New-York tribune., 1907-01-29
WON'T JOIN In REFORM.
BIG COLLEGES HOLD OFF.
Political Considerations PreUcnt En-
rolnefut at Present.

Tn. two collegiate meetings hsld Saturday st
she Murray Hiu Hotel were not productive Of the
results anticipated along the line Of narrowing the
xxp between the intercollegiate Athletic Association
of the United States and i've OF the seven institu-
lions which are represented Independently on the
football rules committee whcn the intercollegiate
sssocation is especially anxious 10 enroll In Its
msmberKhip. II was expected that there would be
formal meetings between the association represen-
natives and the various individuals OF the rules
committee but no such meetings took place, It
also anticipated that at the meeting OF the eK-
ecutve committee Of the intercollegiate association
there would be formulated the recommendation that
would entitls the seven individual institutions 10
permanent representation On the football rules
committee IA future. This subject was not oonsid-
cred A hitch evidently developed IN the negoda-
lions for the coalition OF the two parties. although
fhs nature OF that hitch wRs carefully concealed
President Palmer E. Pierce. OF the intercollegiate
association, after the meeting Of his executive
e0mmittes stated that the various colleges had not
been formally approached with any proposition YET
f IS certain that there have been various CONFER
sncen held from time time The views Of all
fhs members OF the old football rules committee
arc snOwn 20 their fellow members representing the
conference cOeges and # is an obvious fact that
sons OF the Unsidilisted members are sun antago-
r3stlo 70 the new association. II is also evident
thst those interested IN the new body have not
lost hope of inducing the 'big fellows" TO join
them. although Il is not probable that there viii
b. Rmalgamation for some time
Tho executive committee did consider measures
az the Murray HUI Hotel cooking toward the ex-
tAnEiOn OF the associations membership The num-
Der Of colleges enrolled has already INCREASED from
shrty-threo 70 nearly fifty. The University OF
ponnEyIvanis. of the big seven" has formally
Qualtasd. and 81 is practically certain that the
Unyersity OF Chicago Will be enlisted before long
This leaves only ave institutions that are holding
&C. IL "a the evident purpose OF the association 10
40 ahead and extend Its influence IN other lines
ana hy 4 normal growth among the smaller col
isEsr during The year gradually so impress itself
Upon college life that the larger colleges may even
tuxlly be drawn IN one by one
The means 20 be employed IN this extension is
20 enlist the minor conferences in the various geo
graphical districts throughout the country and, BY
Ysdlsr1buting the districts into which the associa
f1on is divided. 10 absorb ali the minor confer
soosE, while they retain their integral integrity.
Eno Conference OF Nine in the Middle West. is
1key 70 be absorbed in this way. and the Con-
ference OF Southern Colleges and the Federation
Of the Southwest well Associations In other
districts may also be taken IN. that before long
there VIII be seventy-dve eighty institutions
Represented. instead OF the present hfty-add The
accession OF each institution puts the association
in aust so much stronger a position with respect
% the larger colleges that holding aloof while
q slso spreads its beneficial work OF reform
z ss not too much to say that the opposition Of
tne larger colleges is partly political. If any MEM
Der Of the old football committee is asked about
politics within the committee. he Will scon and
deny the existence Of such influence. Never
thsless. politics is there. and always has been.
IL was through nothing else-the fear that IN
eg0p 70 & or feSo5scn aRoheF o @
unanimous consent requirement. Of the old com
ittee and il Was the necessity OF unanimous con-
sent that alone pTeysnied the reformation Of the
demand When the conference colleges stepped in
and DEMANDED needed REFORMATION they accom-
plshec the abrogatOn Of that prohibiti"e condl-
TShs ola football committee VIII not however,
give the conference colleges even that credit On
ths highest authority Il can be stated that split
IN the old committee was imminent at that time
On that point of unanimous consent, and at least
c9eKes %sT gsepaTed 10 TthdTaW M ITSm
consent rule was not suspended This is a bit Of
Known nd L IS evidence ncidentaiiy that there
vas politics. and plenty OF IT, IN the old com
There are i've institutions standing out against
s aT TI Pnos0n coTne ana
annapolis is restrained ned probably more by the
than By eny other influence. Harvard says. IN
work Ourselves" Yale frankly says that she 5oes
not want . s.Ilk her individuality IN a general
FORM and Princeton does not say much OF any
Brown conference the reason why she does
not the advantages Of the association,
sgnoring the fact that conditions different at
The only criticism that has been directed against
sssa tfst ts Sssocistion does no hind its Insr6beI
spply such principles as are enunciated By the ma
sority; that Il Is impossible 10 enact set OF reg
nlstions that win NJ local conditions OF the vari-
Gus institutions even We're the rulings OF the nsso
soTeInsnt reply that they do rot seek to do rnors
q
sentiment can be aroused and maintained only by
constant agitation. and that already vast reforms
pave been accomplished within and without their
corneIl further objects to the recognition OF any
individual institution by giving II peTma rep
reHeDtatiOn a Legislative committee, even though
she be OF them, claiming IL IS subyersive OF the
Democratic principle. Furthermore. she that
any permanent assurance 10 that effect be
given and any resolution granting Il might be
rsscinded e any future meeting of the association
after the big colleges had Joined.
e nth the last s aPSlyss Il It's s the The fear OF Me9sTs
Individually may be deposed the real obtec-
tiOn, These have done immense amount
OF good for football, and the competent
IN the United States 20 egislate for the game
They know the sport thoroughly from A to 2. They
not only competent TO Judge OF the effects OF
present legislation, but competent to frame new
rule. 20 meet new conditions. II would be folly
such a folly as the conference colleges came near
committing when they were fortunately prevented
~ Messrs Pierce and Williams-to think OF re-
placing them individually. There is nothing further
from the mind OF the leaders in the association
present. ana Il is not likely TO enter their minds
3or rome time.
Yet, as long the present conditions continue
mere win always be iire sInouldering under col
les1ste relations. especially I'm football, and the
issue is bound TO rise prominently eventually.
Those who foresee u confident that IN the end
crEenizstiOn VIII triumph dstintegrated action
End that tho intercollegiate association bound TO
win finally. even though the individual IS sacrificed