Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-12
FOREIGN ATHLETES
NOT TO Be BARRED
Proposed Plan Finds Small Favor
Among Real Sports OF the
Eastern States.

New York. Oct. 12.-The proposal
advanced by the Pacific Coast Associat-
ion of the Amatucr Athletic Union, TO-
bar all foreign athletes from future COM
petitiou in national championship meets,
finds little favor among Eastern atlleuc
authorities and followers ot track 2nu
field sports. The concensus ot opiinoh
indicates that il would be n most peculiar
action for the American athletic organi-
zatiop to take as athletes from the States
have for years been the most consistent,
travelling competitors and prlzc winners.
II was pointed out ny n prominent
L. authority that there might be
some reason for such proposal on the
part of the Canadian Union, IN view OF the
fact that in past years strong teams from
the New York \. G., and the IRISH
American \. c., have Iourneyed to Canada
and swept away every hrst prIze and
title at the annual Dominion Champion
ships American athletes also have been
prominent winners of titular track and
field honors in similar meets in England,
Scandinavia, and other European countr-
les. In every case our athletes have been
welcomed and where they were good
enough to defeat the best of the home en-
trants there was nothing but praise for
their performances.
The menace of the foreign athletic in
vadcr is furthermore of little danger.
Very few have been able in the past to
show their heels to the best of the American
stars, as the records of both home champ
ionshipS and Olympic Games clearly de
monstrate. IT, would undoubtedly be an
impetus to greater and better effort II
few invading performers could be found to
show the way to our stars. 1t is the
generally expressed opinion that after
peace rcigns again throughout The world
there will be a great revival OF inter
national sport competition. With this
thought uppermost in the minds OF the
delegates who gather for the annual
meeting of the 4. A. u, at Philadelphia
on November Is, there appears little
possibility Of the adoption OF the pro-
posed resolution.
The effects of the war upon American
athletics and athletes will be clearly
shown at this meeting for there will not
be single application, as far as IS known
bv A. A. A. T.. authorities, for recognl-
ton of new worlds record In track or
field. During the past indoor and ou-
door season several records have been
eQualed but IN no case has an American
athlete betterad existing world records
under conditions which would appear
to warrant acceptance lby the A. A. A. T.,
In swimming circes, however, quite
I, the reverse is true and there will be a
long list OF claims submitted, the aiority
of which are likely to be gwen official
sanction. They include new records
! for both short and long distance COM
petitions and the names of several prom
inent women swimmers will figure in
the list.
Those records which are accepted,
viii be tabuiated as new American
Figures with an annexation to the effect
fthat they surpass the present world
records. They cannot, however, be
officially accepted, as such until passed
upon by the international Amateur
i Athletic Federation, which has not
sheld a meeting since the beginning of
sthe European war. After the cessation
lnf hostilities the l. A. A. f., will convene
iagain and at that session viii have many
brecords from many lands to consider
.aDd pass Judgment upon It ls interest
hing to note that at the present time the
Htnited States and the Scandinavian
countries lead in the number OF claims
10 be submitted.