Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-22

Stockholm and attributed it to lack of
organization and the general Indifference
on the part of athletic bodies.
For time there was violent criticism
of American methods in the English
press, but when the storm had spent it
self the wisest heads in England agreed
that the American method was the only
proper way to develop an Olympic track
team and that the English people would
be much better off if they copied the
American system of training instead Of
criticising.
Successful as has been the American
system of developing Olympic teams, the
American Olympic committee does not
intend to rest without making all the
improvements it can. At the meeting OF
the American committee in New York
last week steps We're taken to perfect
the organization. There were a number
of things which the American commit
tee learned from last year s trip to Stock
holm and some of the mistakes which
We're committed then will not be repeated
when the team goes to Berlin in 1916
On the subject of trainers 1t is evident
that the United States has no hope Of be-
ing able to improve upon Mike Murphy,
who coached the team at London In 1908
and at Stockholm last year with such
marked success. AT the conclusion of its
deliberations last week the American
committee telegraphed it's congratula-
tons to Murphy and expressed the hope
that he would have recovered sufficiently
four years hence Murphy has just re-
turned from Thomasville, Ga, where he
went to spend the winter and to recuper-
ate from the illness which laid him low
last summer and fall. Mr. Murphy has
so far recovered that he expects. to take
personal charge of the University Of
Pennsylvania track team not later than
April 1.
Crews on the Water.
The University of Pennsylvania crews
have the distinction of being the first to
begin outdoor practice. The Quakers, on
account of their location SO far south
and having a body of water in the
Schuylkll usually free from ice, are in
variably able to begin outdoor work sew
eral weeks in advance of their rivals.
This year. however. the Quakers were
closely pressed by Harvard. where the
oarsmen are rejoicing in getting an I'M
usually early start.
Apparently Yale is not the only uni
versity which is to have the assistance
of English coaching. DR.. j. Duncan
Spaeth. who has charge of rowing at
Princeton, is now being assisted by two
members of his faculty Profs. Schellens
and Scoon. both of whom have rowed at
Oxford. The fact that the two English
men are assisting DIR. spaeth does not
mean that the Tiger crews are to adopt
the English stroke or English ideas in
training. DR.. Spaeth learned his rowing
at the University of Pennsylvania under
Coach Ellis Ward, and he has had such
unstinted success by clinging to his pres
ent methods of training that there is no
chance that he will make any changes
now. At the same time the two English
men can give him considerable assistance
in teaching new candidates the elements
of rowing.
The fight for the control of rowing at
the University of Pennsylvania has now
reached a climax and the board of trus-
tees of the university must decide
whether rowing is to he controlled by
the Athletic Association or by the Col
lege Boat Club. The amendment recently
passed by the Athletic Association pro-
vides that the rowing committee which
controls this sport and selects the coach
shall be appointed by board of direc-
tors of the Athletic Association and ig-
nores the College Boat Club
The College Boat Club was completely
outvoted at the meeting of the Athletic
Association and has taken the fight di-
rectly to the university trustees. The
contention of the College Boat Club is
that the Athletic Association is violating
the contract between the two organiza-
tons which specifically provided that the
College Boat Club should appoint three Of
the five members of the rowing commit
tee and likewise select the coach The
board of trustees has informed both
parties to the controversy that the dis