The New York herald., 1922-01-29
Birth of A. Il. u. Told BY
One of Its Organizers

phia Columbia A. c.. Washington :
Chicago A. A.. New York A. c., Staten
Island A. c.. Cape May A. c., New Jer-
sey a. c., Detroit A. c., Chester City
Cricket Club, Nassau A. c.. Brooklyn !:
Olympic A. c.. New York: Scottish
American A. c., New York; Pastime
A. c.. New York: Warren "A. c., Will
mington, and Stevens Institute A. c.,
Hoboken, N. j.
Chairman Pop" Pomcroy reported a
constitution and bylaws that was
adopted with the following definition
| of an amateur:
"An amateur is one who has not en-
| tered in an open competition, or for
either stake, public or admission
money or entrance fee; or under a fic-
titious name or has not competed with,
| or against a professional for any prize,
or where admission fee is charged; or
who has not instructed. pursued or as
sisted in the pursuit of athletic exercise
as means of livelihood. or for gain or
any emolument; or whose membership
of any athletic club of any kind was not
brought about, or does not continue, be-
cause Of any mutual understanding. en-
pressed or implied, whereby his becom-
ing or continuing member of such club
would be Of any pecuniary benefit to
him whatever direct or indirect. and
who shall in other and all respects cor
form to the rules and regulations of his
organization"
This meeting lasted so long that the
following twelve were selected as a tenn
porary board of governors until a SUBJ
sequent meeting could be held:
Harry Mcmillan of Philadelphia. Frank
Eddy of Detroit, Senator John Z. Ray
born Of Cape May. Walter o. Eschwege.
Otto Ruhl and James L. Sullivan of
New York, Howard Perry of Washing
ton. Frank G.. Ianssen of Staten Island.
G. G.. Marshall of Bergen Point, r.
Uhlenhaut of Stevens Institute. Daniel
G.. French Of Chicago and G. Il. c.
Thornton. Jr., of Chester City, Pa.
Athletic Boom widespread.
From that time a boom for athletics
seemed to spring UP that extended all
over the country. New clubs were or
ganized and applied for enrolment as
members in the newly formed body and
athletics started throughout the country.
In about month after the first meeting
another meeting was held in New York.
when the following newly elected clubs
were enrolled as members: Garden City
A. c.. Chicago Pastime A. c., st. Louis
Boston A. A., Boston: American A. c..
New York: Pullman A. c.. Pullman;
Wanderers Cricket Club. Chicago; High
land A. c.. Philadelphia Flushing A. c..
Long Island; Fencing and Sparring
Club, Philadelphia, and North American
Gymnastic Union.
IL was at this meeting that the first
board OF governors and officers of the
union were elected and duly qualified rs
follows President. Harry Mcmillan,
A. c. of Schuylkill Navy, Philadelphia
vice-president. Frank w. Eddy. Detroit
A. c.. secretary. Otto Ruhl. New York
A. c.: treasurer, Howard Peddy. Colum-
bia A. c.. Washington, ID. c.; gov
ernors Fred w. Jansen. Staten Island
A. c.. Edward Millilsen. A. c. of Schuyl-
kill Navy George y. Morrison, Boston
A. A.; James E. Sullivan, Pastime a. c..
New York; A. u. Hartwell, Pastimo A.
c.. st. Louis. No.. William II. Kurtz,
Warren A. c., Wilmington. Del. Fred Ge-
row, American 4 e.. New York: william
HaIpin. Olympic A. c.. New York Dan
iel Trench, Chicago A. A.. Senator John
IL. Reyburn, Cape May A. c.: Walter q.
Eschwege. Nassau A. c., Brooklyn, and
julius Harder, North American Gymnas-
tic Union.
These newly elected governors started
work Immediately and publicity cam
paign throughout the country doomed
athletic sports through the land. Large
club houses were built in many cities
and athletic contests were the rage
everywhere.
The new union announced its first
championship meet In tho form OF the
boxing, wrestling and fencing champion
ships. Trial contests were held at the
New York Athletic Club and the finals
took place at the Metropolitan Opera
House, at Broadway and Thirty-ninth
street on April 6, 1888. The trials drew
q long list of competitors and tho finals
packed the opera house to the roof
This initial meeting ncttcd tho unions
treasury some $4,000 and tho crownlng
success of its nrst venture opened like
widnrc over tho country.
This successful meeting was followed
By the gymnastic championship on