The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-07-23
0QERTI]RES
MADE BY
A.A.lI.
By Kirk Miller

By Kirk Miller
AZ last the South Atlantic Branch
0e the Amateur Athletic Unions has
taken a tumble to itself!
Following an Intensive expose OF
nearly two weeks conducted single
handedly. BY The ashington Times
h which the relationship or lack o.
It between Washington athletic
Athletic Union branch with head
quarters In Baltimore. the A. a.
u. has invited all Washington bodies
% confer with its officials In Ba1tf-
more next September.
Letters asking for get.together
tession month after next have been
forwarded TO GEORGETOWN Uni
Versffy. Catholic University Gallau-
aet COLLEGE. the Capital Athletic
Club. the United States Marine
Corps and the Army War College.
Each local or nearby organization
S invited to become 9 member Of
The A. A. u.
In flle event these bodies feel
that they are not willing to do
this without determining the
sincerity Of the A. a. o.. they
have been invited to send repre-
SentaafVes 10 The annual cUllyell.
ton Of the South Atlantic Branch
Of the Amateur Athletic Union
with full privileges except as to
vote so that they may judge for
themselves the scope and pur.
poses Of the A. a, u.
The request from the A. "A. U.
tor closer cooperation, Is the first
courtesy of any nature shown
Washington track and field aEpi-
6ants IN more than 10 years. For
hearty two weeks The Washington
Times has been inviting the attefs
ion OF the public to the indiScret.
Unfair and unsportsmanlike attitude
" the South Atlantic officials to-
ward local activities which should
ave come under their scope, hut
which have been consistently ig-
iored or sighted In such 4 inannsr
hat all the fighting heart has long
since gone from District Of Column.
lia track and field athletes so far
- a. A. U. composition has been
concerned.
This newspaper. first to air pub
fcly the situation and to aim criti-
,isfn at those responsible, is equally
siad to direct praise at the same
officials or their successors for
making overtIres to correct the
lon1estic Al. a. u. incordiality. This
newspaper viii Furthermore be
happy to chronicle all developments
this direction and to acclaim as
loudly the fact that amends are on
the way as 1T has to emphasize a
tircIes.
The ugly, objectionable discrim.
nation focused on Washington
track and field athletes is an old,
old story to those Immediately In
, feresfed. but until The Washing
ton Times brought out many of
the facts. the public generally
could not understand the lack Of
Interest In those sports here.
The expose locally was precipitat.
ed by q national disgrace centering
tround Charlie Hoff, the Norwegian
bole Vau'ter. who has been 1,set
.foWn ard stranded in California
icy the Southern Pacific branch be-
tause Charlie earns some money
fancing and yaudevilling.
"A similar narrow-minded policy
has been heaped over the head Of
Charlie Paddock and the world well
knows Of the handicaps placed over
Paavo Nurmi. the Flying Finn.
when he was forced to return to
Bis. country because the bars were
made very difficult for him iQ
America by the A. A. u.
Paddock. renowned sprinter and
record holder. termed the fastest
human" has caused quite com=
motion in the A. A. IT,. due to the
fact that he has signed a contract
To appear In the movies.
. OF course there are two sides
90 the question. The "A. A. u.
feels that no amateur should cap.
ftaIfZe on his achievements.
Their contention Is that II Pad
dock was not the great runner
he Is and II Hoff was not the
leading pole vaulter, the movie
picture folk and the vaudeville
. people would not have sought
their services.
The probIem that is to be con-
. sidered is whether the A. A. U. is
not exceeding its authority. Why
Paddock and Hoff should not he
allowed to earn a living, in view
of the fact that they receive no
remuneration from their efforts as
athletes, Is something that requires
explanation
It's hard to conceive how the
august amateur body can classify
their going into the movies and be-
fore the footlights as anything
other than work, the same as other
lines Of endeavor.
Had both performed under psuedo
names in professional races and
their duplicity had been discovered,
the 4. A. u. would be well within
it's rights to expel them, But un-
der the circumstances they'll have
q hard time proving their cases.
EASTERN LEAGUE p
NJ