Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-22
Story of the Rise and Fall of the
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
Forms an Interesting Chapter of the
Events Which Led Up to the New
Order of Things.
[By X. d. steere.l
Special to Times Republican

up of political machine which has
dominated the athletic management OF
the university for the past two years
strangely enough, this machine, which
is owned by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
fraternity here, was built up out of the
remnants OF popular uprising which
ousted another machine which had
been strongly entrenched in a similar
position for as many years. The story
of the rise and fall of the local chap
ter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fra
ternity forms as unique chapter in the
history of the university
In the winter of 1903 revolt against
the continued authority of machine
dominated. by the Sigma Nu fraternity
was led by A. C. Johnson, now prac-
ticing attorney Of Ida Grove, and Nyle
w. Jones. now manager Of athletics at
the state university. III. G. Spangler
now practicing attorney at Cedar
Rapids, was then athletic manager. and
a candidate for reelection. The Sigma
Nus appealed to the other fraternity
chapters in the city for help and made
a class fight Of the annual election of
the Athletic Association. Greek against
Barbarian! The election was one of
the most fiercely contested of any In
the history of the university. both sides
spending considerable money in bring
ing in new members to vote for their
ticket but when the smoke OF battle
cleared away it was found that the
Barbarians had enough strength back
OF them to swing the election their
way and their full slate went thru.
The Athletic Association itself does
not elect the manager of athletics,
which is the fat plum the wires are
pulled for, but it's president and sec
rotary are permitted to sit upon a
board composed of thirteen members
who elect the manager. With these
two men elected and the control of the
captains of the three athletic teams,
the new, Independent machine had
enough strength to practically domin-
ate the election for manager that was
held that spring, and the choice fell
upon H. G.. Walker, who had formerly
been identified with the Sigma NJ fac
ton, but who had swung into line with
The new movement, not being bound by
any fraternity affiliations. So far the
DTOSGSSS OIL lllG ISSOllllS 1dSLioll Aist0
Contained no tinge of self-interest any
where. and the objects for which it had
oeen started had been attained.
Meanwhile representative of the
;igma Alpha Epsilon fraternity which
aad no chapter at Iowa, appeared in
The city to found such a chapter, and
his attention was directed to Jones
,aptain-elect of the football team as the
most prominent non-fraternity man in
the city. Jones is supposed to have
understood the opportunity he had to
yrasp the athletic management at Iowa
md the men who were selected by him
and the fraternity representative to
become the charter members in the new
fraternity, were the men who were
already members on the board Of con-
troll or who were likely to become men,
bers on account of their position. When
the smoke of the initiation cleared
away it was found that the following
members of the board of control were
members of the new chapter:
Nvle Jones, of Iowa Falls, captain OF
The foot ball team.
Henry Walker, of Iowa City, presl-
lent of the Athletic Association
Jerry Barker, Of Cresco, Iowa, treas
,rer of the Athletic Association.
Professor Teeters, OF the university
faculty.
G. Johnson had been dropped from
The combination and the new machine
7ad been perfected with moral force
enough to run the board for two years
rho winter of 1904 there was practic-
a,,y no opposition to the machine de-
,.eloned and the Sigma Alph ticket
which carried Fred Moore of Harlan,
for president, and Joe Burgess, OF
rresco for treasurer, went thru with
out a hitch. When the trainer for the
track team was secured last spring IN
the person of Jerry Delaney, formerly
Of northwestern, the Sigma Alphs were
s+rone enough to secure the employ
r,an+ ne Ed Rule, one Of their mem
hers as director of the gymnasium al
tbe same time. And 1t is alleged that
ono Of the conditions upon which they
,,o.,mitted the employment of Delaney
was that he should instruct huie ho"
to train track team.
Delaney Trains Rule.
DELANEY took charge OF the teaf1i W
Anril of this year, refused to nave any
thinp 10 do with Rule and developed a
track team that won the state CHAM
nionship. Walker decided to retire as
mama ger of athletics and Jones asked
fol, the job, backed by the machine
which also wanted to re-employ huie
as gymnasium director at a salary OF
one thousand dollars John Chalmers'
director of the athletic department IN
the university, had no objection, 1t IS
said as he was only Interested in the
enra cement of Delaney to act as tram
ar for the foot ball and track teams
for the present year. The deal went
through at the first meeting OF the
board last June without hitch. Rule
received his job. Jones was given a
salary Of $3.50 for the years work,
though other men, said to have been
fully as competent, offered to DO the
work for $500. And Delaney was en-
ployed to return here in the fall ana
sprins of the year 1905 and 1906.
Snap Meeting Held.
With Jones and Rule safely liked for
he coming year the Sigma Alph ma :
chine was interested in securing the
removal of Delaney for reasons which
have appeared this fall. What argu-