Evening star., 1932-04-26
On the
SiideLines;
Il With the SPORTS Editor.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

comes an actuality, this should
be the year.
The difficulties involved are
numerous, but not inSurmount-
able, and if all those interested
display the same commendable
spirit shown on the floor of the
House last Saturday by the Re-
publican Representative Fred
A. Britten of Illinois and his
Democratic colleague from Ala
bama, William B. Bankhead,
what generally is recognized as
the greatest of all sports spec
tacles could be assured for the
Capital.
1t has been regarded for
some time as virtually certain
the breach in athletics be-
tween Uncle Sans two service
schools. existing since the game
in 1927. although they have
met on the gridiron in charity
affairs for the past two years,
will be formally bridged before
another foot ball season ar
riveS.
1t is more than coincidence
that both academies, in max
ing their schedules for next
Fall, have kept open the De-
cember 8 date. and, with no
commitments made as to where
the game shall be played, the
door is wide open for consid-
Grafton of WaShington's bid.
No Question of Rights"
TT is not contended this city
has any rights" to the
gridiron classic, although
as the seat of the Federal Gov
ernment it belongs to the Ma
ton, as do the Army and the
Navy, but it has a strong SEN
timental claim to the event,
do w 40
the focal point of the Nation
wide celebration in honor of
the 200th anniversary of the
birth of George Washington,
who literally was the progeni-
tor of both branches of the
service, as well as Father of His
Country.
If the total receipts obtain
able were the sole conSidera-
ton in selecting a site for the
Army-Navy game Washington
obviously would be in a fatally
Instantaneous position, for it
hasn't the facilities for seat
ing huge throngS available in
larger centerS.
And in a contest with cities
where the game is sought as
a commercial plum, with ap-s
peased constituencies the re-
ward, the Capital also could
not hope successfully to COM
pete, for its voteleSs state
makes it a political nonentity.
But no other community can
approach the appropriateness
of the Capital as the locale for
this gem of athletic events as
the means to furthering what
undoubtedly is the greatest
peace-time demonstration of
patriotism in American history.
A Threefold Purpose.
DECAUSE of economic con-
ID ditions the George Wash
ington Bicentennial cele-
bration, as a whole, may fall
short Of the original hopes of
the Nation, its sponsor, but
there is no questioning the
sports mindedneSs of the many
thousands to whom Washing
ton this year will be a mecca,
and their pilgrimageS will be
timed for the national attrac-
tionS contemplated.
To carry out it's program the
District Bicentennial Commits
sion must have more funds
than are available, and the
Army-Navy game would pro-
vide the solution of a problem
that thus far has defied much
earnest effort.
According to the plan out
lined the receipts from the grid
classic would be divided three
ways, a portion to each of the
services needy athletic treas
uries and one to the local or
ganization charged with pro-
viding events designed to in
terest and entertain visitors
here.
Griffith Stadium cannot ac-
commodate all who would care
to attend the Army-Navy game,
but enlarged to its limit would
seat a crowd in keeping with
the Importance of the affair,
and furnish the means ade-
quately to bolster depleted ex-
chequers at West Point and
Annapolis, as well as assure
the success of a patriotic prof.
ect of keen interest to every
American.