Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1915 — TO RETAIN AMATEUR STATUS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TO RETAIN AMATEUR STATUS

Head of Amateur Athletic Union Dio* approves of Competition With Professionals. Alfred J. LIII, Jt., president of the Amateur Athletic union, Is positive in his declarations that the union will not want competitions between amateurs and professionals. He said that while he was at the head of the organisation he would do all in his power to prevent permission being granted for such races. “I have the greatest respect for th® professional.” said Mr. 1,111, “but ho should remain In his own class. The trouble arises when a professional masquerades as an amateur and tries to compete as such. I know that professionals and amateurs meet in golf, cricket and even horse riding contests, but the practice cannot be carried out in track and field events under the A. A. IT. sanction. “I am decidedly opposed to this, and I hope the day will arrive when It shall pass away” The president said he believed international contests did tremendous good for the sport, and he hoped that many such events would be arranged. In speaking about the growth of athletics in this country and the good derived therefrom, Mr. Lili said: “Since I was a boy track and field athletics and every other branch of sport have Increased tenfold. Up in our home in New England sports are on the increase and certainly not on the wane. The athletics do a world of good. lam positive that American boys are much stronger and healthier now than they were 40 years ago.

when athletics were first Introduced in this country. “Many persons believe that long distance racing is injurious to boys< Perhaps in some cases it is, but do you know that every youngster who ran in our New England marathon was closely examined after the finish, and found in perfect condition, notwithstanding the strain of running more than twenty-five miles?”

Alfred J. Llll, Jr., President of Amateur Athletic Union.