New-York tribune., 1918-10-13
Eastern A.A.U.
Opposes Ban
On Foreigners

The proposal, advanced by the
Pacific Coast Association of the
Amateur Athletic Union, to bar all for
eign athletes from future competition
in national championship meets, finds
little favor among Eastern athletic
authorities and followers of track and
field sports. The consensus of opinion
indicates that it would be a most
peculiar action for the American
athletic organization to take as athletes
from the states have for years been the
most consistent travelling competitors
and prize winners.
1t was pointed out by prominent
A. A. U. authority that there might be
some reason for such a proposal on the
part of the Canadian Union, in view of
the fact that in past years strong teams
from the New York A. c., and the Irish
American A. c., have journeyed to
Canada and swept away every first
prize and title at the annual Dominion
championships. American athletes also
have been prominent winners of titular
track and field honors in similar meets
in England. Scandinavia, and other
European countries. In every case our
athletes have been welcomed and where
they were good enough to defeat the
! best of the home entrants there was
nothing but praise for their perform
ances.
The menace of the foreign athletic
invader 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 championships and Olympic
games clearly demonstrate. 1t would
undoubtedly be an impetus to greater
and better effort if few invading per-
formers could be found to show the
way to our stars. 1t is generally ex-
pressed opinion that after peace reigns
again throughout the world there will
be great revival of international
sport competition. With this thought
uppermost in the minds of the dele
gates who gather for the annual meet
ing of the A. A. u, at Philadelphia on
November 18, there appears little pos
sibility of the adoption of the proposed
resolution.
The effects Of the war upon Ameri-
can athletics and athletes will be clear
ly shown at this meeting, for there
will not be single application, as
far as is known by A. A. U. autnori-
ties, for recognition of new worlds
record in track or field. During the
past indoor and outdoor seasons sew
eral records have been equalled, but
in no case has an American athlete
bettered existing world records under
conditions which would appear to war
rant acceptance by the A. A. u.
In swimming circles, however, quite
the reverse is true, and there will be
a long list Of claims submitted, the
ajority of which are likely to be
given official sanctlon. They include
new records for both short and long
distance competitions, and the names
of several prominent women swimmers
will figure in the list.
Those records which are accepted
will be tabulated as new American fig
ures, with an annexation to the effect
that they surpass the present world
records. They cannot, however, be
officially accepted as such until passed
upon by the International Amateur
Athletic Federation, which has not
held meeting since the beginning Of
the European war. After the cessation
of hostilitics the I. A. A. F. will con-
venc again, and at that session will
have many records from many lands
to consider and pass judgment upon
1t is interesting to note that at the
present time the United States and the
Scandinavian countries lead in the
number Of claims to be submitted.