The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-11-14

Secretary Of War John W. Weeks. an
ardent SPORTSMAN ana ore who knows
sports. Is out strongly in favor or ma
tiona! organization 70 promote and gov
ern amateur sports OF tho United states
The secretary OF war outlined hts
plan comprehensively in reply TO let
ter from Gustayus Kirby. head OF the
American Olympic committee. ana
strongly sekbrds the idea o; an AUerl-
can Federation OF Amateur Sports.
The idea IS not new. Secretary OF
War Baker who was an ardent support
er OF sports. an active man In the or
Kanization OF the Amateur Raseea-! FED
Grafton In Cleveland, and one or the
chief instruments in making amateur
spo, - Amos, a Part Of tho government
OF cleveland. told mo when no aCst TOOK
office at WASHINGTON thar his gr"a; de-
sire was to aid and promote such an
organization which would Re national In
sc.re Yrsslden, Harding. who Knows
NOR. snorts than any President W"
have had since cleveland tRoosAHct d!d
not Ike basebalD. was strongly IN "a
yor % such A national organization. Dur
,nr .hr campaign ne advocated organi-
sat!on and national control 9t sports.
Others In tho present administration
p, WASHINGTON and IN the wilson ca"'n-
and some OK the lr2'leES % '-''ISttNS'
haze gone as far as to urge tho neces-
.ty ii federal control OF athletic sports
i II eubsidy ~ sports with the idea
OF developing athletes especially among
the young and twice the proposition
has been advanced for a post 81 secre-
tary OF athletics In the cabinet
The stress Of national AMI formation
nj conn licat!ons during tho last eight
years has delayed Any move IN this
. direction bu, ultimately our govern
ment must take active charge or ath-
letIc.. II not OF sports. In fact the
plan os Secretary Weeks Is not compre-
hens!ve enough. To limit tho Interest
OF tho government 20 amateur sports
would not be sufficient Government
control OF all sports. professional as
well as amateur. Is necessary and vii!
become moro 40.
co!nrldent With Secretary Weeks
statement, regarding thu formation ~
tho Amateur Athletic Federation OF the
United States. tho peraors interested IN
boxIn- held n convention IN New York
10 take steps toward forming a national
federation 20 contro, professional sports
boxing. OF course. Is 20 take tho lead
ing part.
These persons are. Of course. M IN
the wrong foot as usual. II they de-
ing and to correct its abuses. tho move
is good But there 10 ard has been
among tho New York politicians ana
some Of the promoters an arrogant de-
sire 70 control wrestling. baseball. rae
Ing and other sports. When the rather
.y.l-scented move was put through Al
Albany combining wrestling with box
ing tho EFFORT vas made 10 -et IN" rae
inr and baseball. and incidentally all
other sports In tho state. placed "nfAr
tho control Of that commission. COY
ernor M!ll.r baked tho plan by stain Z
fnt-rootehly that he did not believe IN
sta,e control OF any sport that mac
shown !'se,f able q control !tse!f.
Tho promoters Of the idea. however
haNs not Abandoned Il Two statements
have been made since 4 t'o;i charge ~
wrestling ard hoxlu9 indicating 'hHt
the "omm!ssinn ultimately ~"hencs :"
Include all sports urfer IS ruiz. TIE
New York meeting devoted !tss,t I" 'rnS
ing. but nror"s.t % ra.... :, "F"ds'a,
ton OF professional Sports"
No sport vii! endure being ruled nv
other sports. Just n"w N New York
tha wr-s,linr and hontnc srat"rnt't"'
sre at Il like cats ard dogs II ~
nresen, Athletic '"mmIssion 81 Now
york took Over base hail. hRskSthall Rn'
snch sports all tho gamss wnnli suT"t
. ruick setback FRANKLY. u means POI
u,tcal control Of sport. Witch - not q
~ d.,,r.d ~ any s?nr'. rat the f"Hrr'
n, hody would he different ualess -
rrnressinna! politicians tried IN Vi" IL
fn- their own purposes. Tho" - n"'h
i,g Of the smack II politics III II" OWN
,io ,,onmi,tre'S idea which = s".rnu-|
By Secretary " eeSS
put such p body cuTh, a." :" h'v'
!. rlvlsion dealing Only with the nr.';"S
s,noal sports and Z should BE- goN"rn
n,trt controlled
r.T persons outside % sport unG"r
s,,DI ,hs dangers ~hirh h"Sc; not rrt
bu. Alt srcrts ~ This time.
Even fewer outsiders and common
sar. know tho extent n Which r0tca'
ness n rreeH!nR I'M" sports t0'N
arta.eur ard professional Thor" ha>
h.rq r.. n,ri~h rto>ners'T. and ~" l;:i'"'
have Y-nnted 30 largely. tha: t.!u.t