Evening star., 1922-05-07

the Secretary of War. To this end, ?
support or govern athletics, or ma
been invited, to send two delegate!
Sumably to present the views of thei
yesterday that enough delegates wo
to act for their organizations to n
actual federation.
Organizations which have been
asked to send delegates to the con-
vention are: Amateur Athletic Union,
tion, Y. NJ. C. A. Y. w. c. A, Y. NJ. H.
A. the United states Army. the United
States Navy. the Boy Scouts of Amer
lea, the National Lawn Tennis Asso-
citation, Knights of Columbus, Play
ground and Recreation Association of
America, United States Golf Associa-
tion, National Rifle Association. De-
partment of Education, l. c. A. A. A.
A, American Physical Education AS
sociation. Girl, Scouts and American
Gymnastic Union.
Task of Great Magnitude.
The organization of an athletic fed
Grafton to make uniform rules or
amateurism and eradicate some OF the
barriers that now exist between diff
ferent associations controlling the
several sports, which associations are
enumerated above, seems. on the race
of 1t, a comparatively easy proposf-
tion, yet when the situation is looked
into it becomes a task the magni-
tude of which none knows unless ne
has attempted something of the kind
And so varying are the opinions OF the
membership of some of the assocla-
tions that even IL the representatives.
of such organizations desire to. be-
come members of an athletic federa-
tion and tomorrow vote in favor OF
forming a definite body of that ma,
ture it is by no means certain that
the representatives will be sustained
in their action.
1t is known that there was sufh-
cient strength in the National Col
legiate Athletic Association last De-
cember to block efforts to get 1t ac-
lively behind such federation as as
was proposed. The resolution as
presented to- the n. c. A. A. provided
that the association go on record as
favorinE the organization or a red
Grafton along lines laid down by the
Secretary of War, and empowered
citation to proceed in the organization
of federation. That was voted
down and rather poor substitute
made for it when substitute resoiu-
ton was passed to the effect that the
association favored the formation of
an athletic federation. without say
ing anything about what kind of
federation or defining in any way
the purpose Of a federation.
should Beneft Athletics.
The formation of the right kind Of
athletic federation should be benefit
to all athletics, and. according to Col:
Wait G. Johnson, who is in charge OF
arrangements for the meetings here.
the gatherings tomorrow and Tuesday
have been called to attempt smooth
ing out of the various differences of
opinion and bring together all ideas
in an effort to effect an adjustment OF
thought and relationships which win
supporting athletics. To accomplish
this careful action is required. as
those back Of the movement are well
aware, and every effort has been
made, according to Col. johnson, to
stance. it was charged last winter
that one of the purposes Of the pro-
posed federation was to control
United States entries in the Olympic
games. but everything in the fedora
toward that end has been deleted.
A great many angles, many entirely
unexpected, arise in the organiza-
tion of a body such as that for which
meetings have been called tomorrow
and Tuesday, and the success or fail,
almost entirely on the methods OF
operation which are adopted. If an
attempt is made to organize a feder-
alton to control athletics, giving, such
organizations as the Young Women's
Christian Association, Young Mems
Christian Association. Young Mems
Hebrew Association, Knights OF Co
lumbus, Girl Scouts and possibly two
or three others mentioned in the list
of organizations invited to send rep
uIation of rules of competition and
Of eligibility and of control with such
organizations as the National Col
,iegiate A. A, Intercollegiate Associa-
4 ion Of Amateur Athletes of Amer
lea. United States Golf Association
citation and Amateur Athletic Union,
which organizations have within
them practically all the athletes in
the country. the federation is likely
to encounter some rough snags.
Could BE Of Real Value.
: If. however, the aim of those back
Sof the proposed federation Is to or
ganize a kind of congress Of repre-
sentatives of all sports and physical
education organizations for friendly
and cooperative efforts for the bet
unification of their programs there
is not much doubt that plenty of
backing will be found among the
members of the several organizations
TO make tne proposed leQeTdt1OH q
thing of real value.
In short. any effort to set up a CEN
tralized nationwide control of ath-
letics. kind of super-conference. as
1t were. to be the legislative and
party administrative body for all
other conferences. or regional sub
sidiary organizations, whichever they
may be called, will make it doubt
full IL ever the federation plan will be
put across in some associations.
But if a federation is formed, which
Will bring about a friendly coop
erative relationship between the vari-
Gus associations the reaction in the
National Collegiate Athletic Associa-
tion ard in kindred organizations
should be pleasingly responsive.
1t certainly is to be hoped that Col.
Johnson and those associated with
him in the project to form fedora
tion will find some way to eliminate
the objections that have been raised
and effect an organization which will
be of lasting value to the athlete
and consequently to the young man
hood and young womanhood of the ma
tion.