New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
PURE SPORT THE AIM
What the Intercollegiate Athletic
Association Has Done.

The annual meeting of the intercollegiate
Athletic Association of the United States will
| be held at the Murray Hill Hotel in this city
on next Saturday. Captain Palmer E. Pierce,
president Of the association. has announced that
thirty-three universities and colleges have
either Joined or signiied their intention of do
| ing so. and it is thought that this number will
be materially increased when the roll is called.
Harvard. Yale. Princeton and Cornell have not
Joined as yet. and this is cause for regret. as
| the association, which grew out Of the
Conference of Universities and Colleges held
year ago has done a great good in the cause Of
pure spirit and is in a position TO do much
more, looking to the regulation OF intercol-
legiate athletics.
Among the institutions enrolled are: West
Point, University OF Pennsylvania, Dart
mouth. Williams. University OF Nebraska, Am
herst. Lehigh. Wesleyan. New York University.
Union. Syracuse. Vanderbilt, Tufts. swarth
more. Colgate. Bucknell. Haverford and Rut-
gers During the year the constitution and by
laws have been approved and ratified by those
which have Joined, and the difficult task is now
presented OF securing wide cooperation IN
wise control OF student athletic sports. to save
what is salutary and abate the evils that have
grown up The revision of the football rules.
which have proved so effective in improving
the game. due largely to this association.
Captain Pierce in writing of the subject says:
believe that great advancement has been
made in foo ball during the last year. and
think too much credit for this cannot be given
to the agitation which resulted in the national
conference last December. When you think that
this agitation was sufficient to bring the repre-
sentatives Of some seventy colleges from all
parts OF country except the far Middle
West and the Pacific Slope to New York City,
at their own expense, to discuss the matter, it
will be understood how serious the situa-
tion. It may be recalled that there were various
propositions made 10 the conference, one of the
most important being that football should be
done away with, at least for a season. However,
it was decided finally that the game should be
reformed, and a committee Vas appointed TO
revise the rules along certain definite lines.
This committee amalgamated with the old one,
but the work of the amagamated committee
was along the lines laid down by our national
A more open game was secured one in which
there vas less liability to accidents, and one
in which brutality entirely eliminated It
was felt that in the past the old committee had
egislated largely for the great universities and
did not consider the needs of the smaller. Ger
tainly there resulted rules which gave the ad-
vantage to the larger universities. where
students OF unusual physique could be obtained.
The game was entirely untitled for the smaller
institutions, made Up largely of average boys
of average physique. AS a result of the new
rules a game has been developed which can be
played satisfactorily by all institutions. game
in which quickness Of mind and body and
strategy Of at least as much avail as muscle
and weight.
As a result of this conference, too better
OTnclatlng mas resulted InlS year tnan IN the
past. DR. Babbitt's efforts, by means Of COM
mittee officials we'll known. Dr. Bah
bitt is member of the committee appointed by
the conference, and is carrying out the direc-
tions received 10 secure better officiating.
The morale throughout college athletics has
heen greatly elevated result Of this con-
ference. The conference this coming December
90 will receive reports from the seven districts
into which the United States has been divided,
and am sure these reports will indicate that
football has become more Of a gentlemen'S
sport during the last year than it was before.
In all probability such members of the pres
by the intercollegiate Athletic Association will
be named TO go on with the work so we'll begun.
coalition with the old committee is then
likely, as was the case a year ago. as the mem
bers of the present committee have worked in
perfect harmony and accord.
The principles Of amateur sport which each
college that joins the Intercollegiate Athletic
Association agrees TO enact and enforce follow:
Proseyting-(1) The Offering of inducements
10 players 10 enter colleges or universities be-
cause OF their athletic abilities and Of support
ing or maintaining players while students on
account Of their athletic abilities either by ath-
letic organizations, individual alumni, or other
wise directly or indirectly. CD The singing
out OF prominent athletic students of prepara-
tory schools and endeavoring TO influence them
to enter particular college or university.
The playing Of those ineligible as amateurs
The playing Of those who are not bona hde
students in good and regular standing.
Improper and unsportsmanlike conduct of any
sort whatsoever, either on the part Of the con-
testants, the coaches. their assistants or the
student body.