Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-28
.SWEDES TURN TRICK
Will Keep Best Men Out Of
Two Events.
PROGRAM so ARRANGED
Americas Team Will Consist Of
More Than $50 Men-Eng-
land Dissatisfied.
By EDWARD r. BUSHNELL.

. Ell w ANIL -. OOo0N GA<A.
According to the announcement which
the Swedish Olympic committee has made
concerning the order of events al the
international games, which are to be held
at Stockholm in July, the Swedcs have
played rather sharp trick on the rest
Of the athletic world. In the arrange
ment Of their program they have sched-
uled nearly all the dashes and hurdle
races within day or two, and the dis
tance races they have grouped. in a SINH
lar manner. In other words. they have
declined to follow the procedure which
is common in the arrangement of games
of this Importance. by stringing out the
events so that the greatest number OF
men can compete in the greatest pumber
of events.
The direct result OF this arrangement
of the schedule. will make il practically
impossible for any of the American dis
tance runners TO double up In such events
as the mile and half mile, and IL will like
wise be hard on even those sprinters who
wish to compete in the 100 and 10 yard
dashes. The statement applies equally
to the various hurdle races.
The strongest objection to this plan has
come from England. though even here
it is not likely that there will be an,
formal protest against the action, OF the
Swedes. 1t would be strictly within the
province of the athletic authorities OF any
of the countries which will send teams
either to protest or jim more polite terms,
to make suggestions looking toward q
Encouragement of this schedule. The
Englishmen, while they have voiced
their disapproval in the newspapers. have
not lodged any formal objections, and
probably will not do so. Gustavus L.
Kirby, who is the president Of the ANA
teur Athletic Union and a member of the
American Olympic committee, declares
that he sees no reason why the United
States should interfere with the arrange
ment of the Swedes. The attitude adopt
ed seems to be that the Swedes are I'm
complete charge of this years games,
their plans as they see fit, provided they
do nothing unfair, and to date they have
shown disposition TO consider the rights
of all the competing countries.
Ihose who are in charge Of the collec-
ton of the American team are not worry
ing over the fact that the ARRANGEMENT
OF the schedule will make 1t impossible
Tor the athletes to double up. There
Will be heats in all of the distance runs
UP to and including the one mile, so that
only an exceptional man like Sheppard of
the 1903 team could be used to ADVANTAGE
in two events. The American committee
intends to take much larger team than
four years ago, SO that there will be
do away with the necessity of doubling
up. According to the present plans IL Is
likely that the American team will in
clude nearly $50 men. Not only will there
be greater number of men taken along
for the regular track and field events. but
this country will be represented for the
first time in every sport on the program.
1t may be that the combined team will
even number more than that suggested.
Murphy to Coach Team.
There has naturally been great deal
of concern over the condition of Michael
c. Murphy. who has been selected to
coach the American team. Newspaper re-
ports have been travelling around the
country to the effect that Mr.. Murphy's
condition was SO serious that he would
be unable to coach either the Olympic
team or the Pennsylvania track team.
These rumors became SO persistent that
Mr.. Murphy sent for the writer this week
and gave him an authoritative dei.-al OF
all these reports. Said Mr. Murphy:
While am taking things easy right
now. | have not the slightest intention
of declining to coach the American Olym-
pic team. l will be out shortly. and then
l will resume my duties as coach of the
Pennsylvania team, and when the time
comes l will be ready to take charge OF
the Olympic athletes
AS a matter OF fact. Mr.. Murphy's con-
ditiOn Is due to a very severe cold which
he contracted during the Pennsylvania
Michigan foot bah game, which was
played in a raging blizzard. He was
further exposed, and ut The end of the
foot ball season was confined to his
house. He went away for brief rest
and when he returned two weeks ago he
Overtaxed his strength and suffered a
slight relapse. His doctor, as Well as
the Pennsylvania and Olympic officials
requested him to take things very easy
this winter and not to run the risk
OF overexerting himself again. He has
already been relieved of some OF his
coaching duties at Pennsylvania by the
voluntary offer of Thomas O. Haydock.
the former quarter miller. to do the i'm
door coaching for Il few weeks. This
probably means that Pennsylvania will
not take a very active part In the various
indoor games Of the winter.
There is totally wrong opinion abroad
regarding Mr.. Murphy's duties as coach
OF the Olympic team. 1t should be re-
membered that his active services will
not be required until some time in June,
when the American team Is selected. This
team is to be picked in three preliminary
try-outs. One will be held in San Fran
cisco for the Pacific coast athletes, the
other at Chicago for the athletes OF the
middle west and the third at Cambridge,
Mass, for the eastern athletes. The east
ern meet at least, viii not be held until
after the intercollegiate championships.
which are scheduled for the last Satur-
day in May