The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-01
SITUATION UNIQUEI IN
FINN-KIVIAT AFFAIR
Suspension for Running Dead
Heat Has No Precedent in
amateur Sport.
MANY DEFENDERS FOUND
Lack If Motive for Slow Race
Irgrd--Ca,c Argued From
some odd Angles.
MANY DEFENDERS FOCNI

Notrue that has happened in amateur
sthlet since The disqualification of the
oNmpt hero Jim Thorpe, has caused
rlch = sensation as the suspension pend
ms invest. cation OF IIannes Kolehmainen
md Abel kiviat for IA suspicious looking
FACE at the games of the Fourth Company.
Thirteenth Regiment. "a week ago yestcr-
DAY The case is unique in the history of
the sport IN this country and in fact il
q not easy to recall an instance where
an amateur athlete has been DISCIPLINED
for not irving to win. though amateur
Jockeys frequently have been set down
for that reason.
II was on Monday last that the regis
traton committee of the Metropolitan As
ISOLATION took action which kept two of
the best runners IN the world out of two
Sets OF games tn the past week In spit, of
efforts made 10 haV, them fulnl ongage-
ments made before their sensational dead
heat set the tongues OF scandal mong,rs
wagens
Both men have had plenty of defenders
and the very Oddity of the charges made
AGAINST them and the apparent lack OF
motive have proved strong arguments for
those who insist that kolehmainen and
klyiat simply were victims of circum-
s.ances The absence of any betting on
the race. together with the fact that Ms
the men ran a dead heat so that ordinary
bets would not be won or lost, Is another
tont in their favor. In addition to this
the records OF the men in which very few
losing races are charged against either
< prlma facie evidence that fixed races
are not in their line. Finally II is as.
ssrted that kolehnainen was not in con.
d,on, as proved by his poor race the
PREVIOUS saturday. while the sudden loss
~ form 10y EiNiat Is accounted for by
Illness. which H. supported by the state
,neGi Of his physician.
There are plenty of arguments on the
otncr side. though up 10 the present time
rothius IN the way OF an actual ar
9angement 10 run "A slow race has been
evolved. some go 50 far as to hint that
the trophy for which the men ran would
be valuable asset II another race was
forthcoming. This of course is based on
the presumption that athletes receive
appearance money" when competing I'm
.eatu!, events. Others seek a motive for
he poor showing made by one of the
men TO "A desire to obtain a match race
WITH Kramer. who was invited To take
part In the race al the Fourth Company
games, but declined with the reported
statement that he would race the win
condition of amateur sport. which sayors
u professional methods. In every race
IN which Kramer takes part his clubmates
are ready TO wager money oil his chances
20 win. Some OF those who look for a
Prospective race with Kramer rs a
motive insist that this money bet on the
side was part of the motive and that
when the Long Island man was hooked
'or race the real speed of his opponent
would be forthcoming.
So far as could be CLEANED IN n weeks
talk those were the only possible motives
hat would result in either a prearranged
ace or one OF the competitors not doing
ms best 80 win. Without such a motive
III charges of crookedness fall na,. but
lot necessarily the charge that the rae.
las done much harm To amateur athletics
FOR which the participators should suffer
an adequate penalty.
NJ the Fourth Company games. yet It Is
stated in defence of Kolehmainen tina,
Ne ran a six mile trial the night before
he was to test his speed against d for
'rdable competitor in II race at two miles
and for Kivia. that he had only trained
tor a race al 1000 yards. Apologies have
been made for Kiviat that he was run
ming TO help out his company In the
games. but even his warmest admirers
e-INll NOW tntt ne il!auc iiistdNe III H''
~ithdrawing or announcing the event as
~ exhibition run. instead OF an attempt
70 break record for the distance
The latest phase of the situation de-
Veloped on Friday, when II became known
that the Irish American A. c.. OF which
Moth kolehmainen and Kiviat are mem
hers had engaged lawyer with the idea
~ appealing to the courts In case the
registrat!on committee at its meeting on
Wednesday night decided to continue the
suspension of the two men. That may
mean Q revival of the scrap that occurred
when castleman and Joyce OF the same
cub were suspended and the courts were
appealed to. with the result that AN In
i.ncton was obtained and the men a.
owed to run.
J. also means that II the ruling of
-. registration committee Is to be over
'lled By a Supreme Court Judge, who
tnows nothing about the ethics OF ANA
t.ur sport the committee might as well
20 out OF business. According to men
who have followed the sport all their
lives. the remedy for the Irish American
Athletic Club lies IN an appeal to the
Metropolitan Association, OF which the
club Il member. The rules provide
that an appeal may be taken from the
ruling of the registration committee, and
he Irish American 4. e. IN remaining
smember Of the Metropolitan Association
agrees to abide by these rules. In case
'he club adopts "a different policy 1t may
mean a break in the ranks Of the A. a.
Y, ~ was imminent when the Castle
rsn and Joyce cases were on the docket.