The Washington times., 1903-08-18
Ia Assuming Position of
Faculty Representative He
Nay DO AqUay With SerU-
ices of Graduate Manager.
Should Such Be the Case the
University VIII Lose KaEu-
able Man-One Who Has
Done All For It's Athletics

letics Of Georgetown would retire from
the institution has been ahoat This
morning. however, the unofficial and un-
authenticated rumor was printed. No
official confirmation of this report can
be had at this time OF the year. II such
proves to be the case, however. friends
OF Mr.. Thompson and Georgetown Uni
versity say that the death knen OF ath-
letics at the Blue and Gray institution
has been sounded.
The Rev John Farrell. faculty athletic
representative last season, has LEFT
Georgetown and the Rev. c. n. Raley.
who was instrumental in making i'm
provements to the Georgetown field In
past years. has succeeded TO the position
vacated by Father Farrell. Father RaIey,
having had little experience in dealing
with Georgetown athletes. is said to have
the impression that he can conduct the
Georgetown Athletic Association with
out the assistance OF Mr.. Thompson, and
will, therefore, do away with the grad
uste managership and assume sole and
entire charge of the association himself
AS in Former Days.
Until three years ago Georgetown Uni
versity's athletics were conducted in
loose. slipshod. haphazard manner. with
out eligibility rules. without one head.
or hub. on which ali things should re-
Volve, and the result was most disas-
trous to the Blue and Gray University.
Georgetown was viIified by every SELF
respecting college and university, and
charges of the most infamous nature
that could possibly be made against
college or university athletic associa-
tion were heaped upon her.
The institution, because of its persis-
tent winnings in the baseball and foot
ball world, was openly charged with
playing men TO whom IL had given free
scholarships simply because of their
ability TO play the two college games.
Georgetown was further charged with
playing men as long as IL wanted, or
needed them, instead OF putting them
on the teams at the expiration of four
years. That Georgetown accepted ath-
letes from other colleges and universf-
ties and permitted them TO play on the
teams without first having loafed year
and remained out OF athletics in order
10 purge themselves OF any uncIeanli-
ness contracted in athletics at other in
Etitutions. was also alleged. The man
ayers Of the various teams could do
nothing. They were not empowered to |
do anything more than report the mat
ter TO the faculty representative. and |
the rector at Georgetown finally decided |
that the only solution Of the question !
was in the adoption of the graduate !
manager system, so successfully oper-
Rted at We. Harvard Princeton. Penn
sylvania. and all of the other larger in /
stitutiOns which had attained fame and |
success in the athletic world.
Thompson's Debut.
Al the time the question OF adopting /
the new system wes being agitated. NJ. 1
j. Thompson was student at George
town. He Is said TO have managed teams 4
OF all sorts at Holy Cross College. and |
the rector decided 10 give him the po-
sition. To enumerate all OF the benefits /
and pecuniary profits Georgetown has /
derived since the adoption OF The sys-
TEN would be an arduous and difficult I
task. That the system has proven more /
OF a success. financially and from all ]
other viewpoints. is an undisputed fact. /
Before Mr.. Thompson took charge OF /
athletics az Georgetown. ii is said. the I
association was in debt and was draw /
ing upon the university proper for its |
support. Il must necessarily be admit i
ted by even those who are responsible I
for the recent rumor or his retirement /
by request, that such is far from being /
the case now. II Georgetown loses Mr.. |
Thompson this year IL will also lose the 1
greater part Of its prestige in the ath- |
letic world which Mr.. Thompson has /
been most instrumental in enhancing
X will hardly be denied that Mr. ]
Thompson has done more for George !
towns athletics and athletics of the /
South than any other man in the coun-
try. Neither will II be denied that some |
other institution will snap him up. /
should the Rev. Raley carry out his !
plan. which some OF the friends Of the /
institution do not look upon with favor. I
The little fellow has mingled among /
Washington's most influential and rep
Eesentative citizens. He has an immense ]
circle of friends IN Washington. and /
wherever he went won friends innu- I
merable for the university across the /
creek. and on more than one occasion /
he has won financial support for the in
stituIion which he represented by hs I
energetic manner.
That Mr.. Thompson, because OF his 4
position. was enyied and even disliked 4
by some OF the Georgetown students I
upon whom he was sometimes wont 10 1
call halt, is admitted, but he was re I
sponsible 20 the rector Of the college /
for the athletic association and had TO /
exercise his power when he deemed II (
necessary and for the good OF the col |
lege. IL is said Georgetown lost money /
on her FIRST indoor meet. Since Mr.. 4
Thompson took charge OF the associa- /
tion and conducted the meets the profits 7.
increased every year and the athletic /
association was never so well on as
IL Is al the present time. and even the I
bitterest OF Mr.. rhompson's enemies 1
must give him the credit OF having piled
UP. the coin OF the realm, which. after
all. Is the whole thing when the matter
IL sifted down.