The Washington times., 1913-01-28

q professional athlete.
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 professionalism
because he played baseball-a true
American sport-with a now defunct
league and has thus been read out of
amateur athletics and all of the tro-
phies that he won by his gallant work
in Sweden ordered returned to the
Olympic committee. But there was
much bitter condemnation for the man.
agement of the A A. U. for the man.
ner in which 1t has handled the Thorpe
case as contrasted with hundreds of
cases OF real professionalism right here
In the metropolitan district.
The committee right, II was conceded,
in repudiating Thorpe and in ordering
the return of all his prizes. But there
was an undercurrent of resentment
that the committee had not taken cog
nizance of the fact that the big Indian
had played professional baseball be-
fore his Olympic entry was put
through. 1t was admitted that IL the
A. A q. had any real method of inves-
be seized on by the nations on the other
eide OF the pond" to renew their at
tacks 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 .masque-
rading as amateurs and il was pointed
out that Thorpe, who played the game
for the love of IL, had been disqualified
although he received very little money,
while Brickley. the Harvard football
star; Flynn. OF Yale, and a. score of
others during the recent football season
earned more for one article from their
pens-and in most instances they did
not actually wffte sentence-than
Thorpe did for whole season of ball
playing ''in the bushes" But they re-
tain their amateur standing.
Recognition is Due.
There was a general feeling among
the real lovers of athletics today that
something should be done to give Jim
Thorpe the recognition that his mighty
deeds deserved despite the fact that all
of the records he established 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 accepted as a real proof of sports
manship and although the trophies of
. royalty will go to others, sporting exc
perts unanimously conceded today that
Thorpe would be more respected than
ever for not having tried Ito lie out of
IT," as other amateurs have done in
the past and have gotten away with
it, because the A. A. U. committees
have not been too persistent in their
Investigations.
The trophies won by Thorpe are al
ready en- route to Jim Sullivan's office
and will be Immediately sent back to
Sweden to be given to the contestants
Indian.
America Still Leads.
As a result of the disqualification of
Thorpe, the United States still remains
in the lead in the readjusted program
Of the results of the last Olympic games
but Sweden gets second place In the
list. In the DecathIon Swedish athletes
finished second. third and fourth to the
American and the five points are added
to their total. making them % and put
ting them ahead of Finland
The total of the United States is re-
duced from IS to 76 through the loss of
the Thorpe points. J. J. Donahue, OF
the United States. takes second instead
of third In the PenthIon first honors in
which now go to F. r. Bic. of Norway
L. Iukeman of Canada moves UP
from fourth to third. This gives Nor
way points instead of and Canada
is instead OF Is.
Here's Thorpe's Letter.
Department of the Interior,
LIMITED states Indian Service,
"Carlisle, Pa. Jan. &c. 1873.
'James z. sullivan, New York, y. Y.
pear Sir: When the interview with
Mr. Clancy, stating that / had played
baseball on the. Winston-Saiem team
vas shown me, / told Mr.. Warner that
n was not true. and, I'm fact, / did not
play on that team But SO much has
been said In the papers since then that
7 went TO the school authorities this
morning and told them Just what there
was in the stories.
Il played baseball at Rocky Mount
ner of 1893 and 1910 under my own
name On the same teams played
With We're several college men from
the North who were earning money by
ball playing during their vacation and
who were regarded as amateurs at
home.
Money No Object.
"I did not play for the money there
was in 1t. because my property brings
me In enough money TO live on, but be-
cause ] liked to play ball I was not
very wise to the ways of the world, and
aid not realize that this was wrong,
and fl would make me professional in
track sports. although j learned from
the other players that il would be better
for me not to let any one know that 1
was playing. and for that reason /
never told any one at the school about
II until today.
Elm the fall of 1sI1 / applied for re-