The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-14

Illdilo SdlllS 1lOIil QlIlSiGli CO1
Here was an issue for the Il
teur Athletic Union. Delegates
filed back from the lobby,
summoned by a well-function-
ing corridor wireless system. Empty
rows filed UP rapidly. President
Brundage raped his gavel for Or
der.
This was the third day Of the 1882
convention OF the Amateur Athletic
Union of the United States, claiming
Jurisdiction over amateur track, box
ing, wrestling, swimming, cross-coun-
try, rowing, canoeing, skiing, weight
lifting and any other sport in which
sanction fee can be col,ected. No
bitches had developed and ''Bolshe-
visln" was used only once and that
to squelch some recalcitrant western
district which wanted more territory
allotted. Dan Ferris, Frederick Ruben
and Charley Ornsstein - the latter
manager of the hotel in which the
convention was taking place-were,
together with some of the other
members OF the Metropolitan Asso-
citation of the A.A.U. and Brundage,
what is picaresquely referred to as
"de woiks." The show was run some
times smoothly, sometimes crudely,
but always by these lads.
Sheriff Haddock Of Pittsburgh rose
to disagree with Kirby. Judge Fla
herty of New Jersey and his honor
able colleague, Judge Hoyt of Con-
necticut, also recorded their views.
The debate waxed hotter and we
leafed the pages Of the printed me-
morandum of the executives. Presi-
dent Brundage's report leaped to our
eyes:
"The future Of the A.A.U. lies in
promoting athletics in the play
grounds and in industry. The boys
in the high school and colleges are
well taken care Of. but the i'm
portant job is among those who do
not have the benefit Of scholastic
and intercollegiate facilities"
Gustayus j. Kirby does his part,
bUO. we Icttu 1lOlll JAlIo 11AObllCi AL
by's report:
"Now more than ever must we
Of the A.A.U. see TO il. that ex-
periencad aid leaders are found to
keep the minds Of the unemployed
from their troubles and destruc-
tive activities"
The gavel comes down. The dis
cussion is over and the metric sys-
tenn is officially adopted. The day is
saved for god, country and sanction
fees. / scramble out with the finan-
cial report in my hand. The swaying
subway's monotony Is relieved by the
cheering information that Dan Ferris,
Secretary Treasurer of the AA.U., re-
ceives $1,000 a year.
I don't know whether you'll call it
symbolism or not, but ] think it's ex-
tremely appropriate that Theodore
Maxi, an unemployed union carpen-
ter and President of the Labor Sports
Union, will open the convention Of
the organization that opposes that
led by Avery Brundage, the wealthy
Chicago building contractor. Theo-
dore was running over the hills Of
Finland after work, while Brundage
was tossing hammer i'm a college
stadium. Maxi worked long and de-
votedly to build a workers sports
movement in his own Suomi, trans
ferring his devotion to the infant
American labor sports organization
upon his emigration here. And--it
must be stated in accents bold--MaIxi
kept the faith when sports weren't
considered respectable among Amer
lean radicals.
Scotty will be there, too, when Maxi
brings the gavel down for the opening
Of the Sixth National Labor Sports
Union Convention at the Harlem La
Dor Temple on Saturday, December
%. That Is, Scotty will be there, If
he can get the three days off. The
Cleveland Transit Company doesn't
give motorman week off so easily
Dick Heikkinen and his delegation
from the Upper Michigan farms and
the iron range will also be there If
their lizzie can pillow through the four
| feet of snow blocking most of the Up
per Peninsula highways at this time
Of the year. So will some Of the lads
from Detroit, Harry Cruden. for in
stance, who will modestly admit that
| he carries deep scar of bullet
wound received in the great Ford
massacre. Harry, being Scotch, is
| naturally enough. treasurer of the