Strict About Amateurs.
The Amateur Athletic union Of Eng
has membership of 1853, and is grow
ing The union came into being because
certain athletes thought IL about time
they organized In their own interests
The principal object of the new body is
to try to end the rupture between the
athletic and cycling bodies, The athletic
body does nothing to encourage
athletics beyond the promotion OF sixteen
annually. its chief mission
apparently being 10 discipline athletes.
The Amateur Athletic association has
been termed the Scotland Yard of ath-
letics." Athletes will. il Is thought. feel
more inclined TO support the National
Athletic union, which believes in foster
ing profe ssionalism (as we'll as amateur
athetics), rather than tolerating sham
amateursn.
Ha - Those suffering from weak