The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-20
Coming Olympic Congress Must Decide
Upon a Strict Definition of Amateunism
Which viii Govern Athletes of the World
Cseo OF Jim Thorpe Has Brought Revelation of Fact That Amateur Codes Differ
IN Almost EUey MISUNDERSTANDING and Comprehensive
Legislation on Question Is Needed.

New York, April 19.-Amongg the
many important matters which will be
exhaustively discussed at the Olympic
congress in Lausanne, Switzerland,
during the weeks conference of the
International Olympic committee a
few weeks hence, and which will at
tract representatives of the Worldwide
athletic movement from all parts of
the globe, it is promised that none
will be of greater interest than thai
which r~evolves about the question of
a comprehensive amateur definition.
Decided filings which had no real
foundation of fact have been taken at
American athletes generally because
of the recently announced detection of
Jim Thorpe, who confessed to hav-
ing played baseball for money three
years ago, which fact, had 1t become
known in time, would have. relieved
the American Olympic committee of
the seeming stigma which it had to
acknowledge, as he would have been
declared ineligible, and America would
not have been accused of having
played a professional.
The absolute necessity for just such
action as is to be taken by the In
ternational Olympic committee, viz,
the framing of an amateur definition
which will be comprehensive enough
to be acceptable to the athletic or
CARNATIONS of the world, vas shown
in the varied codes drawn by the
SWedes for the several sports held un-
der their auspices last year.
Regulations Vary.
Under the general regulations for
gymnastics in the Stockholm contests,
it was interpreted that "gymnastic
teachers and leaders, even though they
receive pay as such, are regarded as
amateurs Again, in the. rowing it
was stated that "a professional is one
who, as a seaman, fisherman, or in
any other capacity, has in any way, in
the, exercise of his calling, engaged in
rowing within two years from the date
of competition
Such constructions as these, n the
announced intention of Gustav Lung
strom, a Swedish professional, who
won a polo ground Marathon and num-
erous other races for money, to wait
two years., when he will again, accord
ing to his own statement, turn anna
teur," make it obligatory for the COM
mittee to frame a code which will be
as exhaustive as that which obtains
in the conditions of competition which
overn all those who desire to COM
pete in the United States under the
registration of the Amateur Athletic
union, and which reads as follows:
The American Rule.
No person shall be eligible to COM !
pete in any athletic meeting, game or
entertainment given or sanctioned by
this union who has Cd received or
competed for compensation or reward,
in any form, for the display, exercise,
or example of his skill in or knowledge
of any athletic exercise, or for rem
dering personal service of any kind
to any athletic organization, or for
becoming or continuing a member of
any athletic organization, or received
or accepted any prize or reward for
an exhibition or otherwise than in a
recognized competitions; or ca has
entered any competition under a name
other tina his own or from a club of
which lie was not at that time a
member in good standing; or (3) has
knowingly entered any competition
open to any professional or profession
ais, or a knowingly competed with
and professional for any prize or tok-