The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-26

RIDICULOUS. ANY SrORTING ED
IpDE IN AMERICA COULD TANi. \
PENCIL. AND PICK y TEAM IN TN
MINUTES THAT WOULD WIN.
Eu. ii the object - to promote III"
physical welfare OF Americans, the lAihs
IS different.
Do uot gr, the Idea that I am AGAINST
the \. \. l.. Fact Is. am strong I"r
it--!u its sphere. The two objections
Ia IL are that athletics have cntr"'E
cutEruwn the organizations. and second
that instead ~ realizing this tho "
\. l.. thinking to strengthen itS POSI-
ton has been striving dvsrcrat"'! l"
extend It's rc$p"nSIhiiiII : and ITS mem
ter%h!r without increasing the ma
chin.ry for handling the situation
What Is The A. A. U.2
Thi. Amateur Athletic Union IL one
Of the most Interesting establishments
In the word. This little review Is not
written with the slightest idea ot AT
lacking the \. \. L.. or Of criticism "l
IT, but merely ~ study OF the prop
lem Of whether OF not amatCurlsm has
oI;gruwn it,
The origin OF the organization Is In
tercStiuS. IN the earlier days OF ATM
letic Development IN America no gov
erumeut existed. Spald!ngs' the great
makers Of athletic and sporting goods
We're among the first to sec the TACT
that athletic Sports were growing ~
ralidlv that some form OF organization
and cnntru! was necessary. TWO Oh
Spald;ngS' employees were at that time
engaged in getting out the carrier cul-
tiuns % the now famous S1aldIAS L.
br;try. framing and printing codes OK
4 fo q
They discovered that rules varied great
" in different parts of the country.
that teams and clubs nsel not only DIFF
ter:nc rules. h'It hal differing stand
ards Of amat"ur!Sm The colleges and
the athletic clubs held conflicting views.
used differing rules. AMI naturally con-
f.ctinc Views. us"'l differing rules. and
naturally contests resulted in chickering's
ami IN ion, Arguments Th" cause o:
the movement t. c"l!ty rules and reg
ulat;naS WAS to maze the books apply
unit"rmly
These men. seeing some organization
WIS rrcdrL wr-" "ri:ne m"N@rs y
foundiu" an association { amatu D." All
lrt!c clubs The firSt object. OF course.
wa To make th"i- books accurate. Ard
tl'ltrah'e t. ALL. 81 Is I" sol! "a
r, .",.g ~ all Rc~ard! 'SS NJ III" toCt
that the primary CA - MnS 'om'u"r''AL
Il rInu", l." charged hat his firm ,re.'
ha'. been entirely commercial The
SralG.nr officials took control when no
ether organization was prepared to do
So In ru"t. IL has stood for the best
TN" uc sport ~mauShir has costcrcd
ana encouraged clean sports, ana has
done = tremendous amount OF good In
Amrr:r,.r nthl"ti"~. TIC heads OF the
rprr"rn suaualiy have been Sportsm"n
FIRST ard salrSwnu a:tcr"ard and II
rO-ts'miHShi: dashed with business,
tNcr business had 10 Yield. Incidentally
that Is one Of II" hIG reasons for their
success IN hGs!r"ss: but l doubt
vhathcr cithe- 4 G. Spn'ding or Julian
rurtIss gave t]at 4 thought but con-
si,iercd only the good Of athletics.
Power Nt't From the Governed.
Th.. original association evolved into
~. 'rn,"uT A;h,":iC Union. Snuld;nE
ei,v:,.s ma f"pt ,and ;t:!i maintainSl 4
.,lgccrf'' iur"r"Ft :" tho organization.
",ant:,tl tn."~ SnaiLirE's cmp.Oyrd Off
,.rr. a..l a.S"'..'iuIS have !"cn Nh" lie
.l'trr "r"'c "uh they ar" t".}'ar th"
"nviTol!in.s Influence in IN" OrSaG ia
- \. \. l. pr,.&um"s I" sanction all
atu'r'i" m""i1 N.lL /, r"""&ni."d clubs.
(" register "y"ry athlc;" connecting in
r:.crt'rNl rNC'i''s Ia pass OfbIi In'' ''lIs'-
iility nf al athletes. 10 NcnaliZ" aSS"-
cations. c!nbs and individuals Il rules
nrN violated
That se"ruS 4 tremendous power and
responsibility Gov any agency.
Wfar * hi ''uT'"u" Which rrCSumc9
- 1dGnir;s'," :" iH"r" than rs" million
atli"tcS'
l. - Simply an offir" with Il card in
G.XinE system. registration blanks. &c.
For twenty-five cents il viii register
rrr athlete who Will fill in IN" appllCa-
:inr blanks. II las no adequate" ma
rhiu,'v for verifying the truth or f.tlSi-
~ az IA" statements mad In those
blanks. 1t cannot youch for the stand