Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-15
az Associated Prese.l

~" - ~ nus ~ - EAl lhllE IL
lustration OF the international charac-
ter Of amateur sport is afforded by the
situation that has developed as a re-
suit of the war in Europe. Early in
the season there was every reason for
the belief that 1914 would be the great
est year in the history of competition
With the unexpected conflict abroad
international contests of all kinds have
been Cancelled and may not be resumed
for months or even years.
On this side of the Atlantic the
Americas cup race is the most i'm
portant event to be cancelled but
other competitions will lose the for
eign entries that were expected. The
amateur and open golf championships
and the national tennis tournament will
be without foreign entrants since even
the Davis cup teams now in this coun-
try plan to leave for home as soon as
the challenge round IS completed.
Abroad the Harmsworth motorboat
contest and the international aviation
races at Rheims are OF as well as all
the various national championships of
the European countries.
The result of the war from an ath-
letic and sporting standpoint may be
greater for 1t is likely to upset events
scheduled for several years to come.
The Sender boat races at Kiel in 1915
and the Olympic games at Berlin in
1916 are no longer assured fixtures.
Athletic authorities both in America
and abroad realize that IL the present
war continues for any extended per
iod Germany will not be in a position
TO act as host to the Olympic teams.
Entries from all the European coun-
tries will be greatly curtailed If not
abandoned entirely and it may be
necessary to postpone the games or
transfer the meet TO some nation not
involved IN the clash of arms.
In commenting on this angle of the
present unsettled state of affairs
James Z. Sullivan, secretary of
the American Olympic committee
said:
"Of course its looking a long ways
ahead to attempt to predict the effect
of the war abroad on the Olympic
games of 1916. Personally / hope
that Europe will be at peace again be-
fore that time and that there will be
no need of a change in the program.
II. however. a shift is necessary the
United States is the logical country in
which to hold the games and the Amer
ican committee will carry out the
schedule as planned by Germany
without hitch of any kind. We have
available stadiums in many parts of
the country several of which are cap
able of seating from 100000 to co.
600 spectators. Should it prove desir-
able 10 postpone the Panama-Pacific
Exposition planned for San Francisco
next year until 1916. the Olympic
games would undoubtedly be held
there in connection with the fair. If
the exposition is held according TO
schedule Chicago, Pittsburgh, New
York and Boston are all available for
the following year. New Haven and
Syracuse with their big college stad-
iums might also be considered
Next week professional and amateur
golfers will have an interesting COM
petition on the links of the Midlothian
Country club, Blue Island, Ill, in the
four days open championship tourna-
ment Of the United States Golf associa-
ton. Last year this event was de-
cfded over the course of the Country
club, Brookline, Mass, and its sensa-
tionaI ending in a victory for Francis
Ouimet, a young Massachusetts play
er over Harry Vardon and EDWARD
Ray, a pair of Great Britain's leading
professionals. in the play. off Of a
three cornered tie, will always be
ranked as a star performance in Amer
lean golf annals. The trio had tied with
scores of 3O4 each for ~ holes, but
in the play off, the following day. over
IS holes, Ouimet put up a wonderfully
strong game winning out with a round
OF 70 strokes while Vardon and Ray
finished as named with n and rs re-
spectively This year. however, the
event will not have an international
flavor as no foreign entries have been
received and interest will be centered
in Ouimet's efforts to retain the open
title which he so cleverly won from the
field OF golfers that ever gathered on
an American golf links. Although he
was unsuccessful IN his attempt for
British amateur championship honors
in his recent trip TO Europe. Oufmet
brought the French amateur honor
home with him and since his return he
has been taking excellent care OF HIM
self. He did not enter the Metropoli-
tan open tournament as he was anX-
ions TO reserve all his playing energy
TO make a supreme effort in the com