Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13
BACKS UP GRIFFITH
N FIGHT ON BODY
Declares Members Should Be
Able to Stage Meets
Without Sanction.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The National Amateur Athletic Fed
Grafton voted yesterday to support Maj.
John L.. Griffith, executive vice preSi-
dent of the federation, in his opposition
to the governing of amateur sports by
the Amateur Athletic Union.
The federation in its one-day meeting
unanimously adopted a resolution de-
claring that it recognizes the rights of
its members to control their own ac-
~tivities and maintains its right to con-
duct meets without the sanction of
other organizations"
Charging that the A. A. U. idea is
that there should be a sport-governing
body that will have supreme control
over all the different sports" Maj. Crit
fifth presented the resolution.
1.-The federation idea is one of self
government or government by member
clubs" said Maj. Griffith. 1.-The officers
of the A. A. U. are now suggesting that
our organiZation-quoting the words OF
the retiring president of the A.. A. u
should recognize the A. A. u. as the
supreme governing body in the United
States They further suggest that u
local organizations join the A. A. U. and
thus make possible the union of all
amateur athletics in America undo one
banner"
Tells Federation Plans.
Mai. Griffith pointed out that the
federation plan of government consists
of the supervision by approximately
10000 teachers and trainers in the Ii
member associations over the 100000
people who last year competed on teams
sponsored by units of the federation.
According to the present plan OF gov
eminent in the A. A. u, he said, each
vote for every 10 clubs and local
groups that are members of the dis
trict association
IF the 10 colleges which compose
The Western Conference. popularity
known as the Big Ten were members
of this organization they would have
no more voice in matters of govern
ment than clubs such as the Notre
Dame Club of Chicago. which has
never promoted any athletics, or the
West Allin Owls Club of Milwaukee.
which runs n or W boxing shows a
year."
Mai. John Matthews, representing
the United States Marines Athletic De-
partment, spoke in favor OF the reSo-
luton, saying that many times Marine
teams and athletes have wanted TO
compete with teams and athletes from
colleges and universities. but have not
been able to do SO without being dis
qualified by the A. A. u. +
Points to Olympic Cash.
Col. Henry Breckenridge, president OF
the federation, pointed out that at the
time of the Olympic games the A. A. U.
and the federation came into direct
clash.
eat this time" he said. certain for
eign athletic bodies have dealt only
with the A. A. U. in the belief that the
union represented all American attn
leticS.
"The situation can only be cleared up
when the American people recognize
that athletics must be dealt with py
those organizations that are producing
athletes"
The resolution adopted by the fed
Grafton declared that the federation
docs not aim to exercise control over
anv snort or over any members OF the
federation. It recognizes the rights OF
| its members to control their own &C
Invites, and it further maintains It's
right to conduct meets without the
sanction of any other organization. :,
Another resolution adopted proposed
| that a periodical survey of the physlcal
conditions of the population OF n
country be made by the FederaI Gov
eminent.
Generally healthy condition in all
amateur athletic groups was reported
by officers and representatives.
Col. Breckenridge, who in his report
pointed out the growth of the tedera-
ton since it organization In 1921, Salo:
with the present fine condition OF
amateur athletics in this country Ee
are apt to become too satisfied. The
play life of tie American boy Is not as
| extensive as iC should be, and we have
not developed it to the extent that 1t
has been developed in other countries
College Students Active.
DIR. Joseph E. Raycroft Of the Ma
tionaI Collegiate Athletic Association
declared that most colleges and uni
Versities report that 80 per cent or n
undergraduates are enrolled In some
sort of athletics, and many of them re-
port as much as 90 per cent"
It was decided by the federation to
start this season a basket ball tourna-
ment for the championship of the
Middle Atlantic States under auspices
of the Richmond Y. NJ. c. A. n TO
continue the Southern swimming cham
pionship meet under the immediate
auspices OF UTe I. M ~. n oAA0 NNC
national federation swimming cham
pionshipS at Chicago under auspices OF
the Cook County Federation.
A resolution was adopted to under
take . campaign of education designed
to show that lit pays to play" and h a
officers of the federation n unit MEM
bers redouble their efforts to increase
the organizations membership this year
from 7,00O,0 900 to 10000, 900.
President Coolidge was thanked for
his interest as honorary president of
the federation during the past year.
The President again was chosen as
honorary president this year, with Col.
Charles a Lindbergh, honorary vice
president.
Other officers were reelected as fol-
lows: Col. Henry F. Breckenridge, for
mer Assistant Secretary of War, presi-
dent; Gen. Palmer A. Pierce. vice presi-
dent; Maj. John l.. Griffith, executive
vice president, and Herbert L. Pratt,
froo cYtrar