The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-03
OBSTINATE ATHLETES
HURT WALKING GAME
Refuse TO Leave Track When
Disqualified and Judges
Often Are Blamed.
RULES ARE INADEQUATE

Since walking was revived IN this coun-
try there never has been so much dis
cussion as 10 the unsatisfactory condi-
lions attending walking races as has taken
place this winter In nearly every race
That has been held within the past six
| months the spectators have had to put
up with about three per cent walkers,
aud the remainder OF the field composed
% amblng, skipping and running mounte-
| banks, who make no pretence OF fair
/ heel and toe gait. That the blame for
this condition Of affairs has been placed
/ wrongly on the judges OF walking may
I he inferred from a letter received from
/ William H. Parry. who was Judge at
the games held in Madison SQUARE Gar
den week ago yesterday
| In his letter Mr. PARRY points out that
several OF the contestants in the walking
race at the games in question were dis
qualified by the Judges, but did not leave
the track. This action by tho disqualified
athletes created tho impress on among
the spectators that they had not been
punished for their fragrant violations OF
the rules and that the Judges had been
remlSs That such was not the case Mr.
Parry makes plain. and his letter says
in closing
II NouIu seem mat " 10 Is necessary
IN use physical force TO remove a dis
qualified walker from tho track the
Judges or the future will be chosen more
for their physical prowess than for their
experiences I'm the fine points OF the heel
and toe game"
There is no question that Mr. Parry's
statement absolves him and his associate
John 7. Norton. from the blame which
attaches TO having a number of mixed
ana UNFAIR styles in the competition right
up TO or near the end, but at the same
time 1t upbolds the account published in
THE Sun in tic main fact that with the
exception OF the first and second men tho
men were progressing in doubtful or un-
questionably unfair STYLES. 1t also may
be stated that there is no man better
qualified TO judge a walker than William
II. Parry. a fine walker in his day and
one who could pass muster as 20 STYLE
with the most critical Judge
The fact remains, however. that these
unfair men remained In the competition
20 hinder he real walkers and that with ,
me exception of the two walking judges
not soul in the Garden was Informed OF
,he!r elimination from the contest The /.
case In question apparently is not an |
ISOLATED one. and Il Is quite clear that /
n the past many judges have been
blamed by spectators for faults which
lie either with the men conducting the
games or with the rules of the A. A. L.
addressed 10 j. W. Stumpf.
chairman OF the registration committee,
as 10 why these men were not suspended
FOR not leaving the track when ruled
out by the judges ELECTED the aston ,
ishirg information that the committee
had decided that the rules Of the A. A. 4
U. do not give the power 10 make the
offenders leave the track That decision
was made after r. b. Clifford had been
suspended for a similar infraction of .
the rules last winter 1t seems that even .
with no express provision NJ the rules .
requiring a disqualified man to leave the
crack the general conditions of racing .
would warrant his being removed bodily .
when once out OF the race or punished .
later for disobedience OF official onsiers /
There would be as much sense in having |
man start in a final heat when he had !
been put out in a trial as there Is to |
let men continue I'm a race after they |
have been officially declared non-con-
testants
II IS an imposition on spectators, who ,
nay admission TO see the games. TO be
KEPT in the dark as TO the real racers,
and IL also unfair to the clean walkers
10 be made to use their speed 10 pass
men who In reality have no right 20 he
on the track An effort was made at
the Junior championships 20 remedy this
state OF affairs. but It was not entirely |
successful. There an announcer was de-
tailed TO shadow the Judge OF walking.
and as soon he cautioned or dis
qualified man II was announced TO the
crowd. The strains OF the band pre-
vented these announcements being heard
clearly, and even when Sam Schwartz
was disqualified and the announcement
duly made, the persevering walker"
continued 10 the end. That he was laid
open 10 suspension. Il was stated later.
was not because he refused 10 leave the
track, but because he talked back to the |
referee and refused 10 leave tho infleld,
These conditions may be remedied in
the near future when the new rules OF
the Interna tional Federation come into
vogue. They expressly state that a
walker must leave the track Immediately
ne is disqualified. Until that time comes
the judges OF walking are liable 20 the
crticiem objected 20 unless they can
and some means OF acquainting the spec
tators with the Information that they
haya accomDiished their duty