The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-01-13
OLYMPIC GAMES
IN BELGIUM
No Definite Plans for American Par.
ticfpation Until Answers to
Questions are Re-
ceived.
IBy Henry Il. Farrell. United Press
STAFF Correspondent

l
lIBy Henry L. Farrell. United Press
Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, Jan. 13.-Smoke OF
Olympic fires Is drifting across the Al
Ilantic, but SO far very little has been
done to kindle the fire under Ameri-
cas- boiler of prospects.
No open moves have been made by
the American committee. A question
naire asking for enlightenment OF
nifty points was sent to the Belgian
committee with Lieut.. Col. Leon
Osterieth, head of the Belgian mill
tary committee who recently visited
this country.
AS soon as the answer is received.
the committee will convene and start
work on a definite basis.
Two countries-Sweden and Italy
planted their seeds several months
ago and have a good sized crop OF
possibilities peeping ABOVE the ground.
The Swedes have raised fund cor
responding to 100000 and have sign
ed Ernie Byertberg. famous through.
olt the United States and Scandin-
ayia as an athletic tutor as coach. He
is operating through committees in
the various districts OF the nation.
Wishing to inject some Yankee
stun into their team, the Italians
scored what they think is a ten strike
when they engaged Piatt Adams,
American, to train their team. They
have announced that Georges Carpen-
tier will appear in an exhibition bout
this spring to boost their drive for
funds.
Most. of the Olympic talk in America
centers around the selection of a
coach Lawson Robertson, Pennsyl-
yania: "Pooch" Donovan, Harvard;
Martin Delaney, Chicago, and Trainer
Haywood, Oregon. have been named
as probable successors Of the late
Mike Murphy.
Robertson looms up as the favorite
owing to his familiarity with the
Murphy system. When Murphy was
forced to his bed at Stockholm, Rob
ertson took hold of the American
team and proved capable director.
AS a competitor and coach the Penna
mentor took part in the games at st.
Ix,Iis in 1914--at Athens in 1906;
London in 1908 and at Stockholm in
1872.
The greatest task facing the Arner1-
can trainer is to keep his charges in
condition during the long trip across
tile water. In this line Donovan ap-
pears to have the edge.
His feat in taking Harvard's foot
ball team after it had broken training
several weeks, whipping ii back into
shape again, keeping it in condition
during a trans-continentai jaunt OF
three thousand miles and then putin
It on field under July weather con
ditions and having it fresher at ~
close Of the game than the natives OF
that cline, proved him no ordinary
trainer.
"Pooch' has reputation at Har-
ward of scoring his greatest success
with the most tenperamental attn
letes. He has loads of personality
with tons of ability. his friends say.
Some changes in the Olympic date
have been heard of unofficially by A.
A. u. headquarters here According
to reports from l.. j. Garcey, Belgian
official, the swimming dates have
been moved UP one month to August
1929 to circumvent the necessity OF
having the American team sent over
in two sections. Official announce
ment Of new dates with further in
formation OF several points brought
10 by the American committee Is ex'
nected soon