The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-25
OLYMPIC WINNER
MAY LOSE TITLE
HALPIN, NATIONAL QUARTER or
MILE CHAMPION GETS IN FAD
ABROAD.
QUESTION OF MONEY
BRrT0Ns SEIZE CHANCE TO ACT IN
CASE OF AMERICAN ATHLETE
AND PROMPTLY SUSPEND
HIM.

NEW YORK, Oct. 24.--Ihere was
much surprise In athletic circles wheE
1t was learned that Tom HalpIn. OF
the Boston A. A.. 4 member of the
Olympic team and the present ma
tionai auarter-miie champion of the
United States, was In danger Of
losing his amateur status and that
the national quarter title might
be taken away from him. 1t all came
out through an article written by
"w. l.. s." the athletic expert OF
the Sporting Chronicle OF sIanches
ter, England. Under head of The
Bad Appearance Money" wv. T.. s."
Id the current edition OF the sport
inE Chronicle says:
II understand that though the A.
A. A. win allow no athlete suspended
by the A. A. L. Of the United States
to run in this country. there IL no
reciprocity In the matter: II an
American gets into trouble In the
United Kingdom ne may, as ne
pleases, compete when he gets to his
home side OF the Herring Pond. Thus
take IL r. J. Halptn, who IL now
the new quarter mile champion OF
tho United States, was quite In his
rights In running in the great meet
Ing where he won his title In Pitts
burg.
But II may just as well be known
that Master Halpin. of Boston, Mass,
was suspended sine die by the athletic
authorities of THE country for seeking
10 obtain fifteen dollars OF appea rance
money from the North Manchester
Harriers on the occasion of their
August meeting. SO far from this
request being acaniescsa in. Haipin
found himself In hot water. and we
havs seen the last Of him as az
amateur in this country.
''Gtill. he is not the only American
athlete who should have been singled
ont In recent times. ffis only thing til
other club officials h not the pluck
of the North Manches ar Harriers.
20. r. Sanford and other preachers
of Yankee virtue might like to COM
ment further upon this Haipin bust
ness"
when James f. Sullivan. secretary
treasurer of the Amateur Athletic
union, was told about the Halpin mat
ter he said:
nothing has been heard of the mat
ter until now In this country. II the
Amateur AIhFttSs %tSNPSA1NAoA "a A~esS
land did suspend Halpin. II would have
been Its duty TO notify at once the
Amateur Athletic union of the United
States Of the action.
"Halpfn then would have been tenn
rsorarfiy suspended by the A. a. U. tiii
his case could be investigated and de-
fnsteiy disposed of. The evidence
against FIalpin would have to be fnr-
nished to MS. and then We would nave
taken up the case and either sussa,nso
the action Of the British authorities.
or. II the evidence did not justify IT,,
reinstate<i Halpin.
There is no alliance between the
Amateur Athletic union OF the tnitee
States and the Amateur Athletic asso-
citation OF England. but II has been
customary for each association TO rec
opnize the decisions OF the othef. Al al
English athlete had been suspended ny
the 4. A. OF this country eHe 81
the mrs, steps would be for us TO notify
the british authorities of the action.
We expect the same action by the A.
A. A. os England over the suspension
Of any American.
However. no hint of Halpin's troa-
nj. In England has reached the ON
ciaIs of the A, A. u One of my stan
personally goes ever all the Ehshsn
papers, and II is a mystery to me now.
II any notice OF stAipfH StsfS
dIa appear in All English publication;
such a notice escaped him. IL would
have been Haipin's duty TO notify the
officials Of the A. A. L. upon ms re-
turn here about any action taken W
III. British authorities. We have neard
nothing.
aThe Amateur Athletic union now
will have TO do some investigating ano
find out II the report in the sporting
Chronicle was true and II the A.. \. a.
OF England really did suspend Halpln.
II Ii can be proved that Haiptn Nios
lated the ar17atetrr. rules he Will be stss-
pended and the prizes he won here
stnea his return. including the ma
tjonal A. A. L. Quarter-mile cham
pionship, viii be taken away from
,hin.s,,,s..> .,.<5, ,ese-,... y, ia. =,
that sonic mistake had been MADE IN
the case. II Haipin asked for hotel OF
travelling expenses fer tit. Sesth Man.
chester Harriers' meet he was WITHIN
hi. rights. III, however. he demanoea
appearance money he. OF course. vio,
lated his amateur obligations, and VIII
have to suffer for II,