The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-07
PURITY in SPORTS
What Western Conference Has Don
for College Athletics.
REFORM WAS WORK OF YEARS
for Intercollegiate Football
and Track Athletics.


The athletic situation in the middle
west at the present time is one OF much
interest. To understand it thoroughly
it is necessary to: go back several years
and trace the course Of its development.
Prior to 1895 all branches of college
athletics in this section of the country
was in decidedly chaotic state. The
rules defining amateur standing and
eligibility were SO lax that professional
ism was. common in, nearly all the in
situations OF the west, and college ath-
letics had descended to such a low moral
plane that 1t was seen by those most
deeply interested in western education
that radical change must be brought
about If intercollegiate athletic contests
were not to be entirely abandoned.
Therefore, recognizing the important
position which properly conducted ath-
letics occupy in college life, the presi-
dents of seven western colleges and uni
versities, namely Michigan, Northwest
ern, Minnesota. Illinois, Wisconsin,, Chi
cago and Perdue. met in conference in
Chicago in June, 1885, to endeavor to
purify the existing state of affairs and
solid foundation. The presidents assem-
bled at this meeting formulated and
adopted a set Of rules for the regulation
of athletics which has been the founda-
ton for all subsequent legislation, and
which Immediately. placed the college
athletic situation on a plane of compare
tive safety and purity. Besides formu-
lating strict rules defining amateur
standing and eligibility, the presidents
provided that each university should ap-
point faculty athletic committee which
should have general supervision of all
athletic matters in their respective coll
leges, and should have all the RESPONSE
anfOrcjnp cn11ara
garding athletics and all intercollegiate
sports. 49,: '-:-.'
Faculty athletics committees were &C
cordingly appointed at each of the uni
versities which had been a party to the
conference, and in February, 1896, dele
gates from each of the committees met
in Chicago in the first intercollegiate
conference of faculty representatives. Al
this meeting the rules proposed by the
college presidents were carefully gone
over, revised and enlarged and an elabo-
rate code of rules intended to cover all
questions Of amateur standing, eligibil-
1ty and intercollegiate contests agreed
upon and recommended to the various
colleges for adoption. All of the confer
ence colleges adopted these rules either
In their entirety or with slight altera-
tion. Although a wonderful Improvement
over the old, the rules as then adopted,
were by no means perfect A second
meeting of faculty representatives was
held in Chicago on Nov II, 1896, and the
rules on eligibility again carefully re-
vised.
In January, 1897, the presidents of the
state universities of the north central
states again met, this time at Madison
WIS, IN what has since been known as
the Madison Conference Of College
Presidents" At this conference, in which
athletics were, however, an incidental
topic Of consideration, a committee con-
sisting of Presidents Adams, Draper and
Snow were appointed to recommend such
rules as they should deem wise for the
further regulation Of athletics at cole
giate institutions. The report of theil
committee recomn ended 90 more careful
and systematic organization Of the
boards, councils, or committees having
control OF athletics; (2) greater care and
uniformity in the adoption of rules OIL
eligibility Of players, and co some nodi-
fcation of the rules under which certain
of the games are played. (This referred
to footbalD. $3.50
Provide for Annual Conference.
On Nov. e. 1897 the faculty represen-
tatives of the seven conference colleges
viz, Chicago, Purdue, Northwestern
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michi-
gan, met for the third time in Chicago
and it was agreed that there should be ar
annual conference of representatives from
the above named institutions at Chicago
during the Thanksgiving recess.
Such a conference, made up of represent
tatives from the faculty members OF the
board of control. who derive their in
structtons and authority from the board
which they represent, have accordingly
been held each fall since 1897, and the in
stitutions represented at this meeting
have come to. be known as the confer
ence colleges or the colleges belonging
to the college conference. 5s 3. =
The work which has bene performed by
this conference from year to year has
been manifold and of great Importance
A complete code of rules to govern al
forms of Intercollegiate athletics has beer
recommended by this committee eact
year, with whatever revisions seemed ad
,visable, and then adopted by each of the
boards of control. in the conference col.
lege. This code includes not only the
playing rules which: govern the various
athletic contests, but also what is of vita
importance-clear- and specific rules de-
hning eligibility and amateur standing.
AT the fifth conference Of faculty repre-.
~, sentatives, held In December, 1899, the
applications Of the universities of Iowa
and Indiana, for admission to the con
ference were favorably considered an6
these two Institutions formally admit
ted on acceptance Of the confer
ence rules already adopted. At this
meeting it was further decided that in
SLlCuIlOQS' represented. III Inc COulSieuCe
should not exceed nine in number. The
nine institutions which make up the col
lege conference at the present time are
therefore Chicago, Illinois. Indiana, Iowa
Michigan, MINI esota,- Northwest ern,' Pur.
due and Wisconsin. ,t'- :;
Track Athletics Cause Trouble.
While the college conference has per.
formed a great service to all the insti.
tutions of THE middle west and done its
work to the entire satisfaction of all, II
other branches of sport it has been I'M
able to dispose of the existing situations
in western Intercollegiate, track athletics
without arousing opposition and antag.
onism. = ~ = 20 -- -.
For many years the intercollegiate track
and field sports in the west have been helt
under the auspices Of the Western Inter.
collegiate Athletic association in the city
of Chicago. This meet has occupied {
position among the western colleges SINH.
lar to that held by the Eastern IntercoI.
legiate Athletic association in New York
city. = - = =--.r-
All went tremendously in the W.. l. A
A. until 1897 At that time dissatisfaction
was expressed by several Of the com.
peting universities. The cause of this
was entirely due to the inadequacy enc
lack of clearness in the rules of eligi.
bilIty
In 1899 extreme disa,ti sfaction was fell
4 by several of the leading universities