The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-13
Nv HUGH FULLERTON.

ny HUGH YULL6HSON.
There is merry war being waged
In the United States over the control OF
athletics. The general public knows
little or nothing about this conflict.
and perhaps cares less. considering u
merely A row between two rival organ
izations
Yet behind this struggle for control
ar Jurisdiction over athletic sports Is
an issue which Is vital to the pupitc
welfare. and as widely separated as
black and white.
HAVE Different ideals.
ON the surface it seems merely con-
test between the Amateur Athletic
Union on the one side and the National
amateur Federation on the other. II,
4, were only two rival bodies seeking
~..utrol OF certain athletic sports the
people would not be conceEned. But the
organizations stand for entirely diusr-
ent ideas. The \. y. L.. an old estab-
uShed urganlza ton. has had control OF
athletic contests in the United states
ever since athletics became an imoptr-
ant part IN our national life. II never
has concerned Itself with the develop
,ncnt of athletes. with the physical up
building of the nation, nor with FOSTER
ing OF encouraging athletics. Its mis-
range contests between the highly de-
veloped specialists.
Aims to Develop
Now comes the National Federation
Aolding ideutically the same standards
\ Of amateurism, but basing It's right 10
existence on a plan TO develop the ply
steal welfare Of the people Of the
United States. Its plan is to encourage
an6 foster mass athletics. Its slogan
Is Play for every one" It's plan is 10
orsanize the entire United States and
TO carry athletic training to the cross
rods, the small towns and to every
community IN the country. Their theory
Is that the champions will develop
themselves through such organization.
hey are not concerned IN making
Champions or in arranging contests IN
Which the highly developed specialists
aan, meet. They want every man.
conan. boy and girl in America given
opportunity for athletic training. IN
he National Federation are the army
md navy OF the United States. the Ma
;ioual Collegiate Association with $50
rolic,-es the Y. NJ {. y. and Y. w. T.
a., the Jewish Welfare ana other bodies
The Playground Association. the Gym
naStic Association. the golfers. the ten
mis- players, :hc Boy aad Girl Scouts.
the Rifle shooters Association and
many others.
Has Wide Control
The National Federation. throuhg Its
constituent bodies owns and controls
nine;ecu-cwentiethS OF all the swimming
pools. more than the proportion OF gym
nasiums. more than ninStenths OF the
athletic fields. Yet. under the peculiar
situation. the \. \. l.. which actually
y
nasiums and pools OF perhaps nine Vt
the big athletic clubs located in cities.
claims entire power over all track field
meets swimming meets. boxing, wrest-
ling and gymRaStic contests.
/: has succeeded in Incorporating In
the Olympic games rules rule which
rompelS any AmericaR entrant TO any
Olympic event to have TWO guarantorS-
one Of whom must be the a. a. L.
In other words. the A. a. L., II II
tees fit. can bar any American from
connecting In the French Olympic un-
less he or she submits 10 the A. A. L.
government
Having put this over on tho European
Olympic directors. the A 4. u. repre-
sentatives now are IN position 10 tell
the army and navy. the colleges tho
gymnasts. the fencers. and all others
that unless they submit 20 \. \. L. die
.at'on they cannot enter the Olympic
ivents
Politics Crops Ont.
When the National Federation ON
rl&l- protested they we're told that the
A. \. L. through the American olympic
committee (which IL controlled by tho
A. A. u. would enlist enough mayors,
prominent politicians and big men all
over the country to drive the federation
put OF tn" game" In other words. the
wise politicians OF the A. A, L. knew
that the average prominent citizen, ig-
horant % the inside OF tho situation,
would lend his name readily to any
rOIymplc committee" promotion. Then
his name could be uSsd 10 strengthen
he \ A. l. stand The same thing has
seen worked on the president Of tho
cni,"d States. whose name Is being
ssed
The general public would not be con-
eernsd at all were I, not for the fact
thai the success % the program for
haSs athletics and for universal ath-
letic training OF Americans Is eadan-
yered.
No Cause For Rivalry
The pity Of Il "a that there really IL
no cause. save the ambition OF a few
10 control everything. for any rivalry
between the Federation and the A \. L.
The A. A. Z. has a definite and we'll
defined Iield OF activity. II Is the logi-
raj force TO control big athletic meets.
There Is no real reason that Il should
not Join the Amateur Federation and
become one of the leading forces IN
that matchmaking charge OF the
highly developed athletics as rapidly as
they are developed by tho universal
training plan OF the others.
just what sports II should control IS
4 difficult problem. II seems hardly
fair 70 the $50 colleges and universities
TO force them to yield control Of track
and field athletics. yet a working ar
rangement could be made that would
solve that difficulty. II is unfair. OF
course. to the gymnasts, who control
Ill the Turner societies and other such
crganIza tons. to say they must submit
TO the A. A. U. and that they cannot
hold meets without registering each
a,hiete with the 4. A. L. and getting
rs sanction.
The thing In which the public Is In