St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-12
fnETAINToF PROFESSIONALS,

The chief difficulty with amateur
sports in this country seems to be
the growing influences of profession
aliSm. The line between the amateur
and the professional is one that
should be kept rigid and distinct. 1t
is not that the professional oarsman
or ball player may not be a strictly
honorable person, but his standard
Is necessarily different from the
standard Of gentlemen who meet
for friendly contest of strength
and mettle, for nothing but the
love of it and the glory of success.
In professional contests, either party
takes unsparingly every advantage
offered. 1t is his business, his pc
cuniary interest, and his profess
sional interest to win. If he can
win by any means that is not consid-
cred foul play, nobody finds fault
with him for doing so. The spirit
that should animate amateur sports
is entirely different. They ought to
be pervaded and directed by gentle
manly courtesy, love of fair play,
and refusal to accept any technical
advantage
Inc people of the English race are
naturally devoted to manly sports.
They love fair and square con-
test, and have developed a high and
sensitive code of honor. Whenever
this is impaired, athletic con-
tests must fall into disrepute.
There is some danger of
this If the encroachments of
the professional spirit are to con-
tnue. The recent contest between
The Cornell crew and it's opponents
on the Thames is a conspicuous il
lustration of what we mean. Not
only the incidents of one of the
races, but the entire conduct of
the spectators and the general public
Is contrary to the spirit of honor
able and manly sport. Everybody
by merit, if possible, by any device
not actually dishonorable. if not.
In the race which Cornell won bv
hefault, there is the gravest reason
Tor suspicion that the Leander crew
attempted to work a device that
would secure them against expected
defeat. They were an inferior crew
and had the least desirable course
assigned them. They failed to make
the start at the umpire's word. and
afterWard claimed that they We're
not ready. AS the Cornell crow
mad started promptly, they could not
have returned and rowed the race
over at that time, had they wished
10, without being at some disadyan-
tage from their previous exertions.
On the other hand, it would have
been highly honorable in them after
rowing over the course as directed
by the umpire, to refuse to accent
victory on such terms, and to offer
~ $--$ tiSC Wv CT Va some SUISSE
auent day. The whole contest seems
10 have been governed by the rules
of the worst sort of professionalism.
Something of the same spirit was
Shown in the race between Cornell
and Trinity Hall. The spectators
We're in an ugly and vindictive mood.
caring nothing for the test of skill.
and accepting the triumph of their
pWn mon with less satisfaction than
they did the defeat of an exhausted
and suffering crew.
We have seen the same sort IF
thing everywhere. 1t is exhibited in
The parleying and lettcr-writinsr be-
tween ball teams and boat crews
before any kind Of contest can
De agreed upon, which reminds one of
nothing so much as the vulgar law
nS Of Messrs. Corbett and Jackson
r Fftzsinclno8s before they conclude