Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 294, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1913 — AMATEURS NOT, TO COMPETE [ARTICLE]

AMATEURS NOT, TO COMPETE

Secretary Sullivan Refuses to Consider Proposition Made by President Gustavus T. Kirby. Secretary Jaihes E. Sullivan of the Amateur Athletic union and other officials of that organization, including Supreme Court Justice Bartow S. Weeks and Frederick W. Rubien of the Metropolitan association, refuse to consider seriously the proposition made by their president, Gustavus T. Kirby, that amateurs be allowed to compete against professionals in track and field sports. Pointing to the fact that the ancient Olympic games were killed by professionalism and that modern professional field and track sports had lost prestige through betting and kindred evils, Sullivan said flatly that he would never give his consent to the plan. He further stated that he would sever connections with the A. A. U if the scheme should be attempted.