New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-21
FAIL TO AGREE ON A
PLACE FOR BIG GAMES
Executive Committee of |. A.
A. A. A. to Let Association
Decide Knotty Question.
TO HAVE FIXED HURDLES
Hammer Throw Retained IN
List of Events, but New Con-
ditions Are Adopted to
Safeguard Spectators.

safeguard spectators
Several important recommendations will
be placed before the annual meeting OF
the intercollegiate Association of ANA
teur Athletes Of America. late next month.
by the executive committee of the asso-
citation. which had a session at the Wal
dorf-As,oria on Saturday afternoon, when
many changes in the laws of the asso-
citation were under discussion These
recommendations. although not neces-
sarily binding. will probably be passed by
the association. In other years very few
of the suggestions that nave come from
the executive committee have been turned
down when the members and representa-
,ivcs from the colleges met. and IL IS
thought that this year will see no change
in this practice
One item of great interest on which
the executive committee was unable TO
agree was the place of holding the annual
track and field meet this year. BY
the Philadelphia Cambridge arrangements,
which the association has been following
for the last few years, the 1913 meet
would go to Cambridge. and would ne
held in the Harvard stadium, on May 30
and 81 The objection to this. how
ever. IS that by the deed Of gift OF the
stadium established by Henry Lee iiig-
ginson. no contests of any kind shall be
held in the stadium on Memorial lay.
This would make It necessary to hold
the preliminary heats on Thursday after
noon. MAY %. or on Saturday morning
and the executive committee feels thai
such an arrangement would he out OF
tie oacstion. the former because of the
great additional expense cntailed. and the
latter because it would be unfair to the
competitors. who would have TO coH'pe''
in several heats on one day.
Syracuse wants to have the meet IN me
stadium i'm the Salt City. but this PLAN too
has met with serious objection more thah
once. PENNSYLVANIA has invited the as
socati0n To hold the meet on Franklin
Field again. As the committee was un-
able TO come to a decision, the whole
matter will be left in the hands of the
association Itself.
one Of the recommendations Of the as
ISOLATION. however. is revolutionary IN
American athletics. in that II RECOMMENDS
the use of fixed hurdles The committee
contemplates the use of absolutely risld
and stationary obstacles, the same as are
en1ploved in hurdle races in England. The
fact that a man can run through an
Of injury TO himself prompted the track
association two years ago TO adopt the
threo hurdles down rule Of the Amateur
Athletic Union. but now the association
feels that there is great danger of
man who has cleared all but the last two
hurdles running through those pur-
posely, and tins gaining an unfair adj
vantage over an opponent. Accordingly.
the fixed hurdle is proposed and prob
ably will he adopted. or course, all
records made over fixed hurdles would
stand. whereas at the present time If a
man makes q record and knocks own
single hurdle new time is not allowed
o 60 on the book.
Another surprise that came up was the
recommendation by the committee not To-
abolish the hammer throw. For several
years there has been strenuous objection
to the hammer because Of the danger 10
spectators and competitors alike sag
gestions were made from time to time 10
substitute for the hammer the discus or
the javclin. but the plan which was in
t-cduced by Billy Quinn, the Harvard
coach, is the one which the association
thinks of following. The hammer is to
be increased in weight from &c TO 81
lnunts. and the handle is 10 be reduced
i'm length from feet inches, to 3 feet
. This will naturally make Il impossible for
"a man To hoavc the hammer as far as
has been the case in the past, and IL will
also be unnecessary under this rule TO
hold the event in a back lot. as they have
tc do at Harvard, or in an entirely clear
field. as al Philadelphia. Furthermore, to
safeguard those i'm the vicinity OF the
hammer, the competitor must deliver the
hammer within prescribed arc.
In addition, the circle from which the
hammer is thrown is TO be almost en-
tirely Enclosed in a wire fence, which will
prevent the hammer, If 1t slips, from
smashing into those near by.
One question that elected considerable
discussion wes that concerning the finish
of a race and how a winner shall be
determined The association will be asked
10 say whether the man who finishes
shall necessarily breast the tape with his
torso. or whether he shall be allowed 10
win by touching the tape with his hands
or any part of his body except the torso
There were many who saw the mile run
at Franklin Field last year, who declare
that Norman Tabor, of Brown. actually
braced the tape half yard in front Of
John Paul Jones, although the latter's
foot was on almost even terms with Ia
boris body. II the recommendation of
the executive committee had been law
at that time Tabor would undoubtedly
have been declared the winner. In all
relay races held under the auspices Of
the members of the association, a wooden
baton must be carried and passed from
nan 10 man, as in the Olympic games
The American runners al Stockholm last
summer. found that they were materially
Handicapped in not being familiar in pass
ing the baton in the course Of a race and
IL is for this reason that the college
association wishes TO have al college
runners who take part in the 1916 Olympic
thoroughly prepared.
II was expected that the question Of
restricting athletes competing in the
intercollegiate meet to three years eligi-
bility, instead of four as at present. would
be brought up for discussion. and before