Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-25

Of the Swedish team. Mr.. Parker is re-
ported as saying that he did not fancy
the construction of the Swedish track.
This, however, is a minor matter. and
the chances are that by the time the
games are held the track will be a
good one. It was constructed in whole
or in part by an expert English track
builder, and, that being the case. there
should be no fault found with 1T. for
the English have always been the
teachers of the world in the construc-
ton Of cinder paths.
What impressed the English trainer
more than anything else was the Won
derful industry which the Swedes are
teams. Immediately after the 1908 Olym-
piad the Swedish Olympic committee en-
gagged E. ]. Hjertberg, who, by the way,
is native of Sweden, to coach the
Swedish team. The Swedish officials
were convinced after the 1908 games that
the American system of developing ath-
letes was the only scientific one and that
If they expected ever to win these games
II would be necessary for them to copy
the American methods. Not only did
they secure Hjertberg, who has had q
great deal of experience In training ath-
letes at Columbia University, the New
York Athletic Club and other organiza-
lions, but they sent representative ath-
leteS to this country to study American
methods. One Of their best pole vaulters
lived at Yale for a number Of months.
where he made a close study OF this
event. Other representatives have studied
at other institutions. The Swedes even
went SO far as to approach Michael c.
Murphy, who coached the American team
in 1903, with the object Of getting him to
spend a summer in Sweden to coach and
explain his methods. Mr.: Murphy. OF
course, could not accept this invitation.
Another thing which Mr. Parker discov-
cred in Sweden was that the Swedish
Olympic committee had provided compe-
tent trainers for all parts Of Sweden to
give instruction to those who had ambi-
tons to make the Swedish Olympic team.
When Mr.. Parker returned to London he
severely criticised the British Olympic
committee for its laXity in not making
more preparations for having Great Brit
ain properly represented. He and his
associates made out list OF more than
200 prominent athletes whom they con-
sidered as possibilities for the English
team. Most Of them were seen personally
were pursuing. Mr.. Parker was very
much Disguised to find that very few
of them knew anything about modern
training methods. Now he is asking the
uphold England's reputation on the track
and field when such slipshod methods
are employed. His conclusion Is that the
only way for England to regain her pres
tige is by adopting the American methods
of scientific training and beginning
preparation for the next set Of games I'm
mediately after the last Olympiad.
Ever since his appointment, Mr.. Parker
has lost no chance to praise the Amerf-
can system Of training and to express
his view that the Americans will sweep
the field at Stockholm just as they did
at London. Those who are in closest
touch to the American Olympic commit
tee do not attach too much importance
to what Mr.. Parker says. They realize
that their greatest enemy will be over
confidence, and they intend that this
shall not have q chance to ruin their
prospects The American committee
knows that England has the nucleus
for q very fine Olympic team, and that
after the 1908 defeat the British will
double their efforts to get together
team that will take the measure OF the
Americans.