New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-25
HOW YALE REGARDS THE REPORT
TWO or ITS RECOMMENDATIONS APFioN ID
PROFESSOR EICIIAIDS'S Nl"oi''' > hr'-
FrNcE OF COLLIDE ATIlLEriCS.

FENCE OF COLLIDE ATHLETICS.
>eu.-u,van Conn. Feb q (SpecaD.-Natura.ly
the nostion President Eliot OF Harvard has taken
in reference 10 athletics has caused goon "eh' %
discussion at Yale. TWO opinions preFal "'''
First that President Eliot has used an argument
against existing methods which Is to large extent
unsuitable but which at this time IS OF Judicious'
secondly that he has taken a stand when ne can
no, defend by statistics that can DE gathered from
college athletics 4 ma ority Of the FACULTY oil
Yale long ago came to the CONCLUSION 'n"' d" d"
such matters the best way was to aiVlse rather
than command the students. Many 81 'lr "DJ''
,,onab,e practices Of former mes have been d-scoh
+inued because the faculty consulted freely WIN
the students and secured from them promise 10
dscouraqe. such features Of college III" as seemei
not TO be for the best interests OF those ul'cc"S
connected with the institution
Two OF President Eliot's recommendations are
heartily approved by Yale These are that no
professional shall engage In intercollegiate contests
and that the football rules shall be so amended rs
"a diminish the violence and collision OF the payers
Most of the conservative Yale alumni ana many OF
the undergraduates approve OF lreSneiit ''''"' y
suggestion that no student should be member Oh
the University team in more than one sport IN the
same wear But no at Yale can be ionhd VINO
favors the proposal abolish intercollegiate con-
tests between freshmen teams. All here recognize
that such rule would greatly reduce inc hu'l'o''
Of candidates, and would cut of one OF the p'st
methods of developing and properly ua'h'ns ne"
men for the harder work Of the college teams
II is also believed by Yale men unwise 10 regulate
athletics by shutting out hrst-Ycar men 'i""i
pa rticipatio ion In intercollegiate contests
| Tho history of athletics Yale embraces some
! incidents which furnish good reasons LOT uiS'"b
IN. adontion of college laws which Will reduce the
number of contests and take somewhat from the
/ interest Of those that occur Chief among these
raasons are the tendency 10 stake large sums OF
money on the result OF contests. ana the hatutai
excitement and distraction from strictly college du-
| ties which cannot but follow the interest IN atm
letic contests But those who object most strongly
TO this feature the contest recognize fully the
immense benefit that students derive from vigorous
open-air exercises and are mindful OF the import
ance Of keeping students interested IN all Sorts Oh
affairs that Will result in their physical develop
| ment.
II IS conceded that men at Yale reach high de-
gree of physical as well intellectual attainmen's.
The interest in athletics Is fully as important IN
the opinion Of President Dwight as the interest IN
| literary work He said to-day that he did not WISH
TO make any particular statement concerning the
suggestions offered BY President Eliot w men asKe"
If he intended TO offer suggestions IN his am
nual report for the modification OF io0tLan ruIcS
or for restrictions in other branches Oh a'hielC',
he answered that his report would not De ssut Tor
several months yet and he did not Know what ne
would do about the matter lie conveyed the i'm
preston. however. that he could see no hec,ssly
for extended report In an Official way concerning
Captain IInkey and Manager Hotter relusei 10
make any criticism Of the Harvard report. Pro
! fessor Richards who is the member Of the faculty
TO whom all athletic matters are referred, mas not
given the criticisms of President Eliot particularly
close attention. and was not prepareI OF ulcuHci
TO 20 into the matter exhaustivcy. lie SAID now
ever.
II haze not yet secured the complete text OF
President Eiots report. and am therefore not pre-
pared to give any very minute criticism or H. FROM
me extracts that have seen. however. have htte
doubt that great many holes could be- picked IN IL
by one who has made deep and perhaps deeper
study of the matter than President Eliot think
1icc bet
Water Camp. for instance, on the good ana eviI
of college athletics would be highly entertaining
one and one In which the less expert man might
not come off with first honors. Even In the portion
of the report that have seen there occurs one or
two amusing mistakes which DO not argue well Tor
the rest Of President Eliot's views His position
in the main is directed Of course. against the so
He'd football. and he undertakes to discriminate
against the s0-called dangerous sport in favor Of
others which he thinks to be less harmful. But
think that reliable statistics would show that
men have their necks broken riding and are
drowned sailing than killed upon the football
field.
THE remedies that President Eliot suggests for
the present state OF things strike me as rather
impractical But ] hear with pleasure that we
have one convert to the undergraduate rule. His
play the team Is good one. and one that
should like Yale and Harvard stick TO- But
the other recommendations are OF no value. as they
cannot be made to work. President Eliot is think
ing only of the evils and not Of the benefits OF col
lege athletics He contradcts himself in several
places. | have always noticed a tendency he has IN
every question to evade the point at issue. and
that is what he has done in regard college ath-
leics My general criticism OF this part of the
report as far az have studied IT, Is that he should
state his views with modesty consult experts.
He has very complete information on the ques-
ton at least, that is the impression have gained"