Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-01
Professionalism in College Athletics.

mind in reference to the action OF
Brown University in permitting stu
dents in good standing in that univer-
sity, who have earned money for the
penses by playing baseball through the
summer vacations, to maintain their
positions on the college team. The
| subject has been the occasion of a
large amount of Incorporate, unreal
sonable end uncalled for criticism.
There has been no purpose on the part
, of Brown University to open the ath-
letic life of that institution to profess
SIGNALS. It has simply decided that
reason Why bona fide student who
plays ball through the summer that he
may earn money to help defray his col
, lese expenses, should forever after be
prohibited from representing his COL
lege on the diamond. If such a STU
dent were to earn his money by wait
ing on the table in some summer hotel,
by working in the hay field, OF by cam
wasting for books, pictures or silver
polish, these supersensitive critics
would have no objection to offer; but,
because he uses his athletic skill i'll
perfectly honorable and legitimate way
for the same purpose. he must neces-
| sarily be branded thenceforth as pro-
fessional and ruled out of fellowship
with his undergraduate associates.
There is no good reason for this, ana
| we do not anticipate that even the die
tum Of Mr.. Casper Whitney, who has
undertaken to set himself up in this
country as self-constituted court of
final appeal on all matters of an ath-
letic character VIII carry much weight
with the thinking public who are not
inclined to defy trivial teclln;calities
There are two or three things that
should be rigiLly insisted upon in every
college as regards the members of its
athletic organizations:
1st. They should be bona fide stu
dents in good and regular standing in
their classes.
ID. They should defray their own
college expenses from their own pock-
cts. and should not be permitted, either
directly or indirectly, to receive finan-
cial assistance throughout their course
on account of their athletic skill
The great curse of college athletics
at the present time is not the fact that
Il few genuine students go out and
earn an honest dollar through the sum-
mcr vacation by playing ball. but that
hundreds of students are given finan-
cial assistance in their course for alb
solutcly no other reason than their
availability for the college athletic
tc1ms; and it is q notorious ana fla
grant eact that many of the institu-
crous in their condemnation of Brown
University. have been the most per
sistent offenders in this respect.
The colleges in Maine are disposed
to take ii sane and sensible view of the
situation. They recognize the fact
that many of the young men who en-
Joy their privileges are in Strengthened
circumstances and if they can earn an
honest dollar through the simmer by
playing ball on some amateur or semi
professional team, it has not been their
policy 10 shut the door Of such an op-
portunity against them. And yet, We
venture to say that the athletics Of the
Maine colleges are purcr and more in
harmony with the genuine amateur
spirit. than those of similar institu-
tons in any other state in New Eng
land.
There has been Il good deal of cant
on this question. and unquestionably a
large amount of unblushng Hypocrisy
but the public as a whole has not been
d"CeiI cd by it. We trust that Brown
University will hold vigorously to the
position she has taken, for she is right.
and public sentiment will ultimately
sustain her in it,