Evening journal., 1913-01-28
SYMPATHY
FOR THORPE
Big Indian Athlete Convicted
Of Professionalism by
His Own Statement
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GREAT AMERICAN SPORT
BY The United Press.

BY The United Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 2S.-Nothing but
expressions Of sympathy were heard
in every quarter over the plight Of
Jim Thorpe the big Indian athlete
who was yesterday condemned out
OF his own mouth of the sin OF pro-
fessionalism because he played base
ball-a true American sport--with a
now defunct league and has thus been
read out Of the amateur athletics and
all OF the trophies that he won by his
gallant work in Sweden ordered re-
turned TO the Olympic committee. But
there was much bitter condemnation
for the management OF the A. A. U.
for the manner In which It has hand
led the Thorpe case as contrasted
with hundreds OF cases Of real pro-
fessionalism right here in the metro
politan ditrict.
The committee did right. It was
conceded in repudiating Thorpe and
in ordering the return of all his
prizes But there was an undercur-
rent OF resentment that The commit
tee had not taken cognizance OF the
fact that the big Indian had played
professional baseball before his Olym-
pic entry was put through. II was adj
mitted that If the A. A. u had any
real method Of investigation, the
farce which will certainly be seized
upon by the nations on the other side
of the pond TO renew their attacks
upon American athletic methods
would have been prevented.
The present registration methods
of the A. A. u. are antiQuated. There
are any number of professionals mas
Querading as amateurs and 1t was
pointed out that Thorpe who played
the game for the love of IT, had been
disqualified although he received very
little money. while Brickley, the Har-
ward football star: Flynn, Of Yale and
p score Of others during the recent
football season, earned more for one
article from their pens--and in most
instances they did not actually write
a sentence-than Thorpe did for a
whole season of ball playing lin the
bushes" But they retain their anna
teur standing.
There was a general feeling among
real lovers of athletics today that
,..Jmething should be done to give jim
Thorpe will be more respected than
mighty deeds deserved despite the
fact that all of the records he estab-
lshed are now automatically wiped
out by the action of the A. A. u.
Thorpe's clean breast of the matter,
saving time and trouble was accept
ed as a real proof of craftsmanship
and although the trophies OF royalty
To t.iIt
unanimously conceded today that
Thorpe the recognition that his
ever for not having tried Ito lie out
of IT," as other amateurs" have done
I'm the past and have gotten away
with if' because the A. A. u commit
tees have not been too persistent in
their Investigations.
The trophies won by Thorpe are al
ready onroute TO Jim Sullivan's Office
and will be Immediately sent back &c
Sweden TO be given TO the contest
ants who finished second to the IN
comparable Indian
AS a result of the disqualification
OF Thorpe the United States still re
mains In the lead in the rcadiusteC
program of the results OF the las
Olympic games. but Sweden gets sec
end place i'm the list In the decath
lon. Swedish athletes finished second
third and fourth 10 the American an'
fve points are added to their tota
making them 50 and putting then
ahead Of Finland
The total of the United States Il
reduced from So to as through thu
loss of the Thorpe points. J. J. Don
ohuo. OF the United states, takes sec
ond instead OF third and the pentath
lon. first hopors In which now 20 e
+ r. Bic ofINorway. r. l.. Lukeman
OF Canada. moves up from fourth e
third This gives Norway point
instead of A and Canada l6 instead o
10.