Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13


tcur Athletic Union. has officially spo-
ken in regard To tho violation OF anna
tcur rules by amateurs competing with
professionals hero recently. In let
ter TO DR.. e. NJ. laZen. president OF
the Richmond Amateur Athletic Fede
ration, he held that inasmuch as there
was no intention 10 violate the laws
OF amatcurism, the various amateurs
who competed against the professional,
doing SO under q misrepresentation, have
not jcopardiZed their amateur stand
ing.
All OF which is very nice for those
athicteS who have now received an Of
hcial coat OF whitewash. 1t clarifies
the situation az far as they are con-
cerned. but It dccpcns tho Impression
that 1t all depends upon what organiza-
ton Il rule violation occurs in, whether
the athlete shall suffer
Il is not fair TO make Individuals suf-
FER Tor the ignorance OF officials. Of
course. but it would seem that some
or these thirty-six amateurs would have
known Of rule that is more than
thirty years old. and which forms the
basis Of anatcurism.
Aside from this, however, DR.. Bur
dick Is entirely wrong in advising the
Richmond Amateur Athletic Federation
TO pass the matter over, az IL il had
not occurred. In spite Of his ruling
those athletes automatically disQuali-
fled themselves. Tho Amateur Athletic
Union rules hold that an athlete who
violates the law Of amatcurIsln is au-
totnatiCally disqualified, but gives him
tho privilege Of asking for "A REIN
statement.
An example was seen here Just a
few months ago. Several playground
supervisors were suspended and a far
cical hearing was held. Al that time
Federation officials. with great gusto
solennly announced that the athletes
had brought the whole thing on them
selves. They had automatically dis
qualified" themselves, they were told
The Federation did not do it, the men
alone were responsible. The Fedora
ton simply enforced tho rules.
Al tho Same time SIX baseball play
orE were before the Federation on a
charge Of playing with a professional,
but they had automatically disquali-
fed" themselves. The Federation did
not do =.
Tho playground supervisors were as
much the victims OF misapprchension as
were the thirty-six athletes. On be-
half OF the latter. It Is commended. that
the thing had occurred time and time
again and no question had been raised.
Nobody knew that a thirty-year rule
was being broken.
Athletes had been employed for sew
eral years on the Fairgrounds as SUI
pcrvisors. The local amateur officials
had not objected and they openly took
part in local meets. Their own organi-
2at!on. however, had gone into the
matter and held that tho supervisors
were not icopardi7ang their amateur
standing. They had every reason to
believe that they had violated no rule
against a!nateurism.
They. however. "automatically dis
qualified" themselves. while the thir-
ty-s!N. being members Of an entirely
different organization, have not com
mitted any oFcnse, being innocent OF
any wrong doing.
There Is only one answer 10 such
travcsty on jus,ice-bosh.
If the Richmond Amateur Athletic
Federation wanted to whitewash the
rc!ns,ated them, and then their record
for consistency would not have been
questioned.
Jess willard Will get trifiing 1T
Ito $4,000 for fighting Frankie Moran
in New York; then the big cowboy
can 20 10 his California home and he
All amateur tennis or golf player.
Despite the loss OF Mitchell, tho
Spiders last night nosed out victory
over Randolph Macon. Tho largest
crowd OF the season saw the game, and
the spectators were rewarded with a
snRppy battle.
Three out-of-town teams Will be
seen IN action this week. Tomorrow
night Richmond College brings Della
ware College here, and on Wednesday
night they will have William and
Mary as their guests The Richmond
Howitzers on Friday night Will play
Wake Forest, which looks good for
the Carolina championship this year.
~! OF the games will be staged on
the IIowitZers court.
on Saturday night the first junior
high school meet viii be held at the
Grays Armory. The youngsters are
training hard for the event, and 1t
should be a good one. On Friday
night the annual military meet will
be held. This will probably not pan
out as we'll as in former years, and
the GrayS are taking little interest in
athletics. and the Howitzers have a
small squad out. The Signal Corps
has decided not to enter the event.
Commenting on the appointment OF
Harrison. the former international
League arbiter, TO a National League
Job, one writer says: "Harrison's APP
pointment Is the result OF his ability
only. merit alone being the basis for
his selection by President Tener, who
has closely followed his work. Last
year Harrison turned down an offer
from the Federal League. He has won
tho esteem and respect OF fans. play
ers, managers, magnates and officials.
and his appointment Is the most pop
ular that President Tener has made
since returning to baseball"
This should cause many hearty
laugh.