New-York tribune., 1912-04-02
REVOLT NOW IN SOCCER
War Declared Against American
Football Association.
AFTER REAL NATIONAL BODY
Thomas Bagnal Tells of Need for
Arousing New Interest in
the Sport.


The New York State and District Asso-
ciation Football League has issued, through
its president. Thomas Bagnal, the following
statement regarding its position toward
the effort now making to organize a ma
tional association TO control soccer football
TO the end that national championship
may be decided by actual contest and that
the game be fostered in every way.
For many years the New York State
and District Association Football League
was member Of the American Football
Association, with headquarters in Newark
The latter assumed control of soccer in the
United States, and professed to exercise 1t
by virtue of an afiliation with the Foot
ball Association. Ltd. the governing body
In England For twenty-six years 1t has
claimed this control and in those twenty
six years 1t has done nothing to advance
the game. 1t offered a single trophy, the
American cup, which at the outside could
not have cost more than 5000, and the name
Of each years winning team is inscribed
thereon. In addition, each year the men,
bers Of the winning team and the runners
up are each presented gold and silver
medals.
ITO meet the cost OF this 10 per cent is
deducted from the gate receipts Of every
game played up to the final game, and then
% per cent is turned over to the treasury
Of the A. +. A. This leaves a goodly sur
plus at the end OF each year, which one
would naturally expect would be used to
advance the game, but such is not the case
Last year the surplus was distributed
among the officers as bonuses for their
labors during the season, after 500 had
been used to pay the expenses OF num-
ber who had gone TO Pawtucket to turn
over the cup to the winning team, in whose
custody 1t remains for a year. when, as is
customary In all final games. the cup and
medals should have been presented to the
winning team on the field as soon as won.
AS members Of the A. +. A. we tried
earnestly and consistently to broaden its
view and to urge 1t TO try TO make its in
fuen1s national in fact as we'll as in name
We pointed out that the United States. be-
cause OF its size and its very proper feel
ing Of national pride, could not be con-
sidered as being under vassalage OF an
English organization m football any more
than II could in any other sporting or bust
ness enterprise. We have no quarrel with
the Football Association, Limited As
matter OF fact. we regard IT as a most
excellent organization. which does its work
in praiseworthy manner, but, neverthe-
less. We do not see why soccer football in
the United States should not have an au-
tonomous organization.
THE American Football Association In
all its twenty-six years never extended It's
Influence west Of Philadelphia, with the ex-
ception OF the Michigan State League,
which has now decided to Join the Ameri-
can Amateur Football Association. Our
organization was the biggest in its ranks.
East OF us it has few scattering teams in
New England, but for the most part It's
membership is confined to New York Phil
adelphia and Newark and a few surround
ing towns in New Jersey. cur defections
left 1t unrepresented In New York. In the
West. where the game has a large follow
ing. 90 out of 100 patrons have never heard
OF It. but the officers in charge resolutely
set their faces against any progress what
ever. Under the constitution it's officers
have complete control, and they are so
closely bound together by mutual interests
and feelings that It is impossible TO get en-
outsider on the governing board.
Realizing that such a body was wholly
unable or unwilling 10 advance the game
as it should be advanced. we gave UP our
membership and continued TO play as an
league, just as the leagues In
St Louis, Chicago and other Western cities
do, until the American Amateur Football
Association was organized. We immedi-
ately allied ourselves with this movement.
and with our thrty-six clubs We intend 10
bend every effort TO make IT a national
body. That We might not be accused OF
motives or OF desiring 10 control
the situation ourselves, We agreed to come
In with our thirty-slx clubs on an even
basis OF representation with all other
leagues, largo or small. The constitution
Of the American Amateur Football Associa-
ton gives our league one delegate and one
vote, exactly the same as IT gives the st.
Louis Amateur League, with its six clubs;
the Michigan State League. with its six
teen, and Chicago with its ten. The fact
hat the first announcement of the scope OF
he movement brought In nearly hundred
clubs, which is more than the American
Football Association. with its twenty six
years behind it, can show, seems to prove
football players generally share our views.
I'VE have done this to show how earnest
We are in our desire to see the Ameri-
AN Amateur Football Association take
he place 1t should as the one govern
ng body in the United States, that it might
become a member of the International Fed
eration, which governs the sport in all the
Countries In Europe. and in which We feel
he United States should have n voice and
| footing as an independent country and
lot be compelled TO appear before that
)ody as mere offshoot OF the English as
ISOLATION. We would regard that as being
mpolitic, as it would be, in case the game
II baseball should gain popularity in Eng
and, to attempt to have 1t governed by
no National Baseball Commission of this
country through some subsidiary body In
london"
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