The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-25

az lS.NAS- SN4'i''N'NS ~ 49,
: United States to cultrolIvd by one or
ganizatlon,
B Shall ~. Tic sport controlling organ
izatiorS IN America form federatIon
rs suggested by Secretary OF War
Weeks?
The present CRISIS In athletic affairs
m tho United States appears 10 be 4
direct result Of the attempt made last
fall TO form real association OF all
the athletic aud sport controlling organ
izationS OF America.
This attempt was CIimaXed at tho con-
lrntinu held In New York November
-. 1921, al which a prearranEed colt
. s:ltUtion. practically granting the Ana
tcur Athletic Union perpetual control
uf all athletic sports, of all Olympic
sports. and az all the athletes In the
United States was forced over the proc
test OF the army and navy. the colleges
and other great organizations.
The \. \. L. has had control or
sports and competitive athletics for
practically thirty years. II has ha'
and retains control Of all Olympic MAJ
tr-& Its failure and tho rebellion OF
= athletes was II result OF tho misman-
uyerient and the trouble arising out az
the Antwerp Olympic games, and The
belltI OF lhe HlslJbI4NS u 'h'S'~ '''N''
,Sted in athletics that the Amcr.c2p
olympic committee "a body which "aS
controlled 10y The \. A. u should mex
::yr perpetual control o: Americas
:,&t!I!'Ies.
A. A. q. Always IN Control.
YOU Will iiud ia 1udytnS the sltua-
ION that In ali Oiymrt' AFFAIRS the y.
\ l.. has retained Us absolute Cuh'T"''
regardless ot tho namo under whiS"
ri:. ,rutrol was seized. The system "'
l,Itrr.ucning dire, tvrates vas "vrN""
~ that the y. y. |. always has k"r'
supreme power.
Tho complaints following the last
Olympic games. however. were SO strong
and the kicks against the manner III
which tho Olympic athletes were chos-
en- so persistent that II was agreed th"e
a convention should be held; that lhis
system OF perpetual control should cease
! and that tho Olympic committee was 70
be "democrattzed." The a. A. U. was
one Of the leading cheer leaders IN TINS
movement. A lot Of other organizations
agreed 10 attend such a convention
cunning in good faith.
Two months or moro before the GATE
oF the conference In New York the "ord
was passed around in A. y. l. circles
that the Y. NJ. c. A. is trying TO orcaN
up tho \. 4. T." Soth!ng perhaps.
could have been more untrue. lie
at the close OF tho war, when Its hth-
. !cllc department was u Its highest ue-
yelopment was approached by the init
! ed States government with the suggas-
! ton that II assume control OF athletics
! in the United States. 1t declined stat
! Ing that It was not tho function OF the
! \ 10 control sports. and THAT II DID
| NOT RELIEVE ANY ORGANIZATION
SHOULD CONTROL OTHERS.
! Yet It Is charged by tho a A. U. that
! the was trying 10 smash II and as
! -ume control, and that the had In
/ weighed the army. the navy and colleges
: and others into L plot" TO destroy tho
A. A. l..
| On this propaganda mo old COMMITTEES
! (meanInG the \. a. l.. torccs) loaded up
! the meeting. This. OF course. Will be
! denied. although when III" y. a. [. rep
rescntatIvcs ana their allies on allied
! bodies met. the vote was certain 10 pr
! about 81 20 . On any proposition.
/ Secretary OF Wars Plan
Meantime tn. athletic heads &C the
army and navy. which had settled upon
nm amateur LaS.s FOR their athletics had
; Consulted with Secretary Weeks. ana
cnmc with a straight. ri"an-CUt PROPOSE
ton. II was presented in IN" form Of Il
skr!ctnn of a constitution. leaving the
drlrrat"s 10 MI IN the other
Pa. \ \. T.. !crdr;a h;,d n"t. h'd
drawn Njn constitution. Had h.ln''"h
iu,',itc; shtrs uni hrd arranged /" con-
'r,.' il themselves by nilnttiug !" the
!. \ T. thee votes fer EACH sport II
.u..'~p!~.--ur claims 10 control. VITA Us
o. - bodies. tho 4. a. |. HbS"!H'''y
.. .'ua'ed tho meeting
Ir.rr" tho meeting started col john
..,n representing IN" army was rchuked
hy \. \. I. mcmhcrs and accused of
;ry.ni, 20 hrea; up IN" y. 4. I. The
idea was new 10 the army and navy
! nsorle-and to others. who had com" cN-
Meeting In good faith that an attempt
was 10 he 1nads TO create truly demo-
cr,tia American Amateur Federation.
! Tho forces backing the old Olympic
committee "a A. l.. controlled -"
! sen,od their constitution. allotted mem
i,rreh rs disrreetly. SO rs 10 retain safe
control. and insisted uInn forming wl'i
I Is called the American Olympic Asscc!a-
! ,iru-or which more later.
! Tho CRY VAS raised that tho COLLEGES.
which insisted upon ruling and govern
! ing their own athletics. tho army and
navy. and the l. NJ. c. A. c"DcClaliy.
mono OF which could r!Ehteu"sly per
! NIT An outside body 20 run their mem
h.rs were taking control or all organ
| IzotIgrs from them. AS matter OF
r,rr II Is dniCult 10 see how my such
-,n. could be read Into tie proposition