Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-06
Protest against Snobbish "Amateur
ISM"

college athletics those bona fide
students who use their athletic skill
during the vacations as a means of
earning money to help defray the ex-
penses of getting an education. 1t has
often pointed out the hypocricy and
folly of trying to draw such a line be-
tween professionals" and "amateurs,
as is done at our large universities and
by our athletic "authOrities' of the
Casper Whitney type. We are glad to
find no less a figure in the educational
world than President Luther of Trinity
College, Hartford, Connecticut, taking
n view Of the matter which comedies
exactly with our own, and using vigor.
Gus language toward those who set up
n snobbish standard of "amateurism' in
college sports. In an address before
the alumni of his college at Hartford,
.ast week, he spoke in part as follows:
1.-The accented difference between the
professional and the amateur college
athlete is purely artificial. 1t seems tc
me that, strictly speaking, man be-
comes professional whenever ne
plays a game at which gate money Is
taken; that is, if any part of the gate
money IS used for the personal ex-
Lenses of that athlete. The distinction
between necessary and unneCess Try cx-
uenScs is too fine to be drawn. Thc
rato-mOney is used i'm behalf of the
athlete to provide him with luXurieS liz
travel, with part of his wearing appa-
rel. with better meals than he is likely
to have otherwise, with medical attcn-
dance. with e valet. with other person.
aIIv pleasant or desirable things. The
athlete is glad to become an aVoWed
professional as coach or athletic in
structor as soon as he graduates-or
otherwise becomes ineligible for his
college team. His athletic prowess is
an asset H. many ways. Headmasters
are dilgcnt in writing to colleges for
teachers who can help and instruct
their boys in athletics. Such teacher
ceases to be an amateur.
~ man who breaches at Il mission
station, and is paid for it, earns money
perhaps necessary to his continued
stay in college. He also gains tluen-
cy and effectiveness in speech which
make him a useful member of his COL
Iege debating team. Is he profess
.ional dcbater? Must he be protested ::
The man who earns money i'm an iron
foundry that he may go to college ne
V.lopS the muscles eSSentl3i TO me
football player. Is he a professional!
The man who plays ball for money.
when he spends this money to pay col
.ge expenses finds himself shut out
from an attractive and improving por-
ton of college experience becaus" he is
a professional. Is this a good thing or
Il foolish thing?
"t;cntlemen, these words, professions
al and amateur, have come to us from
a time and social order when they
meant about the same rs workman ana
gentleman. They stand for distinc-
ton which. in my humble opinion. the
world is becoming more and more I'M
willing to recognize. They are names
for groups which, in our American COL
lege society, mingle in suchWise that
separation is not easy. My own prl-
waite view is that the college athletes
eligibility should turn mainly UPON one
question: Is he a bona fiIe student OF
III. college which he represents. and in
good staniing?' | think that the cure
for the great evils now widespread in
college athletics lies i'm the cxaction or
a higher STANDARD of academic work
from all-athletes and others.
at was curious to note the plant or
a recent writer who was shocked be-
cause. a proposedachange in the defini-
tlon Of the term professional would
thn,cp nd hall MA NcrS
eligible to the teams of certain large
universities. Are there then no en-
trance examinations at those UNIVERSE
ties? Are there then no standards Oh
class room work insisted upon in such
places? There are, of course, in real
itv. these definite and necessary STAN
dards. It is meeting these that should
determine eligibility; and, II they can
meet these standards, heaven grant
that all the thousands of ball players
may go to college and gain the price
less advantage of collegiate educat1on'
enjoying, while students. all the privi-
leges and opportunities offered to stu
dents who are supported from other
sources of income.
The question of the pecuniary as
sistances of college athletes by interest
cd alumni is another difficult one. No
college, in my belief. gives scholarships
to athletes because they are athletes.
But it would be wrong to withhold as
sistance from a good man because ne
can play ball. AS to outside assist
ance by alumni, no doubt it is common
enough, taking the college world as a
whole, though proof in specific cases Is
difficult. Who shall say what are the
motives of the generous alumnus? l
know Il Trinity alumnlls who has this
year assisted five deserving men to pay
their bills. Two of these are athletes.
Must they be disqualified? And if an
alumnus pays the bills of a thoroughly
competent student, moved thereto by
the desire to strengthen the team. it
does indeed raise the question whether
the process be not demoralizing to the
beneficiary; but is the case different
from that in which a rich man edu-
Gates 4 poor boy for any other reason
The question of the effect of purely
benevolent scholarships is broader
than the. athletic DrOblcm"