Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-24
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

MT. Editor: The undersigned begs to make a contribution with special reference to the value of properly conducted amateur athletics. to the discussion now going on in press and the congress as to how the nation shall best prepare to defend itself in case of invasion by foreign foe. There are in the state of Connecti-
 cut. venture to say. at least a hun dred thousand young men, who are
 of the right age. eighteen to twenty
 i've, in a military sense, to do the work required of soldiers. The all-
 important question of the actual value
 of these young men to the state and
 the nation under such circumstances
 has to do with their physical fitness, their intelligence, and their ability to get into shape quickly in matters of discipline. Here is where amateur athletics systematically carried on can be made, believe, of the greatest games promoted in such a way, as they could be. that novices and the average young men of the state would
 find in them stimulus and encourage
 ment by winning prizes, praise and. honors, so that by an alliance of clubs throughout the state, or however. it might be. we could get. in short or der not less than fifteen to twenty thousand young men having part 1 in such open air sports and games [ mostly Tn the 6lSnI OI IlIlS HlOnLnS of the spring, and fall. These young men having a part in such open air
 sports and games mostly in the eight | or nine months of the spring summer and fall. These young men would be subject to discipline, and this would be best inducements to take care of and develop themselves physically. No young fellow engaged in amateur ath- l ietics can hope to amount to much. Eff he dissipates or engages in physl- cal excesses of any sort. He must cut health, get plenty of sleep, eat good good. practice temperance and every | thing like that The fact that this Is not thrust down his throat, so to
 speak, and he wants to do 1t himself. l is very great advantage. Ten thou sand young men engaged in system atic amateur athletics under these con- | ditions mean that number or more men in arms within few days. every
 last one of them, have no doubt. if 1 Japan or any other nation dared to | put its foot on our shores. They | would be ready for the business in | hand and worth, every one of them. l at least two or more of the young l fellows selected in a haphazard. l euesgworf< way As to their ability 1 to shoot it would be a simple matter 1 to add a shooting competition in con- nection with the usual track and field games.
 No such condition exists today in my opinion, to a satisfactory degree l among the young men of Connecticut. l Through the desire to help of young men and co-operation from many prominent business men of New Ha- ven, I have had the privilege for the past several years of developing up- l to-date amateur athletics along ad- | vanced lines for the young men of 1 this city and a number of other young men throughout the state. who on their request have come in with us as mem bers of the New Haven Amateur Attn letes.
 l From these young men and a few of their associates, I could furnish. 1 am sure, in few days at least three companies of hundred men each ir case there was need to defend the
 country against a foreign foe. OuI track and field teams, considering the
 more proficient among them outside ! of the baseball teams, number about
 forty men. Comparing their physica
 fitness with that of the members o
 the Connecticut National Guard. these
 forty young men, more or less. could in my opinion, go up against the Con
 necticut National Guard and win twt
 to one. am willing, indeed to tes this as a sample of what amateui
 athletics in a small way will do ant to have them meet the pick of tn, entire National Guard of Connection
 in set of track and field games. thu
 events to be such as might be agreeS
 upon from hundred yards to si1 miles in track games and practicalf ? what is usual in field games iron , the running high unp to the discu } throw. This might be somethini
 worth while, and would possibly SC the ball rolling for amateur athletic | l in a way that would be of the great , est advantage to the young men o :, Connecticut. Tn all this. the very i'm portant condition is met that mill : tarism Is in the background. WhiE
 these young men would be prepares
 l to the last man to go up against tn men of any nation there would b ' nothing like a wish in the back Q ; their minds to try out what they coul' r do in war, or that would lead to othe
 than the most peaceful language am . attitude towards all nations.
 JOHN ~. COLLINS, ! Chairman Managing committee, am
 Director of Games, The New Ha fl ven Amateur Athletes.
 \ ~