New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
WATER POLO BATTLE
TO Be INVESTIGATED
James E. Sullivan Says That a
Meeting Will Be Called to
Hear Evidence.
NEW YORK PLAYERS BITTER
One Onlooker Expresses Opinion
That E. G. Brown Was at
the Bottom of All the
Trouble.

James E. Sullivan, secretary Of the ANA
teur Athletic Union, said yesterday that
reports to the contrary notwithstandins' no
authorization had been given by him for
continuation of the national water polo
tournament following the free fight in the
pool at Pittsburgh on Friday, when the
game was stopped by an officer OF the clup.
Mr.. Sullivan said that one telegram ana
only one, had been sent from his ONCE ana
II read as follows:
ANY change made now in the absence OF
the right kind Of evidence and data should
have the unanimous consent OF all the
teams entered If not, declare champion
ship of and submit everything 10 cham
pionship committee, so that new time
Mace and officials can be decided upon, II
necessary. The judges of diving remain as
selected-Brown, Rogers ana Nuuu'' N'
change can be made ,,.
Up 10 now" Mr.. Sullivan said, this
telegram is the only action l have taken
and if the Chicago and Missouri teams
PLAYED on Saturday night for the ute urueI
the guise Of an exhibition game II callhoI
stand. so far as / can see. steps VIII Oe
taken at once TO institute an invesugauoh'
The referee, whose name see by the pa
pers was Charles Basler, Will be caAeo
upon for an affidavit, while the captains ol
the three teams, together with Mr.. HarnII-
ron. vice-president of the Pittsburgh Atm
letic Association, will be asked TO make
statements. all OF which will be submitted
n a meeting OF the championship COM
mittee." -
The committee in question is made up OF
lanes T. Sullivan chairman, and Barlow
: Weeks. of this city: z, E. Babo, OF Bos-
ION. Thomas r. Riley, Of Camoridgeport'
y G Brown, Of Chicago; II. W. F1tzpat-
rick. of New Orleans, and John Ellot' OF
San Francisco.
Mr. Sullivan did not care TO express an
opinion as to Just what action nlsht De
taken until more evidence was al hand out
he expressed keen regret over the disgrace
fuI exhibition and predicted that II "ouIo
hiring about a merry little war IN athIeuc
circles He did say however that III MS
opjnion, no more games should be plaEeu
under the so-called American rules whlch
open the way to foul work and hrutalty il
a referee happens to be incompetent lie
added that it was high time that the Anna
teur Athletic Union adopted the olympic
rules under which the games are played IN
other countries.
The members Of the New York Athletic
Club team. most of whom returned 10 TINS
cjtv on Sunday or yesterday, were bitter
against the Chicago players, the referee
and Everett c. Brown, a former president
Of the Amateur Athletic Union and now
member of the championship committee.
Those seen, however, did not care TO make
a statement, saying that they would prefer
10 give their evidence. if called on, before
the committee Of the Amateur Athleuc
Union.
One man. who also demurred at having
his name used, did not hesitate to express
his views. He said:
THAT water polo game In Pittsburgh on
Friday is likely 10 cause an upheaval III
athletic circles which will eclipse even the
pitched battle which took place in the
tank when the New York Athletic Club
and Chicago Athletic Association teams
met. heard a number Of persons express
the opinion that Everett c. Brown, OF Chi
cago, was at the bottom OF the trouble. 1t
certainly looked as if he used his authority
as a member of the championship com
mittee Of the Amateur Athletic Union TO
influence the referee and that he over
stepped his powers in ordering changes
made.
The storm began to gather early on
Friday, when the registration committee
Of the Central Association Of the Amateur
Athletic Union addressed a message TO the
Pittsburgh Athletic Association that Ehott.
Of the Chicago team, mad been suspended
and was not eligible to play. II IS said
that Mr. Brown refused to stand by this
verdict and loudly proclaimed that he
would overrule the suspension and that
Elliott would play in any case. Later Elliott
withdrew, but the trouble had begun
Both the Missouri Athletic Club and the
New York Athletic Club players tell with
out comment but with significant smiles
how in drawing for the bye before the
game Mr.. Brown offered them envelopes
nrepa~ed beforehand, and showed his feel
ings when the players first requested and
then insisted on using a coin 10 decide the
draw.
TT certainly looked as if Mr.. Brown was
ihe referee of the game in fact if not IN
name. He never left Basler's side, and
when the latter hesltated over decisions
either suggested solution or assumed the
pontifical robes Of national committeeman
refuse 10 recognize his duties and priV-
Ieges, and that was when an indignant
bystander demanded that he use his inhu-
ence 10 stop the disgrsceful flow OF vile
Language being used by the Chicago play
ers and the team substitutes. For words
far less offensive than those uttered Brown
has at other times threatened contestants
with Punishment.
lone thing is sure-the whole case should
be thrashed out before the proper commit
Zee OF the Amateur Athletic Union and
somebody punished. The Chicago players
were al fault from first 10 last and they
were encouraged rather than restrained by
an influential member Of the Chicago club
and the former president of the Amateur
Athletic Union After the investigation Of
the game charges should be presented
against this man Brown"
Newspaper reports from Pittsburgh nave
been so conflicting that the members OF the
New York Athletic Club team will not rest
satisfied until they have been eXonerated
from all blame. They contend that they
have been put I'm false light, and VIII
insist upon a hearing.