The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-28

OF spirit among watermen.
Ever since its inception the Pough-
keepsie classic has been rowed over a
four course. The fact that a few
reformers have taken II upon thCm-
selves to demand that this distance
be cut down to three miles is no
reason why the stewards should lose
their heads and order the distance
reduced, especially when such able
authorities on the sport as Jim Rice.
Bill Haincs, Jem Ten Eyck, Jack
Muicahey. Mortimer Bogue. Vivian
Nickalls, and Payne whitney favor
mile course
IT'S NOT TOO LONG.
The fact that the authorities at
Yale and Harvard have decided on
four-mile race Is evidence that the
distance is not too long. Should the
the cry set up by those in charge Of
the sport at Morningside Heights the
rowing community will have every
right to believe that these gentlemen
are OF the opinion that the youths OF
their respective colleges are not as
physically ft as those sporting the
colors OF Yale and Harvard.
The reason given for cutting the
former distance is that the Navy will
not take part in a race over three
miles in length; also that Wisconsin
is willing to send a crew to Pough-
keepsie II the race is held to the
three-miIe limit. To one familiar with
intercollegiate sports these are poor
excuses for clipping mile off the
classic.
10
when the distance was four miles.
So did Wisconsin. However, both An
ished behind the leaders. Following
their defeat the authorities at Wis
consin attempted to have rowing
abolished because of some incorrect
test that they made Of their crews
men.
The Navy sent a crew to the Olym-
pic meet. II was one OF the best
coached and finest developed squad OF
oarsmen that was ever assigned seats
In racing shell.
Uncle Sam may we'll be proud OF
the record that Coach Glennon's lads
made In Europe. They finished a
brand of rowing that won the praise
or all critics. Aside from their fine
Craftsmanship the midshipmen showed
themselves to be the finest squad of
physically At athletes in the entire
games.
WOULD BRING A WALL.
To say these men could not row
four miles without showing i'll effects,
but that their rivals from Yale and
Harvard could do so. would be to
challenge the physical qualifications
OF every man in the United States
Naval Academy
This would M donht hyipr q OF
wall from those in charge of affairs
at Annapolis.
From an unofficial source we are
Informed that the men who formerly
represented Cornell on the water, to
man favor the four-mile race, 1t
liz only those who have some misgiv-
ing as to the way that John Hoyle
will hll the place left vacant by the
death OF Charles Courtney that are
roofing for a three mile UCe
Pennsylvania IL likely ~ vote TO
keep the race at the old distance. Joe
Wright IL a real sportsman. He APP
preciates that a three race would
take more out OF his men than n
four-mle test. AS one well-known
rowing man put II, n three-mlle race
would be nothing more than "a glo-
rified two-mile sprint. with an extra
mile tackled on" Such an event
would raise the stroke to point
where many men would collapse be-
fore the finish line, was reached,
whereas n four-mle race would be n
strong pull from start to fnish.
Just why the stewards are 80 much
concerned over bringing Wisconsin TO
Poughkeepsle Ia beyond ne. The
Madison school OF learning did every
thing In its power a few years back
to have rowing abolished Some ex-
periments made by the authorities at
Wisconsin we're employed in an Of
fort to have a ban placed on rowing.
However. when an unparalleled jury