The Detroit times., 1915-01-09
Sport Authority Predicts That
Such an Appointment viii
Soon BE Made
Cg1I" tTHLETE MAKES
GOOD CITIZEN SOLDIER
IhcmpsOn Argues Government
Recognition Would BE Great
Thing For Country
BY HAROLD Y UIJCOV


Here is new idea, but one that
is by no means as wild as ii may
seem on first thought Here IL is-a
secretary OF athletics in the cabinet OF
the president of the United States.
His duties would be TO spread the pro.
paganda OF outdoor sport, 10 make
more popular those things that make
nation healthier. stronger and hap
pier, and TO act as the titular head OF
all amateur athletic associations ia
the country
The suggestion is closely linked
With the recently undertaken plan TO
create In this country a trained citizen
soldiery, that would be ready TO take
the Held on a few days notice II need
should arise. William Hale Thomp-
son, former all-around athlete anu
sridiron star and recently mayoralty
candidate OF Chicago, has broken into
print with an interview that predicts
that a secretary OF athletics will soon
( be among the presidents advisors.
Mr.. Thompson argues that nation of
citizen athletes can always be quickly
turned into a nation of warriors, and
that by officially recognizing, direct.
ing and populariZing athletics, the
government can go far in making
Americans the healthiest, strongest
and, consequently the most formida-
BILE nation In the world Here is what
Mr.. Thompson has TO say:
This scheme is not new with me,
although | have said nothing about II
until now. | have been working on
this for two years now, and make
the prediction that We will soon have
member OF the cabinet al Washing.
ton who will be at the head OF ath-
letics in this country.
ut is high time that athletics be
recognized officially by the govern
ment OF the United States We are
talking about a citizen soldiery but
what would it mean 10 our country if
every man who was physically fit were
an athlete? L dol =HptmeaH that every
boy and young man should be com
PEELED TO go into athletics, but what
have been trying to do is TO get ath.
letics on an official basis.
AT first blush il might seem as il
the plan could be classed among the
frivolous, but is il? Just think what
IL would mean if the government en-.
couraged and partially financed ath.
letics in this country, What would IL
mean to the race? Why, il would
make America the most healthful
and progressive race on earth. Then
would the matter of defense take care
OF itself
Should the necessity arise when
the country would need one, two or
10 millions of men. what an army we
could put in the field, With the ma
iority trained in some kind Of sport II
would necessarily follow that they
would make the best kind of soldiers
I'm the world. France, before the pres
ent war, was just beginning 10 train
its millions TO become athletes. Ger
many has done so for years through
its turner societies, and il might be
we'll to remark in passing that the
Teutons are putting up pretty fair
scrap just now. Military training
will probably be the answer OF most.
but don't forget that the systematic
work done by athletic organizations in
Germany has had lot TO do with II.
Military training and athletics are
easily linked together. but with us il
would be a sport. and not the drudg-
cry Of military life. Sports would be
encouraged without being made com.
pulsory and a good, strong physique
would be the portion OF every Ameri-
can boy who had ambition enough tot
accept the chances which would be
offered.
1T would not be the intention TO
put all the details OF athletics In the
hands of the secretary. He would
simply be the head OF the department.
Investigating, recommending and su.
pervising sports and recreation in gen
eral, something on the order that the
department of labor is doing for labor
now. Ii would give free avenue for
every boy in the country, and he
would not be hampered as he is now
between conflicting authorities OF
more or less self-constituted bodies
lie would know that everything lie
would do would be under the eye OF
Uncle Sam. and what greater patriotic
motive could he have?"