The Washington times., 1905-05-22
MICHIGAN'S VIEWS
Of SUMNER BALL
Director Baird Discusses
Much Mooted Question.
GEORGETOWN AND VIRGINIA
Western Colleges Have Followed Con-
troyersy-Rules Must Be Sweeping
as Regards Professionalism.

CHICAGO. May 22-More general in
terest than might be imagined has been
aroused by the troubles between George
town and Virginia over the question Of
summer ball playing by college ath-
lstes.
One place which has been studying
the situation thoroughly and is as much
At sea as the joint committee of the
two schools named. is the University
OF Michigan. Faculty restrictions are
being enforced more rigidly each year
against mi-professionai athletes in
the Middle Western colleges, and at the
same time q more healthy student
spirit is developing.
Question Most Important.
But no matter which way the authori-
ties turn, they eventually come back TO
summer ball. and it is hard to tell how
J. should be handled.
Among those who have given the mat
ter most serious consideration is Charles
Baird, director OF athletics at Michigan.
/ had a talk with him at the univer-
s:ty, and Mr.. Baird admitted that the
problem was an extremely difficult one,
for which no adequate solution had yet
been offered. He has closely watched
the Georgetown Virginia controversy.
and is anxious TO see how the faculties
summer ball
Some Suggestions.
Speaking generally. Mr.. Baird made
some rather broad tentative sugges-
tiens, but it must appear that one Of
them will eventually be adopted. He
said:
pss...sTlais question of regulating the anna
.teuf status of college ball players is
a long way of. One solution might be
to allow college men to play summer
ball, and also play on their college
teams. but forbid their entering other
branches OF sport.
IF a man is SO anxious, or finds it
SO necessary, To play ball in the sum-
mer,-aEd Is willing 10 abandon open
competition in all other sports. he might
be given that privilege.
One of the Ways.
7 do net mean 10 say 7 advocate such
a step, but il is one of the ways of
treating the subject Baseball is the
great national pastime It is played
everywhere by everybody. It has be
come recognized professional sport
in all sections of the country. and the
graduations Of professionalism are so
numerous ard so intricate that il is
almDs< i'm possible 10 decide TO what ex-
tent a pure amateur has been affected
many cases which constantly puzzle
those who have TO render judgment.
Fer College Only.
'sOn the other hand, we might say TO
the college man that he must not play
baseball at all except for his college
during his four years This, like the
other suggestion, is open to various
apparent objections.
It's regtd enforcement would neces-
sarily lead to protests from numerous
sources. since, as / have said baseball
is the national pastime and in the long
vacation thousands OF capable college
players like to enjoy the sport, even if
they receive no remuneration and pay
their own expenses
No Compromise.
When a compromise agreement is
drawn up between two or more colleges
there is apt TO be more or less trouble
Each faculty committee may be abso-
luteiy conscientious end thoroughly in
spired with desire 10 live up to the
agreement in its fullest sense, but diff
feFent men are prone To look ar things
from different viewpoints. and though
each one may be absolutely honest in
MS reasoning and deductions they are
liable 10 come to startiingly diverse
conclusions
We have this illustrated every day.
hen one court overrules another, and
when tribunals of last resort hand down
decisions by bare majorities.
Danger of Compromise.
I'm the colleges this diversity of opin-
ior: may lead 10 disastrous friction and
undeserved charges in treating compli-
Gated situations which frequently arise
from summer ball. and therein lies the
danger of having compromise compacts
instead Of sweeping, specific rules per-
mittIng or f0rbidding the practice
We can only hope that those in au-
thor1ty viii act cooily and not try TO
solve by hasty actions a problem which
must work itself out IN time
Keeae Fitzpatrick.
Keene Fitzpatrick, the veteran trainer
at Michigan. who has been able 10 do
50 much with her athletes, was present
at the time. and agreed with Mr. Baird
that the man who could definitely settle
the summer ball dispute would be a
wonder Like Mr.. Baird, he had fol-
lowed the George Virginia affair.
and is anxious 10 see how the provis-
fcns of the agreement are fulfilled
THOMAS S. RICE