The New York herald., 1921-11-11
SECRETARY WEEKS'S
PLAN Is APPROVED
Proposed New National Ath-
letic Federation Is Hailed
by Sport Officials.

Most of those in this city who have
their fingers on the pulse of the Amer
lean and international athletic situation
were jubilant yesterday over the word
from Secretary of War John w. Weeks
that the Army and the Navy would
promise their drive and push II a new
National Amateur Athletic Federation
were organized.
There was considerable criticism OF
the proposed constitution of that organ
ization. which is very loose and for one
thing. contains an unsatisfactory defini-
ton of an amateur. but the proposal of
the Secretary of War was hailed as one
Of the finest developments in the history
OF American sport.
Some OF the officials of the Amateur
Athletic Union and members OF the
American Olympic Committee did not
great Secretary Weeks's proposition very
warmly. Frederick J. Ruben, secretary
of the A. A. u. and president Of the
Metropolitan Association of that body.
was inclined to regard the proposed fed
Grafton as q dream.
"Truly Wonderful Says Kirby.
Gustavus T. Kirby one of the leading
spirits in the intercollegiate Association
OF Amateur Athletes OF America and a
big man in the Olympic organization as
we'll as the A. A. u. declared that the
announcement from Washington was
truly wonderful in every way and an
! augury for greater things in American
sport"
Kirby did not hold to the belief that
a new federation would threaten the
Amateur Athletic Union or would undo
any of the good work of that body, the
intercollegiate A. A. A. A. or any other
national snort goyarning hO1y
Rather was Mr.. Kirby inclined to hail
the proposition as a boon for the A. A.
e.. I'VE drew up n constitution for
new American Olympic Association
which would appoint an Olympic Com
mittee every four years. The associa-
tion would so on forever--the committee
would die each four years. said Mr..
Kirby. Mindful of the splendid CO.
operation afforded by the Navy and the
| Army in Americas participation In the
| Olympic games at Antwerp. we asked
for the help of the national departments.
Secretary Weeks came back with
proposition of his own--a suggestion
that the idea be expanded and that
we form a new federation to combine
all American sport governing bodies In
| one. The idea, let me emphasize, is
not to take away any powers from
! any existing association. The idea Is
| not to consolidate all associations into
| one new federation. But the idea is to
bring all bodies together. with one big
| organization framing the policy and
representing us in international con-
claves. We need such federation
Mr.. Ruben and other A. A. u. men
we're apprehensive lest the proposed
| federation would put their organization
| In the background 1--WE all want new
| deal in Olympic affairs, and 1t Is this
which we must accomplish before we
| go into this dream" said the secretary
| Of the A. A. u. "As see 1t, the feder-
alton would take In the A. A. u, the
| Boy Scouts. the Y. NJ. C. A., the I. C.
| A. A. A. A, the National Collegiate
| Athletic Association. the Western and
other college conferenccs-and give
every one OF them a vote in the control
and administration of athletics in this
country.
Defends the A. A. T..
81 do not see why the A. A. u. should
step aside for anybody. The A. A. U.
developed sport here. IL really made the
Olympic games. It would not yield one
inch TO any other organization in the
matter OF controlling national amateur
track and field sport boxing. wrestling,
swimming, and tho like. Imagine the
Boy Scouts having an equal say with
the A. A. u. in running the \. A. us
own affairs
However. the proposition is making
a lot Of talk and something good should
come of the meeting here the day after
Thanksgiving"
Mr.. Ruben and other officials here
teur as proposed by Secretary Weeks.
|