Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-01
COLLEGE BALL EVIL
AND ITS REMEDY


George f. Downer of the University of
Wisconsin Is the author OF an article on
1.-THE Summer Vexed Question of College
Base Ball." printed in the current issue OF
the Northwestern Sportsman, that is worthy
of attention of all leaders in college ath-
1etics. Mr.. Downer confines himself to the
conference problem, and the position that
he takes is one well worthy of considera-
ton In his article he says:
Leaving out of consideration for the
moment the now famous rule 10 of the in
tercollegiate conference 1t would seem as IL
the code which existed prior to the enact
ment of that clause was sufficient to cover
any ordinary case-and most of the ex-
traordinary ones. The rules have been in
creasing in number and perpiexity-but as
late as the last college year faculty COM
mittees continued to require proof that a
man had actually been paid money for his
base ball services in order to debar him.
though this requirement was wholly
necessary. In practically every notable
case arising last year there was enough
evidence in the. admissions of the accused
athletes to disqualify them under the
rules. but in each case the verdict was
acquittal because the payment of money
could not be shown.
lie conference rules are explicit all
points touching the distinction between
amateurs and professionals. The following
quotations are taken from notice regard
Ing the last conference meet, under date
OF May 10, 1906:
An amateur is person who has
never competed In an open competition, or
for money, or under false name. or
with a professional for a prize. or with
professional where gate money Is
charged, nor has at any time taught, pur-
sued or assisted at athletic exercises for
money or other valuable consideration But
nothing in this definition shall be construed
to prohibit the competition between anna
teurs for medals, cups or other prizes than
money. And 1t is hereby expressly declared
that this definition is retroactive
These rules. it will be noted do not
require that the acceptance OF money be
shown to make a man professional. Any
one who has ever competed with a profess
sional where gate money is charged there
by himself becomes a professional The
rules at all points specifically include any
athletic exercise And as Inc acceptance
of money, however small in amount. as pay
for playing ball makes man a profess
sional, almost every team contains at least
one professional As a consequence of the
above rule any team playing against nine
SO constituted would thereby become pro-
lSSsiouoiiZcu ~ lue isiSt man. IniS comes
pretty near getting rid of the college base
ball player and his case by the reductio al
absurdum method Which Is exactly my
point that there can be no honest college
base ball under the existing rules
Men of any playing ability will play
during the summer and, as there is prac-
ttcally, in the west at least, no such thing
as playing summer ball in strict conform
ity to the existing ruies-no such thing as
playing strictly amateur ball, the s.tua-
ton becomes a question either of having
college teams, the members of which have
qualified by signing lying eligibility state
ments. or having no intercollegiate base
bail whatever.
1.-THE worst feature of the first course,
that of the easily tolerated lying eligibility
statement, which obtains today In all the
colleges, is its general effect upon college
morality and notions OF honesty. parficu
larry In athletics. All the candidates start
In with full knowledge of what Is expect
ed of them and, not infrequently. an essen
tial part of their coaching has TO do with
fitting them to answer the questions of the
faculty chairman OF athletics. He knows
that no rival college will protest. be
cause they are all In the same boat. and
they don't dare The college jokes about
it aud wakes still more cynical Occasion