Strength & Health, Page 41, April 1948
John Barrs of England was one of the nine well qualified judges at the "Mr. Universe" contest held in conjunction with the World's Weightlifting Championships at Philadelphia. For a number of years John Barrs has been a leader in the weightlifting sport in England. has served as editor of Vigour magazine, the official organ of The British Amateur Weightlifting Association. His recent released book Body-Building is the official training textbook of this association. On the 12th of February the following letter was written by John Barrs to Bob Hoffman. John Barrs provided his consent to publish this lettter.
My Dear Bob:
I have just received my copy of the February issue of Strength & Health and have read with great interest your article "The Mr. Universe Contest." I am amazed that anyone could suggest that the "Mr. Universe" contest was not conducted in a thoroughly fair and unbiased manner or that you personally - or anyone else - attempted to influence the judges in their selection.
For 20 years I have been actively concerned with the sport of weight-lifting and with barbell exercise and have been an official of the British Amateur Weight-Lifters' Association since 1933. I had the pleasure of first meeting you at the Olympic Games in Berlin, then again in Paris in 1946 and in Philadelphia last September. From time to time remarks have been passed to me by various people indicating that Bob Hoffman was various kinds of villain who was interested in the "Iron Game" mainly for financial reasons. In Berlin and in Paris I found nothing to support these allegations and when I visited America six months ago I discovered that they were completely unfounded. From the many American lifters (who know you) who talked to me in Philadelphia and in New York I heard no word of criticism of you - only unstinting praise of your enthusiastic efforts and of your self-sacrificing generosity; it was even said that you are sometimes too generous. My own feelings toward you and those of my friend and Co-Editor of Vigour Magazine, Henry J. Atkin, were expressed at the banquet when I presented you with the specially engraved Vigour plaque in recognition of your endeavors on behalf of weight-lifters the world over.
I was quite satisfied with the arrangements for the judging of the 1947 "Mr. Universe" contest and appreciated that the time factor imposed by the Pennsylvania "Blue Laws" prevented the point system of voting being used. I was quite satisfied with the panel of judges that was appointed and have no doubts about their integrity.
You are quite correct in stating that I voted for Farbotnik and that Robert Cayeux voted for René Leger. Bruno Nyberg of Finland, who was seated on my other side, showed me his voting paper which had the name Steve Stanko written upon it. Personally, although I did not vote for Stanko, I have no quarrel with the decisions of the majority of the judges because I consider that they expressed their honest opinions. Each of the first five physical specimens - Stanko, Farbotnik, Pedersen, Eiferman and Leger - who reached the "final", was so excellent that the lack of unanimity in the judging was not surprising.
I should like to conclude by congratulating you upon the success of the "Mr. Universe" contest and of the 1947 World's Championships. You and your colleagues did a marvelous job of work and I am sure that everyone appreciated your efforts. All the American lifters that I met showed the greatest kindness and hospitality and I shall never forget my brief but happy stay in the United States as manager and coach for my friend George Espeut, the British competitor in the lightweight class.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely,
John Barrs,
British Team Coach,
Hon. Physical Training
Adviser to the B.A.W.L.A.
Co-Editor of Vigour Magazine.
If you find these articles interesting and useful, please
MuscleMemory