Evening star., 1948-12-05
AAU Declares Peace
with Hockey Body;
0kays Records
BY the Asseeiatsd Press

NEW YORK, Dec. 4.-The Goth
national convention of the Amateur
Athletic Union moved toward a har-
monious climas today when the
AAU agreed to an armistice with
the Amateur Hockey Association
over the bitter dispute that almost
wrecked the last winter O1ympics.
The spirit of peace, achieved in
the hockey squabble behind the
locked doors Of a smoky hotel room,
spread to the convention floor,
where the delegates approved all of
the sites for l949 championships
including the controversial basket
ball tournament slated again at
Denver-without O single fuss.
In other highlights of the con-
vention's third day the delegates:
l. Approved seven American out
door track and field records, four
of which bettered existing world
standards, in addition to swimming
marks and those in various minor
sports recommended by committees.
2. Listened to Chairman Eddie
Eagan of the New York State Ath-
letic Commission cali for athletic
competition between this country
and Russia as a means of promoting
international understanding.
3. Heard the annual report of
Mayor James A. Rhodes of Colum-
bus. Ohio. AAU president, which had
as its keynote the expansion of the
organizations part in international
competition.
Hockey Peace Big Surprise.
Thus when the delegates sat down
to their annual banquet tonight,
only the election of officers and a
few odds and ends remained for the
concluding session tomorrow. The
reelection of Rhodes and all other
officers was assured when the NOM
mating committee named them to
go unopposed into tomorrow's bal
loting.
But all Of today's convention busi-
ness was overshadowed by the sur
prise announcement of a compro-
mise in the hockey situation.
Under the agreement, q joint COM
mittee will draw up a new consti-
tuition acceptable to both sides which
will serve as the governing instru-
ment for amateur hockey in this
country, beginning next season.
The AHA will drop its name and
both sides will relinquish what con-
troll they have exercised over the
sport in the past, thus pooling their
interests in working toward a COM
mon goal.
Among the American track and
field records approved were So feet.
ss-lnch by Charles Fonville of
Michigan in the shot put at the
Kansas Relays last April II; 1876
seconds for the 120-yard high hurd-
les by Harrison billiard of Baldwin
Wallace at the same meet; 459 sec
onds for 400 meters by Jamaican
Herb McKenley at the National
last July 2, and McKenley's 46 Sec
onds for 440 yards at Berkeley,
Calf, last June s.
Patton's Performance Questioned.
All four bettered existing world
records. In fact, McKenley's 45.9
second performance already has
been accepted as a world mark.
The records committee failed to
recommend approval of the 9.3 sec
onds for 100 yards by Mel Patton
of Southern California at Fresno,
Calf, last May Is. on the ground
it needed more information. Pat
ton already is recognized as CO.
holder of the present American and
world record of 9.4 seconds.
Other outdoor records approved
were 1O.2 seconds for 100 meters by
Lloyd La Beach of Oakland, Calf,
at Fresno, last May IS, and 223
seconds for the 220 yard low hurdles
by billiard at Salt Lake City, Utah,
June 81, 1947-both of which tie
existing world marks-and 2:28.8 for
1000 meters by Tarver Perkins Of
the Illinois A. c. at Buffalo, N. Y,
last August IL.
Among several indoor records ap-
proved was the 4:053 for the mile
run turned in by Gil Dodds of the
Boston A. A. at Madison Square
Garden, January 81, 1948.