Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-11-17
BIG COLLEGE WITH
ATHLETIC GRAFT,

The second article in the Buying
Football Victories" series, now APP
pearing in Golfers, treats of the con-
ditions at the University of Wiscon-
sin, and appears in the issue OF NO
vember is. Mr.. Edward j. Jordan
who writes these articles. is himself
a graduate of the Wisconsin Univers-
ity, and while a student there was ed
itor of the Daily Cardinal the stu
dents newspaper. That an alumnus
of a college can convict his alma ma
ter of such athletic corruption should
convince the reading public that dras-
tic reform measures are needed III
the athletic departments of all our
great universities. Mr.. Jordan in
part says:
1T is a lamentable paradox in the
code of ethics governing college ath-
letics that a proper defence OF col
lege honor should depend upon an
improper defence of methods that
breed only college dishonor. If we
agree with coaches who are experts
in the manufacture of prestige, II
conclude that only clever evasion II
subtle artifice can lead TO success
then there is apparent a dangerous
fallacy in the theory that college ION
or depends upon athletic prestige. II
dishonorable practice is necessary 10
the building of honorable prestige,
then we must find some new dehnl-
ton for college honor or some uni
versity must confess t a lie.
Men in the glamour and satisfac-
ton of opulence are prone to think
but little of the wisdom of modera-
ton, of the imperative need of hon
esty. and of the human demand for
fair play. So it would be unnatural
for Il victorious university, gorging
her vanity upon the envy of her IL
walls, TO discern a fundamental fallacy
in her prescription for college honor
much less would she be directed by
conscience to confess to the inevitable
deception. AS among men, so 1t has
been with the scrambling universe
ties; it has remained for the beaten.
p~auperized. and crippled devotee OF
the gambling game to discern the
M liCCd VI hR Z h1lAliItiOh
and TO confess to the lie.
Thus it anne about that the Uni
versity of Wisconsin, long a leader in
the Western game, was driven by a
lack of resources, inefficient manage
ment, and a pack of parasites who
demoralized her athletics, to free her
self forcibly from her bondage, look
- l,.. ro, "a nor, 1nGpitinn nf anl1pOp
honor, and confess to her lie. In an
effort at reform during the last year
she deposed the powers that had mis-
erably governed her athletics, made
her president ultimately responsible
for their proper conduct, and by earn
est protest discredited those alien
sources of athletic graft which had
brought dishonor to the institution.
The reform furnished a remedial
power, the use or abuse of which will
determine the future course OF her
athletics. She stands today at the
parting of the athletic ways; she can
be honest, redeem her collegiate hon
or. and lose to her rivals, or she can
be dishonest, regain her athletic pres
tige, II possibly WIN.
After describing how Professor c.
d. Slichter, as supervisor of athletics,
lacked the courage to fight an issue
which he recognized as wrong, and
after discussing the mismanagement
that prevailed under Professor R. Nj.
Bashford, who was too busy a law
yer 10 attend to details, Mr.. Jordan
/ says: IF President Charles r. Van
Hise makes his nominal power real
she will be decent" Discussing the
~so-called custodians of Wisconsin
honor, Mr.. Jordan says:
prostitution of college honor has
been common at Wisconsin-so COM
nor that the worst treachery of play
ers and the most pitiful weakness of
faculty men bring no chagrin TO Wis
consin students. Wisconsin athletes
feared last spring that cleanliness
was to be a permanent ingredient in
her athletic policy. To no man was
the prospect more offensive than to
Edward V%anderboom president of the
4 athletic association, and captain of
the football team. He accordingly
contributed TO make her dishonest.
4 Through a conspiracy with the worst
4 of her athletes and assisted by the
professionals on her baseball team,
he organized a campaign to elect
Captain Tom Leahy of the baseball
squad to the chief executive Office of
the association. Leahy, a profession
al. feared for his own retention in
amateur standing and induced the
athletes to solicit votes with the state
ment hat II his opponent was elect
ed they we're all to be shown up.
Athletic dirt became an issue and de-
ception won