The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-23
This Sporting World
Spencer vs. Red Cross
By JOHN A. CLUNEY

Though he is officially listed as the executive secretary of the Con necticut 1nterscholastic Athletic Conference, Walter B, Spencer principal of Commercial High school of New Haven is THE conference lock, stock and barrel, Whats more It pleases his vanity no end to be so recognized, So in view of that fact, HE Is the one person who can be primarily charged with stopping the Hartford chapter of the American Red Cross from putting on q high school track and field meet at the Hartford Armory, March 3i. The meet might have made $l0000 or so for the Red Cross as there was no rent to pay,
 This weeks issue of the WATCO News, an interesting periodical put out at Waterbury Tool by Professor Charley Mccarthy and his aides, contains photograph of postcard signed by Lloyd Blake, former Wat co employe, now in German prison camp.
 On the basis Of what the card contains, should like to drop a sort of an OPEN NOTE to the ex- ecutive secretary of the CIAC as follows
 Dear Mir Spencer:
 In all probability, the name Lloyd Blake means nothing at all to you in the matter of recognition. For your information, he is a young man, a former employe of Waterbury Tool, later first engineer on a Flying Fortress downed over Germany many months ago,
 His father works hard at his job in Waterbury Tool today, hoping for the best, for you sec, he has THREE sons in the armed services, all three OVERSEAS. As I say. MT. Spencer, Lloyd Blake is a German prisoner of War, Albert Blake is a U. s. Marine in the South Pacific; and Freddie Blake is somewhere AT SEA"
 Please read what Lloyd's postcard to his mother, written last Scptem- Der, has to tell. It won't take you long; for the card has but FOUR LINES. It says: Dear Nom: l got issued this card today (September 23, 1943) so I am using 1t to let you know am O. K. We receive a RED CROSS PARCEL EVERY WEEK to LIVE ON-So WE are 200 per cent for them. Give my love to all the kids, grandma and dad. With all my love-Lloyd,' (The capital letters are mine, MT. Spencer)
 That's all MT. Spencer, just that much What I want you to read is what Lloyd Blake says about the American Red Cross; the same American Red Cross you and your tight little group of principals UNANIMOUSLY voted denial to stage a track and field meet at Hartford; a meet which would raise money to buy more parcels for American boys in German and Jap prison camps, so that they MIGHT LIVE. if they are lucky enough to get some food in them. Notice, MT. Spencer, he says i've are 200 per cent for the Red Cross. By your action. you and your CIAC princi- pals are .0O00000000 per cent for the American Red Cross.
 Tn closing, MT. Spencer, let me add: Perhaps you are a father; l don't know. If you are, but for the Grace of God, 1t COULD BE YOUR BOY, rather than Lloyd Blake of Waterbury who is in that German prison camp NOW.
 P. S.-You have my permission to send this note to Pres. Harold Swaf- field at Fairfield and Dr. Alonzo Grace at Hartford; for they are the gentlemen who so strongly back you up in your denial of permission to the Hartford Red Cross chapter to stage track and field meet of high school boys in the state armory.
 As for the remainder of the CIAC; they are thoroughly U NM P O R. TANT. as far as high school ath- letics in this state are concerned. Your word is law-they know 1t. and you know 1t and the coaches know it, but have a living to make, much as they would like to deflate you like an old rubber tire.
 Most Sincerely,
 John A. Cluney