Evening star., 1923-05-06

When the A. A. L. cabled that par
ticipation by the American sprinter
would bring his disqualification from
future events. the French athletic
federation, the A. A. US sister or
ganization In France. notified the
authorities of the Paris University
Club that the meet would not be
sanctioned if Paddock was to run. IL
did not state. however, what action
would be taken with regard to the
French athletes who participated, but
inferentially threatened their dis
qualification.
What Action Would Mean.
Such action, if carried out. would
mean the elimination from the Olym-
pic games of more than hundred
French athletes, among them the ma
tion'S best amateurs If the threat
OF the A. A. L. is executed it prob
ably would mean the elimination Of
number of American athletes who
are competing abroad this year in
contraventlon of its recommendation
that all Americans remain at home
thlS year and prepare intenSlvely for
the Olympic competition.
Since the expenses of Paddock, who
has been the main drawing card for
the present meet, are being paid by
the Paris University Club, he placed
himself entirely in the clubs hands.
saying that so far as he is concerned
authorization from the National Col
leglate Association and his own col
lege is sufficient.
The Paris University Club took
the stand that the international fed
Grafton OF students is an autonomous
organization similar to the interna-
tional amateur athletic federation
and that neither organization is
amenable TO the rules of the other.
The university authorities believe
their position is much strengthened
: by the fact that Count Clary. presi-
uent of the French Olympic commit
tee and an official of the French
athletic federation, Joined in request
ing Mr.. Herrick to cable the A A. L.
suggesting reconsideration of its
Meanwhile the dispute is being
prominently discussed in the Paris
newspapers. and this, together with
PaddockS prowesS as a sprinter, is
attracting much larger crowds to
the meet than would otherwise be
the case. since it is being held in
a new stadium in an unfamiliar part
of the city. A large attendance is
expected for the finals tomorrow
A. 4. L. Official Unperturbed.
NEW YORK. May 5.-Frederick w
| Ruben. secretary of the American
Amateur Athletic Union today charac-
I -
tion advanced in a caplegram from
i American Ambassador Herrick. in
Paris, that the disqualification of
Charles Paddock, American sprinter,
! might cause dissension among men,
hers of the international Olympic
committee and might impair the au-
thority of athletic bodies
have no fear on that score" he
said. commenting on the suggestion
: that Paddock's disqualification be re-
ri In ai.NlN
: |. by the Ambassador acting on the
/ request of the French athletic au-
! thorities- Nor have ] any fear that
! America will be poorly represented
in the sprints at the Olympic games.
Paddock won the 10O-yard dash in
1920 by two or three inches from two
American contestants; he was beaten
! IN the 200-meter race by a foot by an
! other American
| Paddock's case is the case of a
spoiled child. He was going to France
! for business purposes, to gather ma
| terIal for lectures in this country. Tie
! refused to pay any attention to the
authorities of his university or to the
warning of the A. A. L. The French
athletic federation, acting in accord
ance with the long-standing rules of
the international federation, backed
up our disqualification.
The International Students Meet
In Paris is not a college meet. 1t Id
something brand new, which we have
, had little time to investigate. 1t is
being run by some new students or
| ganization, which has adopted for
its meeting the title of International
Students Meet
There is little more to be said
| about the Paddock case. What action
can We take now? However l leave
an official statement up to President
Prout OF our organization"