New Britain herald., 1925-04-24
NURMI ACCUSED,
 MAKES DENIALS Charged With Demanding Too
 Large Fees

charges and counter charges has been unloosed on the heel of declar- ations by officials of Drake univer- sity and the University of Chicago that exorbitant demands were made for the track appearances of Paavo Nurmi, Finnish running marvel, and his fellow countryman, Willie Ritola.
 It all started when Kenneth l.. Wilson, director of athletics at Drake. asserted he had refused to pay $500 expense money for Ritola to appear in races in connection with the Drake relay carnival at Des Moines tomorrow. Wilson said 1t had been hinted Nurmi's appear ance could be arranged for a fg- urs equal to transportation from New York to Des Moines and thence to Finland. The declaration was fol- lowed by a statement from officials of the University of Chicago that $1,oo0 had been requested as ex- penses for the Finnish runners to appear at the national track and field meet at Chicago in June.
 Publication of Wilson's charges immediately brought denial from Hugo Quist, Nurmfs manager, who declared in Los Angeles that he had met Wilson only once and that the expenses of the runners positively were not discussed" Wilson coun- tered by reiterating his charges that Quist had demanded an "exorbitant sum for the appearance of his run ner," and also asserted that he had discussed the matter of expenses for the track men with Quist on three different occasions
 Wilson said that Quist had "defn- itely set $500 as the amount of ex- pense money necessary for the ap- pearance of Ritola." Regarding negotiations for the appearance of Nurmi, Wilson said that while it had been definitely decided that Nurmi could not appear because of conflicting dates, Quist, during an interview in Chicago, January Is, hinted that Nurmi's appearance could be arranged on the extended transportation basis.
 Quist said that the financial end of Nurmi's track appearance had been handled through the New York office of the amateur athletic union and that any complaints should be taken up with that organization. Frederick w. Rubien. chairman of the national registration committee of the A. A. IT., took cognizance of the affair by declaring at New York that if affidavits were filed with him supporting claims that Nurmi and Ritola had made exorbitant expense demands he would see that an in yestigation was conducted at once.
 Declaring that he had never found a cleaner. or finer amateur than Nurmi, Rubien said he had planned Nurmi's trip through the west and that the Finnish runners schedule would not enable them to compete at either Des Moines or Chicago.
 Mir. Rubien said he would like to know who advised the western off cials concerning the expenses of Nurmi and Ritola. q have person. ally arranged for Nurmis appear ances." he said. If they have been negotiating with other persons Nur- mi cannot be held responsible. He declared that Nurmi had fulfilled the rules of the A. A. [. as closely as any amateur who ever visited America"
 Officials of ths Central A. A. '. declined to be quoted on the ques- ton of expense money received by Nurni and Ritola, but insisted that they still were in amateur standing. Nurmi has participated In 6 score of indoor races since he came to this country this winter. The Films are now on the Pacific coast.