The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-08

Minnesota will take no formal ac-
ton upon the protest sent out by SUI
perintendent =. G.. Cooley Of the Chi
cago public schools, and the members
of the high school board of control of
that city, regarding the Inducing" Of
high school athletes by western uni
versities.
According to a dispatch from Chi.
cago, the protest was sent to the fol-
lowing eleven leading universities:
University of Chicago, University of
Illinois, University of Indiana, Univer-
sity Of Michigan, University of Iowa,
University of Nebraska, University of
Minnesota, Northwestern university
Of Notre Dame, University of Wiscon-
sin and Purdue university.
Complaint was made concerning the
practice of allowing high school pupils
to enter the universities and play on
the athletic teams without sufficient
credits to entitle them to that priv
ilege. The protest does not really
apply to Minnesota, being directed
principally against Chicago, Michigan
and Wisconsin. Minnesota has never
secured any athletic stars from Chi
cagO high schools, and, in fact the in
stitution has been remarkably free
from suspicion Of inducing athletes
as shown by the fact that every man
but one Of last falls championship
eleven was native Of Minnesota. In
deed, complaint has been made by
some of the most enthusiastic alumni
that not enough attention was given
by Minnesota to promising athletes
who might be persuaded to enter the
| university, if the advantages Of the
| institution, educational and otherwise,
were impressed upon them. The case
| of Dexter, the star North high school
tackle, who graduated from the high
school, and who would logically enter
! MI 1o a. fn
his education, is cited as an instance.
Dexter has not entered any university,
| but is working on his farm near Rob
binsdale, and alumni who know the
young athlete say that a little legiti-
mate persuasion would have brought
| Dexter into the university.
''Not Guilty." Says DIR. Northrop.
! President Northrop of the univers-
lily said this morning that he had not
Chicago High school authorities. "The
matter does not concern us directly
said DR.. Northrop. THE agitation
has been caused by two or three uni
versities, which were specified by the
Chicago authorities in previous state
ments, but I suppose as matter of
form the protest was sent to all the
universities. None of our athletic
stars has come from the Chicago
schools, and there is nothing to be
done by us. AS I said, the matter re-
fers particularly to two or three in
Istitutions which are said to have made
concessions in admission requirements
to high school athletes"
| President Angel of the University
of Michigan said in an interview at
Ann Arbor last night that the
communication from Chicago would
be referred to the board Of control.
He expressed his full confidence in
the faculty committee on athletics,
and said that report would be made
by this committee to the students.
Colonel George r., Burnett, chair
man Of the Iowa board of athletic con-
troll said that complaint should be
made directly to the universities which
had offended. He said that Iowa would
gladly hear any such complaints in
ments, but that SO far Iowa was free
from any stigma. President Van Hise
Of Wisconsin said that the entrance re-
quirements Of the badger institution
were rigid and were strictly enforced.
He expressed himself as strongly in
favor of pure athletics, and said that
the football season should end before
Thanksgiving Day. He is heartily in
accord with the position taken by the
Chicago High school board.
Chicago Won't Stand Alone.
President Harper Of the University
of Chicago is. i'll, and could not be in
terviewed yesterday. His secretary,
Francis W. Shepardson, said that the
university would be glad to send dele
gates to a conference to discuss the
question. He said that irregularities
had recently occurred in almost all Of
the universities indicated by the pro-
test, and that prompt action was nee
essary, as things were going from bad
to worse. He said that he knew Of
only three students who had been adj
mitted to Chicago university without
the prescribed number of credits.
Professor Shepardson further stated
that Chicago would be willing to COM
ply with the demands Of the Chicago
High school authorities when other
Western universities took the same
stand, but said that Chicago would not
net her athletic interests suffer when
the other institutions admitted fresh
men who were conditioned in their en-
trance requirements.
|CTEEI TRH(T tn