The Washington herald., 1915-01-11
Echenroth Case Starts
Local Athletes Fighting
DR.. Burdick Allows Middle
States Athlete to Compete
in Southern Champs.
BAD FEELING
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

Not until the District receives a separ-
ate branch in the Amateur Athletic Union
will peace and good fellowship exist be-
tween the athletic authorities of this
city and those of Baltimore. Closed
meets and dual events can be run in any
kind of fashion and not a word OF
criticism is rendered, but during the last
three years whenever a championship
event Is held some one from that little
Monumental City is sure of starting the
under tow again and the local athletes
long for the spirit of federation and
independency for the local body.
Generally the aftermath of a big event
always favors the courtesy of the host, but
it is not so with the results Of the South
Atlantic cross-country championship
which were held here Saturday. First
DIR. William Burdick, chairman Of the
registration board started the ball a-roll-
ing by declaring Eckenroth eligible 70
compete under the colors Of the Cross
country Club Of Baltimore. On any other
occasion but a championship event this
move would not be considered out OF
question. but as a real title was at stake
and owing to the status of the athlete
and club named il Is bound to leave a bad
odOr.
Eckenroth registered in the South At
lantic Amateur Athletic Union in 1915 be-
fore the championships and competed un-
der the silks of the Cross Country Club of
Baltimore. Eckenroth is a soldier at
Fort Myer, Va, and during the past sum-
mer he was Transferred to Philadelphia.
where he registered in the Middle States
Association, but he claims not to have
competed in any events.
Since his return to the Virginia post he
had not re-entered the Southern body.
but still DR.. Burdick grants him permis-
sion to compete in a Southern champion
ship. giving for his reasons, that the
Middle States Association should never
allowed him to register. Providing that
the Middle States Association should not
allow him to register, he. nevertheless,
should not have been allowed in the
Southern championships without being
registered in the South Atlantic body. a
claim was made before the race by Man.
ager Spike" Webb that his registration
in the South Atlantic had not run out, but
this is not so, as his card run out last
July.
Next comes Gregory I. johnson. of the
Baltimore News. with the following which
will not help matters along In the least:
There is little wonder that distance
running in this section is gradually dying
out. after witnessing the manner in which
the South Atlantic Association of the
Amateur Athletic Union conducted its
Saturday in Washington, District OF CO.
lumbia.
when the twenty or more contestants
reported for the race they were piloted
into the cellar o. one of the vaudeville
houses in the Capital City and taken into
the boiler room under the stage of the
theater. After being forced to climb over
steam pipes and the like. in order to find
ample space to undress, the athletes were
forced to sit on boxes and barrels await
ing the call Of the starter. In the mean
time the buck and wing dancers who
were performing overhead kept up an
incessant humping and Gathering on the
floor. and it is a wonder the lads had any
nerves left when they toed the mark.
Another kick which the athletes have
is that the race was held over asphalt
streets and macadamized roads, with no
hills or the like to test their skill and in
every sense of the word it was a street
race of the purest kind
THE manner in which the affair was
conducted does not speak well for the
Capital City officials. Whenever a race
of this kind has been held in this State,
everything has been done to make the
athletes comfortable, and ii is time that
the promoters OF this sport in the nations S
Capital were waking up to their duties"