The New York herald., 1922-04-19

Special Dispatch 10 THE New YORK HERALD.
Boston, April 1S.--As farfetched as
II Is deliberately false and misleading
would be fair Interpretation OF an
article copied In this city yesterday from
o New York periodical with reference
TO the Amateur Athletic Union and the
American Olympic Association. accord
ing TO statement made here by w. G.
Prout, president OF the a. A. u.
Mr.. Prout says: IF certain small
group of malcontents have their way
every sport governing body in this coun-
try will be thrown on the scrap heap.
The men behind this federation move
snent, which has been working under
ground for some time, are Elwood s.
Brown. in charge of the foreign division
OF the Y. M. G. A., who comes to us from
Canada to Americanize our sports. and
Palmer f. Pierce, formerly Of the United
States Army, but now on the payroll OF
one of the most obnoxious monopolies in
the entire world.
Right here let me says that many
sincere and loyal Y. NJ. C. A. workers
regret this attempt to lead that body
astray from it's fundamental principles
and embroil IL In needless conflict TO
satisfy the overweenng personal am
billions of these malcontents. ! will not
say that the Y. NJ C. A. has not done
good work along physical lines.
II feel very strongly. however. that
the Y NJ. C. A., the knights of Colum-
bus. the Jewish Welfare Board or any
other religious organization should not
be permitted to carry on religious work
under the cloak of athletics or physical
training. i feel still more strongly that
no department OF the United States Gov
ernment should lend it's official sanction
to any such attempt.
81 Organiza tions Represented.
THE charge that the American Olym-
pic committee Is self-constituted and
self-perpetuating is absolutely false.
The American Olympic Association as
at present constituted consists of more
than thirty-five nationwide organiza-
tions. all Of which send delegates to the
association.
THE charge that the Olympic Associ-
alton is subsidiary of the Amateur
Athletic Union is absolutely false. The
A. A. U. IS but one Of the sport govern
ing bodies In the country which COM
pr;ses the Olympic Association.
"The charge that the a. A. y. Is in
any way opposed TO collegiate control OF
collegiate athletics is absolutely false.
on the contrary, the A. A. u has al
ways cooperated on terms of greatest
friendship and harmony with the recog-
nized collegiate governing bodies in this
country. The Olympic team OF 1920 had
among its members more than so per
cent college men. The team. by the
way, which Palmer Z. Pierce took active
part in selecting.
"The charge that the A. 4. L. is clan
nish Is equally untrue. The \. A. u.
composed OF nineteen subordinate or
ganizations. including every section Of
the United States. even as far distant
as Hawaii, prides itself on Its democ-
racy. 1t has more than 1000 club mem
bers. which in turn have an individua
membership OF approximately three mil
lions.
Zach club has the same representa-
ton whether II is the New York A. &.
with 1000 members. or the East SIDE
Bows Club OF 35 members
The Incident on Board Ship.
"a great deal was said in this at
tack on the A. A. u. as to conditions
which existed in connection with the
Olympic games at Antwerp in l92o. Ine
alleged drunkenness OF three members oil
the team on board ship Is painted In
horrible colors but the writer neglects
to say that two OF these three men
were college athletes OF nationwide
prominence. The makeup of the team
Is criticised. but the writer neglects to
say that Palmer +. Pierce was one oil
the men who selected the team
conditions on the transport are de-
scribed as shameful. but the propagan-
dists concealed the fact that the ship
was provided by the War Department.
''The plan OF organization OF tne
American Olympic Association Is Sc
yerely condemned, but the writer forgets
that Palmer Pierce was one of COM
mittee OF five which originated the plan
which at that time met his entire ap-
proval. -,
.The proposed federation which the
Secretary Of War Is alleged to have
originated was first proposed by r. ~
G. A. officials in California. several
months before the War Department pro-
uosal was made public. II was adver-
tised as an amateur federation. yet
the army and navy are both on pro-
fessional basis In sports on the admis-
sion OF their own officials. With the
exception OF the Boy Scouts no other
organization in America has taken up
the federation idea but the Y. NJ. {. a.
Major WALTZ G. Johnson representa-
tive Of the War Department. who pro-
posed this federation at a meeting OF
thirty-nve organizations in New York
city. said of il at that meeting: j hold
no brief for this constitution which Is
submitted here. II Is undoubtedly a
very defective instrument Why should
the A. a. u. or any other sport govern
-