The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-13
AMERICA SHOULD
WIN 1872 OLYMPIC
Well known Authority Says
Americans Should Come
to Support of Team
(Ry Emmett Brown.)

to Support of Team
(By Emmett Brown.j
I wonder how many lovers Of ath-
letics in the United States know what
an undertaking the sending of a great
team to the Olympic games is. When
the Finland" leaves her dock in New
York city the l4th of next June. the
American Olympic committee will
stand obligated to pay from $780, 0G
is to be spent on the team OF for
the team in chartering the steamer.
The committee expects at least $780,
900 Of this will be paid back from
passengers who accompany the team
The expenses of each athletic on the
team will approximate $500.
The central west comprising the
states of Michigan, Ohio. Indiana, H.
linOis, Wisconsin,. Kentucky, Missouri
Iowa. Minnesota NJ the Dakotas with
Kansas and Nebraska, are expected to
raise at least $4,000, as there will be
enough athletes chosen on the team
from this district to require more
than the above amount to defray their
expenses.
The Olympic games are the only
contests to which America sends a
team which completes against every
other country in the world. United
States has always won these events
since they were started in 1890. Each
year it is more difficult to win them
as the great teams from England,
Sweden. France, Germany and Italy
each year become larger and more
proficient.
MinncsotanS Can Give Help.
The immense territory known as
he northwest contains more Of the
Scandinavian population of the coun-
try than all he rest of tho United
States. Minnesota and st. Paul are
practically the center of this Scan
Observation-Disclosures district. AS a class
the farmers and business mon of this
nationality are prosperous and rich.
and If the Swedish-Americans in the
northwest alone would make up their
minds to a the expenses IT this
team. they could do it very easily
without calling upon any other class.
raised in the great centers like New
York. Chicago, Boston. st. Louis, San
Fra ncisco and large cities like Mime
apolis, st. Paul. Indianapolis. Kansas
City and Omaha. These cities have
never been approached in raising
funds for past Olympic events. and
should be included in the list of pa
triotic cities. If some great newspa-
pc: In each one of the cities would
take the task of raising funds, in NV
opinion the result would he surpris-
ing.
n American committee this year
has attempted something never tried
before i'll chartering n great steam
ship of 5000 tons, $50 feet long and
80 feet broad. capable Of acconmo-
dating approximately 500 first class
passengers. When the steamship sails
from New York on June 4. ii will
contain every convenience for the
purpose for which it will be put. An
eighth of a mile running track will
be laid on the upper deck, together
with dirt-fillcd pits for the field ath-
letes. Here shot-putting, jumping
u other events of a similar charac-
ter can he practtced. a swimming
pool and gymnasium will also be part
OF h equipment. and. under the eyes
or Trainer Murphy, the athletes and
the training chief will be obliged to dc
their best.
Room for the Athletes.
AS the promenade deck is 212 feet
In length. this will give the athletes
plenty of room to stretch their legs.
The weight men. jumpers. pole vault
ers II others also will have plenty
of elbow room, for both ends Of the
oeSh arr spacious. on the Sanc deck
several large smoking rooms are To-
Gated. both for first and second class
passengers. There is also a large
drawing room toward the bow, to-
gether with a library.
The athletic team of 1912 to Stock
holm will be comprised Of men from
nearly every state in the union; men
from nearly every large college, also
from all of the great athletic clubs;
Young men who have come up from
the playgraunds in the large cities;
farmers boys who have become pro-
fcient in some branch of athletic
sport. 1t will be as purely a demo-
cratic American aggregation as It
| would be possible to gather together
in America.
The writer, who is chairman of the
Chicago finance committee Of the
Olympic games, says hat he accom-
panied a similar team to London in
1905 and considered it a personal
privilege to know each one of these
athletes. They were a body of young
men who any American would be
proud to know; being the best ath-
letes in America they necessarily
must have been Of the best habits,
and a good athlete. Mr.. Brown says.
he has found to be a perfect gentle
nan
<AiIIGllCd Cdu wen OG PROUD OF the
team which will represent us in Stock
holm. and l confidently predict hat II
a sufficient sum can be raised to send
the 100 men who will be chosen. that
America will retain the championship
Of the world in athletics for the next
four years.
I have no doubt but what $1,000
600 could be raised for this project
II the newspapers Of the great cities
would present the matter to the pub
Tic from a purely national and pa
triotic standpoint, as there is not an
American O nthis continent who
would not contribute his mite rather
than. see the great team Of the United
States beaten in Stockholm next july.
The Chicago finance committee Of
the Olympic games. of which Everett
G. Brown OF the Chicago Athletic as
ISOLATION is chairman. will welcome
contributions from any citizen as also
funds obtained through any newspa-
per who wishes to aid this project.