New-York tribune., 1911-11-20
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Chance Now to Stop Stealing of
Athletes by Clubs.
THE EVIL OF PR0SELYTIzING
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

and Professional.
Reforms Of a radical nature in tho gov
crnment of track and field athletics may or
may not bc worked at the annual meeting
of the Amateur Athletic Union i'm this city
to-day It depends entirely upon whether
the delegates are swayed by selfish motives
or by true interest in the sport. II the re-
port of the legislative committee. of which
Barlow S Weeks Is chairman. Is followed;
IL the advice Of James T.. sullivan, once
president and now secretary OF the union,
is needed; il tho opinion OF men who have
made a close study of conditions IS re-
spected, the constitution and bylaws will
be amended in n way 10 prevent the larger
clubs preying on the smaller ones and 10
prevent the out aud out stealing Of ath-
lctes. which means professionalism in
thinly yeiled form.
Only two weeks ago IN this column
urged adoption Of the amendments sug-
gosted by the legislative committee as a
means of preventing prosolytizing and as
way Of correcting an evil which is slowly.
but none the less surely, undermining the
sport in this country. It is of enough mo-
in a few words once more in tho hope that
the out-of-town delegates who may not be
confronted with the problem at home. will
realize the force Of what Jim Sullivan and
his associates are working 50 hard 10 ac-
oompGsh. OF the two most important
amendments, the first provides that an
athlete who resigns from a club for any
reason except that II has been dfsbanded OF
practically ceased to exist must compete
for two years before being eligible TO rep
resent any other club on track. field or
path The second provides that no under
graduate Of a college or university may
represent any club affiliated with the ANA
teur Athletic Union in any open meeting.
Both these amendments, If adopted, will do
much toward putting an end to proselytiz
ing and its attendant evils.
4 number OF athletes have expressed
themselves loudly against these reforms.
and some clubs too, are not I'm sympathy.
am told that the delegates from the New
York Athletic Club will stand out against
the amendments, but this is hard TO be-
lieve. inasmuch as their adoption would he
so plainly q forward step II has been said
that the rules would stand in the way of
advancement for athletes and that they
would rob man Of his right 10 ioin any
club he wished. This. however, is a fall
lacy. No hardship would be worked as
provision IS made so that athletes can
compete i'm open and championship meet |
ings as unattached, whereas a man can en-
Joy the privileges Of club life without rep
resenting that club II he secs dt to change
from one 10 the other
As a matter Of fact, therc is no place for
the athlete who wants 10 enjoy club privi- !
lcges without paving for them. Seeds Of
professionalism are sown broadcast by the
system OF athletic members, which means
no dues. II club cannot get along with
out buying it's athletes It is time for that
club 10 disband This may sound chmeri-
cal, but the fact remains that those i'm CON
tiol of the Amateur Athletic Union realize
full we'll that something must be done to
check tho professional who would compete
under tho guise Of an amateur and to pre-
vent the raking up Of muddy waters al
most every time an international meeting
Is held II is now up 10 the delegates, and
it is hoped that they may see light, the
legislative committee has done its part.
Gustavus T. Kirby would mako p good
president Of the Amateur Athletic Union
and his name is almost sure 10 he pre-
scented to-day. lie has made q long study
Of track and field athletics and has worked
faithfully 10 uphold tie standard of anna
teur sport not even James L. Sullivan,
perhaps, is better posted or moro familiar
with the requirements Of tho high office, and
the organization would be the gamer for
his service. Mr.. Kirby has been ON the
executive committee of the intercollegiate
Association Of Amateur Athletes Of Amer
lea for number Of years and has he's
minor offices i'm the Amateur Athletic
Union.
If the West Side Tennis club carries out
its ambitious plans for the enlargement of
the present grounds and the building Of
thirty additional courts. one can almost
foresee in keen anticipation a national
championship tournament in this city. The
club is even now equipped in a way to
make the holding Of the blue ribbon fixture
of the lawn tennis world possible, but by
doubling the number Of courts even the
most ardent Newport supporters could not
stand out long against the added facilities
for holding the tournament here. The in
surgents, so called who conducted a cam
paign against Newport last winter nave
lost none Of their following, so far as can
be learned, and II is only a question of time
when the Casino courts must take their
turn in the circuit, which will include New
York Philadelphia and possibly Boston
and Chicago.
The Concy Island Jockey Club may be
appsuded for making provision 10 continue
the Futurity which has been the greatest
two-year-old fixture Of the American turf.
The race is still on the books for 1912 and
1913, and its renewal has just been am
nounced for 1914, with entries to close on
January !. II racing is revived. as is 50
earnestly hoped by those Interested I'm the
sport, the Coney Island Jockey Club will
DO In a position 10 carry on "A race without
interruption which has done 50 much 10
encourage the breeding industry.
The remarkable development Of the
American light harness horse, In which
speed is the chief factor is plainly shown
IN the announcement that an even fifty
trotters have been added TO the 2lO list
this year-four more than the high-watcr
mark Of any previous season.
The semi-annual meeting of the board OF
review OF the National Trottng Association
early next month Is likely 10 be as inter-