The Evening World

NEVER PROFESSIONAL IN SPIRIT, SAYS THORPE

CARLISLE, Pa., Jan. 28.—When James Thorpe, the world's greatest athlete, was seen at the Carlisle Indian School to-day after the action of the Amateur Athletic Union in taking away, in accordance with the union rules, of practically all of his honors he was not inclined to give an extended statement as he said he had tried to cover everything in the formal statement to A. A. U. Secretary Sullivan. He did say, however, that he understands now that he was guilty of a technical violation of propriety, that he was glad that all of his friends around here knew that he had never been professional in spirit.

Thorpe referred to a number of remarkably good offers that had been made to him by baseball managements and said that at the time he had decided to refused to consider them, as he really preferred to continue as an amateur along the lines of track and field work, which he really enjoyed for the fun of it. He said with some feeling that he had hoped this spring possibly to make some all-around records in amateur competition that would set the pace pretty high for a long time for world's championship honors.

There was no bitterness, however, when he referred to the charges of professionalism which he said really forced him to become a professional in spirit by cutting him out of the amateur competition he enjoyed.

WILL LIKELY TURN TO BASEBALL.

He declared that he will now likely turn to baseball but said most positively that he had come to no decision as to what club he will play with. Neither has he decided how long he will stay at the Carlisle School.

Thorpe to-day received in person by wire and mail a flood of regretful expressions tinged with sympathy, good feeling from a host of admirers. Every one knows that Thorpe played at sport because he loved it. The Indian school officials without question had no idea of his slender professional associations.

Here it is felt that America and Thorpe must suffer almost unjustly which arbitrarily associates the distant and specific professional work in which he was mixed up with the fundamentally different amateur sport in which he competed.

PLAYED FOR LOVE OF THE SPORT.

While Thorpe certainly played for money, every one who knows him is convinced that he played for love of the sport. Sentiment at Dickinson College, an institution of highest standing, and in Carlisle has never looked upon the playing of summer ball as a heinous offense.

The feeling all through this section, where many colleges abound, has rather favored allowing college students to earn money thus to further their education.