The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-12-08
SPO e III
AAU. CONVENTION
Observation-Disclosures
. BY LORRIN ANDREWS

LOrrin Andrews, who returned on the
Matsonia Tuesday from the mainland
brought back much interesting i'm.
formation concerning the recent con.
ference of the Amateur Athletic Union
Of America, held in New York. begin.
ming November 90, Mr.. Andrews acted
as delegate from the Hawaiian branch
of the A. A. U. ZIP 1870 "
The ounha case was perhaps the
most important to the Hawaiian
branch Of the A. A. u, "A short his.
tory Of the case will be given In order
that the apologies Of Robert w. Dodd
may be understood. ,.g.-'.g 's Z,
In September 1918 George Cunha
left Honolulu for San Francisco,
While there, without any effort or
knowledge on his part, he was issued
card and made member Of the
Olympic Club. On returning 20 Hon,
olulu and competing under the Hawaii.
an colors, the Olympic Club entered, 4
"rotest. stating that Cunha was a mem.
Der of the Olympic Club of San Fran
cisco and had no right to enter swim.
ming races under another color. Be il
understood that Cunha had not been re.
leased from the Hawaiian branch of
the A. A. U. and had not aecepted 4
card under the winged o colors. The
heads Of the Olympic Club grew yery
wrathy over this and threatened 10 "a.
port the situation to the officials Mt the
annual meeting this year. The local
branch of the A. A. U. were in the
ri chit N nd afo,,tl., -, n. "A - l. 10
However Robert W. Dodd, president
Of the Pacific association admitted he
was in error at the conference Just held
in New York and apologized to Mr.
Andrews, in behalf Of the Hawaiian
branch of the A. A. u. for the side
he took in the controversy. The sum
and substance of the matter is thai
George Cunha was never a member o.
the Olympic Club of San Francisco,
although the winged o persisted in
stating that he was. - u
Another important feature OF the
meeting was the granting of the right
to women to register in the A. A, u
The objections brought up by mum
Der of the representatives was to tho
effect that women did not follow the
instructions of the A. A. u, and; die
not live up to the stipulations. After
considerable argument, Mr.. Andrews
voted with the majority in favor OF
granting the women recognition. 4
An extract from the report of the A.
A. U. defines an amateur athlete AZ
follows: 49,
An amateur sportsman is one who
engages in sport soley for the pleasure
and physical, mental or social benefit.
he derives therefrom and to WHOM
sport is nothing more that an avoca
tom ..' g.. -
That A. A. U. appreciated the inter
est and advancement that is being
made in swimming in the Islands Il
shown by the following extract from
the report: ~ ~
"We have never been so fortunate
as in this year in having our cham
pionships distributed in so man,
places, and in all of them from Bos
ton to Honolulu have been remarkabl,
Attended, ..............and the Ha
waiian Association 100 yard swim
attracted $4,000 spectators. The swim
ming tour to this country Of Duke Ka
hanomOka aroused great interest and
the return visit of LANCER, Vollmer and
Cane was equally successful"
The representatives were of the
opinion that the convention had been
held in New York too often and that
the New York body is having too much
say as to the promotion of the A. A
U. For this reason il was voted Il
hold the 1917 convention in St. Louis.
The case of Aileen Allen wal
brought up and it was decided by the
body that she was an amateur. In
1914 Miss Allen was giving diving ex
hibitions on the Pantages circuit OF
the coast. That was prior to the time
that cards were issued to women
Later she made amateur records il
Portland, but the national body wal
not in favor of allowing them to stand
saying that she was professional, due
to her theatrical engagements. In thu
meeting It was voted that she was Al
amateur because, her professional worl
was done before the A. A. U. reeog
nized women.
All the records made in Honolulu
during the swimming carnival in Sen