New-York tribune., 1911-11-06
Quiet Little Game Of Stealing
Athletes Should be Stopped.
/ MOVE IN RIGHT DIRECTION
News and Views on Live Topics
OF the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

and path. BY amending the constitution
and bylaws as suggested a number OF
doubtful points will be cleared UP, Whllc'
better vet. blow viii be aimed at prose
lvtinc that should he effective enough to
put an end for all time to one OF the
most aggravated abuses In spite OF
rule now in force 10 prevent this partic-
ular form Of athletic evil the larger clubs
have beeu preying on the smaller 'Iups
in "A way 10 arouse much dissatisfaction
ana 70 kin Off competition. Just 50 soon
as an athlete shows any promise lie Is
drafted or literally stolen by some ciuo
slightly higher in the scale in a way to
discourage and hamper the smaller frN ana
mako their athletic lie o burden Tho re
suit i'm a measure has brought about
monopoly. particularly i'm this district
which has made for harm by opening the
way TO charges of professionalism. Prose
lyting. i'm fact is the hogie to amateur
sport an Unsuitable leech that sucks the
very life blood Of athletics in any form.
A move. then, to correct tine evil must he
applauded and encouraged. and it IS hoped
that the delegates will fully appreciate the
need ana act accordingly.
As previously told I'm Tho Tribune the
legislative committee suggests that no
member Of any club in the union he a.
lowed 10 compete as a representative of
such club within two years after represent
ing any other club. unless the latter mas
lisbanded or practically ceased to exist.
This means. OF course that the larger clubs
will find IT improbable to prey on the
smaller ones. as two years is "A long time
to bank on an athlete holding his form.
The chief objection raised to the passage
of this amendment lies in the oft-made
statement that il is unfair 10 stand in the
way of advancement for any athlete. This,
as a matter Of fact. is no objection, as
the rules specifically provide that those
who resign from one club for any cause
and cannot join another for two years may
in the meantime compete in championship
meetings, if properly registered. as unat-
tached Under the circumstances. the rule
will work no hardship to the individual,
while doing great good for the cause OF
clean amateur sport.
Personally ! am also in favor OF the
amendment which will prevent the leading
clubs drawing on college athletes while they
are undergraduates TO strengthen their
teams in the vacation period This GUS
tom has put the taint OF professionalism
on many a man and sown the seed OK lax
ity in amateur sport. Hereafter, II the
rule is passed. college men can compete
In open and championship meetings az rep
resentatves Of their college. when regis
tered, OF course, i'm any particular district,
but viii not be able 10 Join some club as
an athletic member which is generally
TO mean without dues. because
of his prowess on track or field. James T..
Sullivan secretary OF the Amateur Ath-
letic Union. and its former president. has
long been in favor OF this amendment, and
will be one of its strongest supporters
when il comes up for passage.
1t has been suggested that this legisla-
ton is aimed directly al the New York
Athletic Club and the Irish-American Ath-
Ietic Club. but such IS rot the case. These
clubs have been no more guilty of the
practice of proselyting than the others all
the way down the scale. although their
d,ings. because Of their prominence. have
been emphasized. It may be said that they
have proved more particularly on the
Pastime and the Mohawk Clubs, while the
two last named have preyed on the ones just
below them. and so on ad inhnitum. The
time has come for all hands clubs and
athletes alike 10 forget their own selfish
motives and to combine for the good of the
sport.
While on the subject Of legislation 1t
strikes me that the National Baseball Com
mission might DO well 10 adopt the reso-
luton which it is said August Hermann
will present at its next meeting to pro-
hibit baseball players from writing news
paper stories of the world series games.
Anything which is likely TO cause friction
or i'll feeling among the players of the same
team or between players of different teams
operates against the sport. The commits
sion might at least pass a rule TO prevent
players on the teams competing for the
worlds championship from expressing their
opinion I'm the public print and leave the
bars up for those whose interest is less
personal There is not likely 10 be much
sympathy for Mr.. Herrmann's other sug-
gesticn to prohibit players from going into
vaudeville. There is such a thing, of
course as too much publicity, but it does
not seem fair for the commission TO stand
in the way Of players who care TO earn a
livelihood before the footights between
seasons. so long as they do nothing TO cast
discredit on baseball.
With the sale Of FitzHcrbert. Novelty
and other stars of the thoroughbred turf
TO Charles Kohler for racing in England. as
told in The Tribune last week. and with
the departure OF S. c. Hidreth for for
egn shores 10 train these horses which
In happier times for racing I'm this state
were the backbone of his powerful stable.
the fact is brought home that IL will re-
quire something more than opening the
gates OF the tracks TO restore the sport. OF
the leading owners and breeders i'm this
country August Belmont and r. r. Wilson
are about the only ones who have shown
no signs as yet OF giving mp hope Mr..
Belmont, ii is true. races a small stable
in England but he did so long before the
passage of the Agnew- Hart law which
brought racing 10 such an evil pass I'm
this state. The loss to this country Of
horses OF the class and quality OF Fftz-
Herbert, Novelty and Ballot, among 9th
ers cannot be overestimated, and they are
only three Of the many which have been
shipped away TO enrich the stock OF Eng
land, France, Germany, or some country
IN South America Brighter days for rae
ing may come-are almost sure to come
but in the meantime the great breeding in
dustry Is suffering blow from which IL
Will be hard to recover
The loss which the Gripping Of the
breeding industry means 10 This couutry
t. strikngly brought out by the report of
recent thoroughbred sales i'm the Argentine
Republic. where l8s horses brought n total
Of 81, 264, 1913, an average of $s.156 each Not
only that, but Twelve colts by Cyllene the
great English horse. sold for Sis, ,l59, an