The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-27

The executive committee OF the Brown
University corporation placed its stamp
of disapproval upon the action OF the
athletic committee I'm the recent action
with regard to professionalism on the
athletic teams.
Yesterday afternoon there was meet
ing OF the executive committee at which
time II was the unanimous decision. so
II Is reported, to allow no men TO play
under the new rules till after the meet
ing OF the corporation In September. The
action OF the corporation committee is
intended TO show that the attitude OF
Brown with regard to athletics has not
been changed
The resolution presented Is as fol-
lows:
"since the change !n the athletic elgi-
bility rules involves far-reaching con-
sequences of an educational. social and
moral character, and therefore should
not be made without mature considera-
tion, we hereby direct that such change
shall not be put into operation until IL
has received official consideration and
approval by the corporation. We there
fore call upon the board OF directors OF
the Brown University Athletic associa-
tion 10 allow no games under changed
rules until action shall have been taken
by the corporation at its annual meeting
IA September. 1904"
With tho passage and the promulgation
of this resolution the executive commit
tee attempts 10 put it's firm and final
veto upon the action of the athletic COM
mittee When the athletic committee
first issued the announcement of the
change in the rules hypocrisy
reigned system OF agitation was
started against the move which
seemed the only fair and outspoken way
OF dealing with the problem OF honesty
I'm college athletics and one or two OF the
members OF the board refused TO concur,
urging that II was not polite, that Brown
could not afford TO take such a step
alone and as many alumni students
state. showed their willingness as well
as determination to be satisfied with the
semblance OF purity while impurity and
Opinions have been divided upon the
matter ever since. Debates upon the
question took place and various articles
appeared I'm several publications. The
statement made by the committee de-
clared that the present rules were
neither endorsed by general sentiment
OF college athletics nor capable or be-
ing enforced. and were resulting In n
growing prevalence of evasion and de-
ception, and unsportsmanlike recrimina-
ton" and I'm consequence the athletic
barring students who had ever engaged
in athletics for money outside or the
university from representing the college
in any intercollegiate contest. Seven
members of the committee signed the
statement while two. not agreeing re-
fused TO sign and handed In their resig-
nations thus declaring that they pre-
ferred the sham and hollow pretense to
honesty.
Several OF the men who would COM
nose the team this year were there. one
when approached seemed 10 think that
baseball matters are In rather pre-
carious condition and nothing definite
will be known till after the meeting OF
the athletic committee on Monday.
on account of the stand that the dl-
rectors have taken during the entire con-
troyersy n Is rumored that they may re-
sign This Is hardly I'm keeping with the
character of the men. It has also been
intimated that the men who promulga-
ted the new rules had rather see no team
mt all this spring than see team that
did not play under its rules. Under any
circumstances IL Is apparent that the
situation Is a vet not thoroughly cleared
and important developments are anticipa-
tod as the result OF the exercise OF power
bv the corporation. In September IL Is
expected that the corporation viii insist
that Brown must try, with other colleges,
20 keep up the bars against paid athletes.