Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-30

Columbus conducted several very
successful sets of outdoor games, but
their last effort was such a failure
that they haven't had the ambition
to even discuss holding another meet
One big indoor meet n year seems to
be all Newark can stand, and after
the hardest kind Of work on the part
of Father T.. F. Quirk, Bernie and
Jimmy Owens, John O'Hara and 9TH
ers the Tabs manage to come out
on the right side of the ledger. In
order to do so, however, the best
athletes in the metropolitan district
must be secured and a dollar set
of games given for the cheap sum of
twenty-five cents.
C
The commingling of amateur and
professional athletes wouldn't do a
bit of harm. Perhaps it would be
better to require a special sanction
for such occasions, but even that
would not be necessary. TO have
the |simon-pures and the pros dis
playing their wares at the same time
would give one line on the merits
of the amateurs as compared to the
pros, and an amateur would know
full we'll himself just how he would
fare in professional company. In which
event he would either join the pros
or make certain to behave, in order
that he would not be declared a
professional. The scheme would work
out all right, just as it works out in
cycling. 1t would also tend to de-
velop more athletes and the best in
athletes. The goal would be higher
and the ambition greater and the ire
mendous crowds that would surely
turn out would make the game prof
liable for the competitors and pro-
moters and would provide an enter
tainment that would be certain to
be enjoyed by seekers of healthful
sports.
@
1t would not be essential, of course,
to have the amateurs join in the same
events with the pros, but even such
competition could be permitted
through special sanction, in order to
bring about contests between the
best men in every event in both
classes. The amateur, because he
was allowed to breathe the same air
as the pro, would be none the less
pure, and the simon-pure would ben
his more able brother, as experience
is the greatest teacher in the world.
He would be able, as it were, to see
his faults and to correct them, and
dence as he became closer in ability
to the greatest men in the game.
@
II such a thing were TO come to
pass, England, of course, for a time
at least, would discredit us. She does
it now, in an athletic way, SO we
would be used to that. Sooner or
later, however, with the success of
the sport in this country, would come
the success of it in other countries.
England at the present time is not
such a stickler as she used to be for
purity in athletics. Rather, she has
allowed the sport to wane to such an
extent and neglected her athletes to
such an extent that her name and
her colors are seen dragging in the
dust in the various big athletic meets
of the world.
Mr.. Fleeson in his letter explains in
his own way, why, in his opinion, the
pros and amateurs should perform
at the same meets. II makes in
teresting reading, from many stand
points, and is given herewith in its
entirety,
Brooklyn, n. Y, Oct. %.
j. p. N:
/ read with much interest youl
comment regarding the ACCESSIBILITY
of allowing pros to compete in the
same meets with amateurs, and was
more than glad to know you are in
favor of it. If you keep advocating
it in your populaR column with this
same game attitude that you display
in all subjects 1t will surely help &c
realize an ideal I have been looking
! forward to since / first became in.
| terested in athletics.
! As you know, ! have managed ths
/ largest amateur and pro meets hell
/ in America, and should be in {
position to know what a great boon
| this proposed Improvement in ath
letics would mean. At most of th'
athletic entertainments / promote
| find some branches are best wherl
] the pros compete So Won can SCI