The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-27
SHALL SPORT CONTROLLING BODIES
FORM A CONFEDERATION IS QUESTION
(By HUGH PUI.LERToN)
THE LINEUP
For MonarChial Control:
The Amateur Athletic Union and It's
Allies

TOT NOn1TCNlal lOnlTOI.
The Amateur Athletic Union and It's
Allies
For Federation:
!. United States Army.
United States Navy.
National Collegiate Athletic Asso-
citation.
Young Mems Christian Association.
United States Lawn Tennis Assoc
citation.
what A A. o. Counts On
These are the principal elements In
tho movement TO reform athletics in
the United States. Each Side has It's
allies and its supporters.
The a. \. L.. which has been out
grown. counts upon its controlled votes
10 handle the situation. The opposing
forces seem determined to go ahead and
form the federation along their own
lines. inviting and even urging tho a. \.
L. to come into it and aid in the general
movement toward the federation, which
was proposed originally by the sccre-
tary of war OF the United States.
turned down by the votes OF the A. A.
U. and their allies pcrpctuating the con-
troll of athletics. especially of Olympic
affairs.
Hc O'Atlti pa I'iihiii! u'S"N'H Wv
A. y. l.. controlled athletics Of the
United States and the proposals or the
new federation is this:
The A. 4. l.. Is interested IN COM
pctitivc sports, the development OF
champions and the winning Of meets.
all of which are good. save that the A
\. l.. never has and does not now take
the broad view Of the necessity OF phys
iCal education.
The federation stands for the athletic
! development OF the whole nation. with
championships az the natural result
and the proper stimulant.
II looks now rs If the matter will be
fought out along these lines, and re-
CARELESS of what else may happen tho
dominance of all athletics by the A.
a. t. Is doomed.
A. A. o. Holds Supreme Power.
The truth is that the A. 4. l. has
held its supreme power during recent
years only because there was no OPP
position to Il, and nothing loft for an
athlete to do but to register with the
J. a. L. or quit the sport
The theory that government derives
/, It's power through consent OF the gov
erncd hardly applies In this case, for a
great ma jurlty OF the athletes register
cd with the 4. 4. L. are among its
most violent opponents.
Tho general public naturally Will not
understand what the relations OF tho
. various bodies engaged in this contro-
versy are.
II is rather complicated IN spots. The
attitude Of the a. \. L. Is sim pie
enough 1t presumes TO control ALL
md to possess sanctiontnG power over
| all competitive events Each athlete
desiring to enter into competition Is
required to register with the A. A. u
/ Therefore. having compelled all these
h register. II argues that 1t derives
voting power by controlling" them.
The Army Is In a peculiar position.
1t has put its athletics upon purely
amateur basis. But it j. required 10y
the A. "A. q. TO register ',s athletes
with the A. A. L. and denied ~" right
10 enter meets unless they ar" 70 reg
lstered. The Army cannot naturally
surrender its control over It's .o!dirrs 10
any outside influence.
A Funny Thing.
To mr. one Of tho funniest things Cor
II would have been funny If II had not
been so serious) was the resolution OF
the \ A. L. passed during 1918. !
haven't tho text OF the resolution, but
In effect II notified the United States
that on account OF extraordinary con-
ditions. the Army and Navy would be
permitted to hold meets without con-
, sulting tho a. a T.. but inferred that
! after the war WAS over the A. A. L.
would hold tho United States strictly
| responsible.
AS matter Of fact the Army and
Navy never were notified Of this thing.
although It was produced afterward.
Tho relations OF the Navy toward the
A. A. U. are about the same as those
| OF the Army. only worse.
The A. A. L. hlames tho Y. NJ c. \.
for stirring up the rebellion now In pro-
gross. This, however, seems far fetched
since the has steadily refused TO as
! sumo any control over any athletics
other than its own $4,000 active ath-
letes.
1t has gono further. in permitting
| any local Y to affiliate with tho A. A
/ [. IL II saw fit. This, OF course, fur
I ,hcr complexities the situation since 4
! large number OF Y locals are also A. y.
L. bodies.
Tho knights cr Columbus are not YET
: actively ontanGled in the matter. Their
growth in athletics has come rapidly.
. In fact, It Is only during and since the
! war that the X. of C.. saw the import
nnce of athletics. It's growth has been
one Of the marvcls Of the athletic world
and Il is In nice position. since It has
not had time to form any cntanglinS
alliances. 1t Is !nconceivable that the
X. OF c.. when Il gets its growth. Will
permit any outside organization to rule
it, affairs.
lawn Tennis Association HamEtrunE
The Lawn Tennis Association Is ham,
! strung rs far N Olympic events arc
concerned 10y its afnl!aion with the
European tennis association. which have
certain rules that compel them TO break
! with ono or tho other.
The Cyclists, n powerful organ!Ea-
ton, cannot accept \. A. L. dominance.
because they control both amateur and
professional racing, and amateur racing
, must depend upon use Of pro tracks TO
! hold amateur meets.
! Tho Association football people are In
: the Same fix. or near It. sinc they too
haye Ontrol OF both PRO and amateur