The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-04
CHARGES CORRUPTION IN
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS
Continued From First Page.

board accompanied by a communica-
ton from Supt. Smith in which that
officer also recommends such revision
of the rules and submits a schedule Of
such events as he should consider
proper and sufficient.
After reviewing those events which
have customarily taken place in his
school or among the pupils of the
school. Prof Robinson says:
Too Many Entertainments.
"The list of events. athletic. social
and literary, impresses me as alto
gether too long. Pupils who feel bound.
tend regularly are subjected to a
crushing financial burden. Twice is
spent that should be devoted to other
school work. And there is constant
pressure on the part of the pleasure
loving element. young and old. to still
further extend the list.
First. as to athletics. The scholar
ship rule has removed the most serious
evils>of the old system. but there should
be some means of getting loafers out
of the school altogether. l would sug-
geSt that all pupils securing less than
two credits a semester, on the average,
be dropped out and denied admission
to any high school without special ac-
ton by the superintendent or board.
AaS pIdClICdlly WHAT Tie COilSSeo
have been forced to do in self-defense.
''The number of teams should be
somewhat limited. 1t divides and dead
ems interest to have several different
sports running at once, not to mention
the other objections. already named.
One sport for each season. beside track
athletics, should suffice
Then taking UP some of the sports
specifically Prof. Robinson questions
the propriety of hockey. basket ball
and handball in the schools and recon-
mends that they be excluded He also
says the freshman sophomore track
meet should, be- abolished, as it has
the effect only to kill the regular school
field day and says he can see no reason
for two indoort meets at the university
in February or March. although he
heartily approves the school field day
and interschool field day.
Then continuing. he says;
Prefers Charges of Corruption.
zone of the indoor meets and the
interscholastic field day are conducted
by the Northwestern Interscholastic
Athletic association, composed of two
student delegates from each school in
the two cities and Saltwater. Two
years ago. and again this year, 1 en-
deaVored to secure the passage of
amendments providing for faculty rep
| reservations; but in both cases they
failed, owing to indifference or oppo
sition in Minneapolis. ..ts,..
.Now the fact is, that for some
years hundreds of dollars have been
annually stolen, and the present man
agement is, if possible, more corrupt
| than any which preceded it. This is
admitted by the principal of every
| school in the association. 1t is also
admitted by the boys themselves. The
delegates from this school have said
| frankly that fellow could not be ex-
pected to be honest when everyone
came around with wink to inquire
how much he got out of it.
And it seemed likely this spring
/ that the record in the matter of steal
ing would be broken. The high school
principals held meeting and took
charge of the tickets themselves, with
| the result that the receipts amounted
to 5000, being nearly half more than
last year, whereas the attendance was
less than half as great.
Evidence of Wholesale Stealing.
Further evidence of wholesale steal
| ing appears in the fact that, although
I am a member of the auditing COM
mittee, not warrant has been pre-
| sented for my signature since last
year, when refused to sign an order
| for large sum without first seeing
the bill In this connection 1t is cur
rently reported that nearly all the
money appropriated for medals last
| year was stolen.
| "a boy from this school has also
kept the pistol used in starting races,
as we'll as the check given him to pay
| for it. He has left school. A couple
| of years ago the treasurer, boy, from
the Minneapolis Central did the same
thing after getting away with over
$780,
81 will respectfully submit that it Is
not our business to train criminals,
which is precisely what we are doing
under the present system.
1.-The intervention by the principals
was an emergency measure which |
do not believe could be brought about
| again. 1 therefore recommend that
! teams from this city be forbidden to
participate in any event under the
| auspices of this association until
amendments to the constitution are
| adopted which shall be adequate in
the opinion of the superintendent and
the principals to stop the stealing"
Prof. Robinson treats more briefly
but somewhat in detail the subject of
| together too numerous. and also the
social affairs. Under this latter head
| he expresses himself as follows
/ Would Discontinue Class Day.
"The expense of graduating has now
| become SO great. though the ambition
of the new-rich, to shine in the only
way possible to them, and the deter
| mination of others not to be outdone,
| great income for the entire family.