Omaha daily bee., 1898-03-06
ENGLAND DECLINES CONTEST
Oxford Cambridge Men Will Not Meet
American Athletes.
FALL BACK on A TlMe-TRleD EXCUSE
Amuteur stnnding of Yankee Colleges
Given as n Reason for Not Ac-
septing the Invitation
for q Trial.

All lovers Of amateur sport will sincerely
regret that our English cousins have thrown
a few buckets OF cold water on the scheme
TO bring about meeting In track and held
athletics between the winners OF the annual
games Of the intercollegiate athletic as
sociation OF American and the victors In the
annual games between Oxford and Cambridge
universities. The recent publication OF the
letter that was sent to the Britons by the
executive committee OF the American as
sociaton last December suggesting such
meeting has had the effect OF confirming the
prevailing opinion that the English collegians
were somewhat hasty In declining to have
anything to do with the proposed meeting on
the ground that the amateur standing OF our
American coliegians was questionable.
The letter from this side was written by
Oliver Shiras of Cornell, president, and II.
w. Howe Of Harvard. and s. X. Gerard OF
Yale. on behalf Of the intercollegiate Athletic
Association OF America 1t assured the
Oxford Cambridge athletic authorities that
none but bona ffde students and strict
amateurs would be eligible to the American
games and that any suggestions, amend
ments or alterations desired by the Oxford
Cambridge men would be gladly considered
and. II deemed proper. incorporated Ihls
certainly gave the English colegians SUI
fcient assurance that the Americans were
not seeking the better of the argument, and
should have been accepted by any fair
minded set of men an indication that
nothing save pure, amateur sport was desired
by the collegians on this side of the Atlantic
ocean. 1t was not sufficient for the Britons,
however, and they have peremptorily de-
clined to have anything to do with the meet,
ostensibly on the ground that the amateur
etandng of our colegians may be ques-
toned
1t is the privilege of the Britons to decline
TO enter the contest, and no one can gainsay
that they have merely exercised their natural
perogative. All of u.s. on the ether hand, are
entitled to draw our own conclusions as to
why the Englishmen do not care to compete
with the cream talent of cur collegiate
athletes. The cry Of questionable amateur
standing raised by the Britcns will go in one
ear and out the other with most OF us, for
we know that whatever abuses OF the strict
amateur code there may be In our collegiate
athletics one who is not a bona fide student
and strict amateur has an exceeding hard
task to perform in entering the intercol-
legiate games. It's doubtful If such one
could break in with battering ram under
the present wise administration OF the Inter-
collegiate association. The Brltons should
have given u better excuse for their declina-
ton than to cry mot fair
However much we may deprecate the loss
terosting meeting of track and field athletes
one cannot but wonder why such a mighty
fuss Is always raised about securing an inter-
national intercollegiate meet. Such athletic
contests have very rarely proved satisfactory,
even though the American teams have been
fairly successful in carrying off the trophies.
AS long as there is such abundant material
In this country for earnest compethition and
as long as the American collegians can
successfully hold athletic meetings without
fl,a Ian NJ hair ipppnnratinp into SCme
form of a fiasco 1t does not appear alto
gether necessary to go abroad to fling our-
selves at the toes Of our English cousins,
begging them to accord us the privilege OF
contestng with them in athletic sport.
Much more desirable Is the promotion of
intercollegiate meetings in this country
which shall not alone be confined to the rep
resentatves of institutions scattered along
the Atlantic seaboard. but shall include as
well equal numbers OF the athletes OF the
central, the southern and the western por-
tions of the country.
CornelIs varsity base ball team may have
the services Of a professional coach for the
next few weeks until the opening of the
National league season. Hugh Jennings
BaltimoIo's short stop, Ens signihed his will
lngness to coach Cornell II arrangements
can be made with the base ball committee.
Fred StCne of the Chicago Athletic asso-
citation contempates trip in the near fu
ture among the western colleges In ques
of athletic material for the track team
which will represent the club against the
New York athletes and In the dual meet
Nearly all the western colleges with the
exception of the University of Chicago, have
offered him anything they have to enable
him to defeat the eastern men in the dua
games. He wants pole vaulter and {
quarter miller and thinks there must be some
likely men among the colleges. The Uni
versity OF Nebraska has some likely met
for these events, and 1t would not be sur
prising IL some of the track and field ath
ie,es were recruited from Lincoln.
There are better prospects for a goot
base bali team at the University OF Ne
brsska than for some years. The eand
dates are more numerous and more enthusi-
astic than for several years. Coach Barne!
has the pitchers well In hand and is busy
teaching them how to hand up theil
curves to the batters. An effort was made
to get our own Tomm!e Cregh for base bal
coach this season, but he recently told TIL,
Bee that he was too busy with the law t
become a base ball coach at Lincoln for thu
whole spring season. He said, however, tha
he would 20 down to the university jus
before the big games and help to put tn,
finishing touches on the team. We shall
have a chance to see the university boys III
here In a pair OF practice games agains
the league team early in the season. 81!
OF last years team will be back this year
They are Gordon. Kinder, Reeder, Cowgirl
Wells and Moore. These. together with th
new men who are showing up, should maxi
a team for Nebraska that will prove he
superiority In the west in base ball as wei
as foot ball. Captain Gordon's good worl
of last year will be remembered. He Is il
better form this year than ever. and w
shall see some excellent work done b,
him. He has already put forth great effor
to get everything started we'll and has sue
ceeded admirably. Moore, who played frs
base last year. will be out again for that po
siton. His hard hitting was feature OF hi
work. Cowgirl, who aid some good work a
third last year, will be on hand again
Reeder. who presided over the left garde
last year, viii probably be seen again Il
the same position Although a little veal
at the bat. he makes up for this by shar
fielding. Deacon" Kinder will be remem
bered for his sharp work at second base
He Is a sure, earnest, hard-working playe
who plays ball for the love OF the game
He was a great favorite with the fans an
will be received with enthusiasm when h
trots on the field this spring. Dutch" Wells
who was In only a part OF the games las
year. will be with the team from start I
finish. He Is fast on his feet. a hard hitte
aud a good base runner There are grea
many new men who are untried, but VIII
promise to show up we'll Catherwood. Bills.
Halstead, Hyde. Kring. Swartz. Campbell
Rhea. Cake and Williams are working har
In the cage every day under the directio
of Coach Barnes. From this aggregation c