Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-02
Samuel J. Dallas, II. A. U.
Head, Writes of Aduan-
tages in Athletics for EN-
ployers and Employees
CONDITIONS
BY SAMUEL J. DALLAS

President of the Amateur Athletic Union
of the United States
'TNoUEsTIoNABLY the greatest field
~ for the development of amateur
athletics to my mind. lies in the indus
trial world Of America. The future su-
premacy of this country in amateur ath-
letics depends entirely upon the proper
development OF this virgin field. This
development must be on a gigantic scale.
No organization Is better equipped to
handle the situation than the Amateur
Athletic Union of the United States. of
which the writer is now president. For
number of years I have been actively
connected with the Meadowbrook Club,
the athletic organization in the John
Wanamaker store, Philadelphia, and I
am solid In the IDEAS expressed in tho
preceding paragraph.
For the last twenty-siX years certain
numbers of those employed in Wana-
makers have been receiving both ath-
letic and military training, and only
last year the Walter Camp daily dozen
setting-up exercises were adopted for
the entire "store family" and I am in
position to know to Just what extent
this training has helped both employer
Forming Plans
So much am I interested in the promo.
tion of amateur athletics in the indus
tries of America that l. am now work.
ing on plarl which I hope will revise
| and mode, 1ze the athletic conditions in
the Unit 4 States,
Col ges, schools and clubs all do ex-
cell 1T work in the promotion of ath-
| letcs generally from an amateur stand
point. There are millions Of workers in
the industrial plants of America who
have not had the benefit of higher edu-
cation and who are possibly not good
enough for the high-class athletic club
to cater to. This brand of athlete.
| therefore, has gone into the discard.
There Is no reason why every one
| should not participate in athletics in one
form or another. and IL the manufactur-
ing concerns of the country all realize
the value of athletics the time will come
when every one will be an interested
participant. .ry
All Need Play
Such manufacturing concerns as have
introduced athletics into their organiza
tions are strong for them. The names
of those companies are the best testi
monials for those who are seriously
giving thought to adding athletics tc
their workshop. Modern plants have
physical directors, athletic associations
athletic fields, gymnasiums, swimming
pools, rest rooms and encourage field
days. 1t is a proven fact that we al
need play. ..
The organization that interests its EN-
ployes in athletics Is more than repaid
for the men and women are made better
physically and become more faithful II
attendance. There is less labor turn
over, they take pains in their work, tn,
output is increased and there are M
strikes, because every one is pulling fol
the organization. There is nothing lik,
amateur athletics to bring the employ,
and employer together on a common
field. The better an employe know
his employer, the better the condition!
will be- Spirit is what counts.
Some of the local organizations tha
have taken their employees into athlete
partnership are Midvale Steel Company
Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Pennsyl
vania Railroad Company, Western Elec
trio Company, Philadelphia Electri
Company, Strawbridge & Clother, Ii
Brothers, Curtis Publishing Company
, Hale & Kilburn Company. pisston Say
Company, American Bridge Company
: ]. & ]. Dobson, Elliott-Lewis Electri
Company, Standard Roller Bearing Com
pany and John Wanamaker.
( A. A. U. Members
! The majority of the foregoing are a
present and have been for years mem
bers of the Amateur Athletic Union G
the United States.
Department stores in Philadelphi:
| cltnI 4 Sr htYro T.
; and Strawbridge G Clothier, and til
i Eaton stores In Canada, Marshall Fiel
: & Co. In Chicago and many other ma
Q order houses have gone into varior
forms of athletics, but have not mad
II a general thing.