Evening star., 1935-08-26
BY ALAN GOULD,
Associated Press Sports Editor.

were the last of the world s
ranking athletic nations to
accept invitations to compete in the
1886 Olympic games in Berlin.
Both did so last year only after
considerable debate and agitation
arising from anti-Jewish activities
initiated by the Nazi government and
calculated to prejudice the chances of
German Jews seeking places on vari-
GUS Olympic teams.
Before this country formally re-
sponded to the invitation the presi-
dent of the American Olympic Com
mittee, Avery Brundage of Chicago,
made a personal investigation of con-
ditions in Germany. He extracted
promises from the Nazi sports leaders
Cd that all Olympic pledges would be
Solemnly kept; (2) that visiting Jew
ish athletes would be treated on equal
terms with all others, and 80 that no
discrimination would be shown against
Jews seeking positions on German
sports teams. Brundage returned, sat-
isfied, and the A. o. c. acted accord
ingly.
A. A. U. Head Opposes Entry.
TT WAS around the third of these
points that American agitation
against competing in the 1886 games
first was aroused. Not only does the
issue remain very much alive, in spite
of Germany's promises, but lately the
anti-Nazi attitude has spread rapidly
among Catholics throughout the
United States.
Editorial attacks have been launched
as a result of the Berlin governments
measures against So-called Political
Catholicism" Discrimination against
the German Catholic youth and ath-
letic organizations has been charged.
Prominent among the Catholics taking
a stand in this country is jeremiah T.
Mahoney of New York, president of
the Amateur Athletic Union, who has
sending American teams to the Olym-
pic under existing conditions.
Issue Likely to Be Revived.
THUS the lines have been drawn for
a sharp conflict within the official
family controlling American athletics.
Two years ago the A. A. U. adopted
resolutions condemning Gerlnany's
anti-racial activities. serving notice
that our athletes would not be ''certi-
fled" for the Olmpics unless the posi-
tion of the German Olympic Commit
tee of the Organizing Committee Of
Berlin and the German government Is
so changed in fact as well as in theory
as to both permit and encourage Ger
man athletes Of Jewish faith or heri-
tage 70 train, prepare for and partici-
pate in the Olympic games Of 1885,"
This resolution is still on record. If
there is to be any change or show
down, it must take place this Winter
when the annual A. A. U. convention
Is held in New York. Based on the
current evidence and outspoken oppo-
sition by Mahoney, as well as other
leaders. the issue likely is to be re-
vived. Only by the use of the big
STICK" more or less, were anti-Nazi
elements in the A. A. U. prevented
from forcing the issue to the floor Of
last years meeting. Developments
since then have not soothed their
feelings.
Must BLOW Over" or "BlOw Up"
JUST how far this revolt against
u Brundage's leadership will go de-
pends upon two things, namely: Cd
Germanys internal course during the
next few months with respect to Jews
and Catholics and (2) separation, in
this country, of facts from agitation.
Admittedly the anti-German forces
have gained strength, with protests
coming from Catholic and Protestant
sources as well as Jewish.
Specific individual instances of dis
elimination against Jewish and Cath
olic athletes in Germany have sharp
ened the feelings of the opposition
forces. Meanwhile Brundage holds
there is no official proof that Germany
has violated the pledges given to him
on the International Olympic Com
mittee.
So many conflicting views are in
volved that it would be impossible to
forecast what the A. A. U. will do or
how. AS the most powerful sports
governing body in this country, it
will influence the A. o. C. Things
may, as Brundage and others hope,
"blow over" rather than "blow up"
For the time being little or no effort
can be made to raise the 100000
America will need to send full athletic
representation to Germany At best
1t seems unlikely the United States
can hope to dispatch anything like
the boatload that went to Paris in
1924 and Amsterdam in 1928.
(The next story in this series will
present pertinent international
viewpoints on the 1896 Olympics.)