Evening star., 1944-12-27
Sports Bnes Cackdon Threatens Setback to CoeQe Athletics
Competition in 1945
Is Seen as Confined
To Teen.Aqe Lads

~ ICCIl-Ayc Lou
War Mobilization Director James
|Byrnes' breakdown on 4-F athletes
today threatened to put college
sports back in short pants for the
duration, with teen-age youngsters
carrying the ball exclusively for
most schools next year.
Byrnes' Office yesterday confirmed
that the recent recommendation
that professional athletes be
screened again by draft boards for
possible induction also will apply
to college sports stars. Collegians
had not been mentioned in Byrnes
letter to Selective Service Director
Hershey, but the Associated Press
reported that White House spokes-
man explained 1T applies to every
body"
Almost every college in the Nation
will be affected by the order, par
ticularly those struggling along
without Navy training schools,
which permit trainees to participate
in intercollegiate sports. Football
in particular is vulnerable. Teams
playing in bowl games New Year
Day are spearheaded by athletes
who have been rejected for service
and in many instances. it was poined
out, a 4-F plays alongside serv-
iceman.
Since most 4-Fs on college teams
are older players, their induction
would leave youngsters, mostly Is
to l8, to carry on next autumn.
While number of schools operated
on that basis last season, the
Byrnes order poses problem for
conferences, such as the Southern,
which already had put machinery
in motion to restore prewar eligibil-
ity rules. Discharged veterans per-
forming on college teams also are
in for recheck.
Bowl Games UnmOIested.
But college sports escaped one
blast of Byrnes' double -barreled &C
ton in which he cracked down on
all horse and dog racing. In order
ing race tracks closed, Byrnes
pointed out that urgently needed
transportation facilities were being
used at the tracks, but his Office
yesterday said there is no intention
at this time of extending a similar
restriction to big college football
games. This apparently leaves the
bowl games free to be played with
out further Government limitations
this season and paves the, way for
continuation of football next season.
Byrnes' order, meanwhile, drew
fire from two different sources. Col.
Arthur V. McDermott, New York
City selective service director, de-
clared that Army physicians at the
induction center and not selective
service officials disqualified many
athletes.
When We call them (athletes),"
he was quoted by the AP, the Army
either turns them down or lets them
out for reasons they consider good"
Common disabilities suffered by
Al athletes include trick knees.
stomach ailments, perforated ear
drums and bad shoulders.
Joel Mencher, president of the
Association of New York State
Young Republican Clubs, Inc. called
Byrnes' order absolute discrimina-
tion," according to the AP.
In a message to Byrnes Mencher
said the order intimated that ath-
lofo o1occ hoI - L.
military service or used influence to
excuse themselves from further
service. Athletes courage and de-
votion, as class, were attested by
countless medals and citations, he
declared, adding that ito SO charac-
terize, even by innuendo, segment
OF our people merely because they
are in the public eye is absolute dis
elimination"
Would Induct All 4-Fs.
/ Mencher urged that all 4-Fs
whether they be athletes, business
men, merchants. known or un-
known" be inducted If services of
this class were needed by the armed
forces.
Racing, meanwhile, marked time
awaiting further developments in its
field, but horsemen found little en-
couragement in the news. Canadian
officials were reported by the Asso-
ciated Press to be studying this
country's action, while Cuban sports
circles apparently had given up hope
of falling heir to any of Florida's
racing glamor
Canadian officials gave no hint as
to whether the United States lead
would be followed, but many track
operatives indicated they were ready
and willing to suspend operations
should the Dominion request it.
Canadian betting supervision is
vested in the Minister of Agriculture,
and Dominion officials may halt bet
ting at any track, but the actual
racing is governed by associations In
the provinces. Both provincial and
Dominion authorities are interested
in taxation revenue from the tracks.
Should racing be permitted while
the ban is on south of the border,
Canadian tracks probably would be
flooded with better horses from
United States tracks, giving Canada
one of its outstanding seasons. It
was noted that the tracks, unlike
most American strips, are located
within city limits and are accessible
by streetcar or on foot.
Florida to Lose S4,0OO,000.
Cuba, which already has expert
enced series of food crises because
OF a shortage of shipping space for
importing flour, rice, eggs and other
commodities, was expected to i'm
pose ban on the shipment of horses
from the United States if horsemen
attempted to transfer their activities
en- maSSe to the island. The United