The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-05
POLICE PUT BAN ON
SUNDAY ROAD RACES
Threaten to Arrest Athletes
Who Prepare to Run in
Morningside Event.
A. A. q. TO INVESTIGATE

Tho handicap road run OF the Morn
ingside A. c., for which 24o entries had
been received. was stopped by tho police
yesterday. and II was stated by Chief
Inspector Max schmittberger that all
similar events would be considered vio-
lations OF the Sunday law and would
not be permitted In tho streets Of the
city.
There WIS considerable excitement
among the hill and dale men yesterday
when the rumor spread that a general
order had been issued by Commissioner
Woods 20 the effect that all running
through the streets on Sunday would
be stopped There arc from 500 10
1000 lads who take their exercise In
the streets every Sunday. Most OF these
runs take the form Of invitation events.
No entrance fees are charged, no prizes
given and the squads vary In numbers
from half Q dozen to half a hundred
runners. who indulge In the sport TO
keep themselves In condition for long
distance races.
According TO Inspector sohn.ttoerser
there is no intention OF interfering with
the ordinary club runs so long as they
do not assume tho character OF real
sporting events, with prizes and the
sands of onlookers. Whether because
OF tho issuance Of the supposed order
or because the roads were In poor con-
d,tion. none Of the usual runs was hold
yesterday, but II no further restrictions
are forthcoming the boys will DO able
10 tako their spins next week with the
racing feature cut out.
Tho Morninsside A. c. run, which was
suuelched, promised 70 be very pre-
tentious affair Tho ertry was 80 big
that the headquarters OF the cluo at
l07 West i30th street did not have
sufficient accommodation for the run
ners, no the start and firdah were az
ranged to take place at Lafayette Hall,
1921 street and Seventh avenue Among
the entries were teams from Colby Col-
lege and the 81. MchaeNs c. c. OF Phila-
de!phia, while Dan Healy OF Carroll IN
stitute came from Washington TO Try
for the marble statue which was offered
for tho first man home
Herbert J. Donohue president OF the
Norningside \. G, heard of the alleged
order Of Commissioner Wood yesterday
morning and Immediately tried TO get
IN touch with the commissioner with
the idea of getting the order re~rinded.
lie could rot fnd the Commissioner and
q turned out later that no special order
lad been issued, but that tho contem-
plated action OF the police was based
on protests made by the clergy and prop
cray owners OF tho district.
When the runners began 20 assemble
they were Joined by Capt. John -. Gehan
Of the New LenoN avenue station and
sergeant and patrolmIn. Tho captain
stated that ~ any OF The runners ven
tured or the streets In their athletic
costume they would he arrested and
-. H. CsN,a Ia
law President DoNohue called the rur
on and Will pu: the matter in the hands
OF the legislative committee OF the
Metropolitan Association OF the Amateur
Athletic Union to-day. so that the Jaw
on the question may be determined.
Chief Inspector Schmittherger said
last night that the proposed Morn.nsslde
A. c. race was "A clear violation OF the
sunday law. which prohibits sports IN
the streets on Sunday. He said that no
special order had been issued on the
subject Of running IN the streets, but
that there were objections on the part
Of the residents which called attention
70 the Morningside fixture When told
there wcro other fixtures OF a similar
nature for following Sundays the IN
spector said. We'll. they can't be held
in the city streets" He indicated that
no objection would be made 10 the regu-
lar club runs, hut that anything In the
line OF actual competition and calculated
to attract h,g or. wds would be stopped.
Many church organizations are Inter
cstci IN having the youths OF their
parishes take part In these runs and the
Catholic Athletic League holds a race
every year one OF tho latest fixtures
announced Is the upon novice road run OF
the paulist \ 9, for sunday, April %.
and the pas'!me \. c. has an oHen
novice run scheduled for next Sunday.