Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-27

ACTION ILL ADVISED
Barring College Men From Maine
League Will Be Likely to React.

Inc action III 13OStOH odtuTudy VI LIc
members of the Maine Intercollegiate
Athletic Board, in voting that any stu
dent who should play on any team be
longing to the Maine State League
would thereafter be ineligible to rep
resent in athletics any of the colleges
belonging to the board. seems to be "a
haSty and il-advised action and one
that will not be generally endorsed by
he college men of the State.
In the first place this decision of the
board treats the Maine League differ
emily than it has treated the Trolley
League and other similar leagues in
he past, AS the clubs in these leagues
have very generally been composed Of
playt RS from Maine colleges. There
certa nly seems to he no reason why
| there should by any discrimination on
! the part of the members of the board
against the Maine League which differs
| from the Trolley League only in that it
| will pay higher salaries to the men and
play faster ball. Such discrimination
Icertainly seems unfair but it is not be-
cause of this that Maine college men
VIII oppose the action of the board.
I The decision ~ decidedly unfair to
those ball players who desire to earn
money during the summer months TO
assist them i'll detraying their college
expenses. 1t is an honest manner to
earn money and at the same time
allows the men to pass the summer
vacation in a healthy fashion and with
| some ejoyment to themselves.
| "a good college player can earn from
1890 to 5000 in the Maine league or
similar leagues during the summer
months vacation and this money VIII
! go far toward meeting his college eX-
penses for the year. 1t would be diff
cult for him to earn a similar amount
in any other way.
There are two other questions to con-
slider in relation to this decision Of the
board. one the ethics Of the matter, the
other the probable results. 1t was
probably the first consideration that
| led the members of the board to take
the action that they have.
| 1t has been stated that the leading
factor in bringing about the above de-
clSion of the board was the clause in
the contract reserving the player from
year to year which possibly vas re-
Garded by the members of the board as
savoring 10 much of professionalism.
AS a matter of fact this is the custom
airy clause in all leagues which follow
League or association rules, but this
clause is absolutely devoid of force as
the Maine League is not under the
national agreement and players NAV
go from the Maine League to any other
team where they can make better
terms as the desire strikes them.
| OF course the board in taking its
action thinks that it is making a move
lin favor of cleaner baseball. but as a
matter of fact the same rules which
may be necessary in large institutions
are not required in Maine. The colleges
IN this State do not hire their ball play
ers for various reasons. In the first
place any such action would have to
be taken without the eognizance of the
athletic committees of any of the col
legeS as all are strict and honest in
living up to their rules. In the second
place the Maine colleges do not have
any spare money to invest in such man
ner, and again they are not 50 large
out mat the fact that a player was at
tendlng college for finance reasons
would speedily become known to the
athletic committee.
In the many years of college sports
IN Maine there have been not more
imam halt dozen instances in which
there has been suspicion that money
mas been expended in an effort to OBJ
tam students exceptionally proficient
IN sporting lines and in these cases if
mas never been suspected that there has
ever been anything more offered than
y offered to other needy students who
are not foremost in sports. 1t is uncon-
tfoverted that the Maine colleges arc
Tree from professionalism.
Now as to the results and these will
De 1elt by the colleges which have
membership IN the Maine Intercolleg-
late Athletic Board--Maine. Colby and
Bates HoWdoln not having membership
III the board nor being bound bv its
agreement. 1t will be found unless the
BOARD reNerses its action or is not en-
dorseo by the athletic associations of
me various institutions that the quality
OF baseball played at Maine. Colby and
l'ates VIII greatly depreciate. The
coiiese ball teams at Maine Colby and
Bates play about dozen games d,Ir-
ing tne spring and unless the men NAV
III the summer this is all the basebaIl
they play. Now the best ball plavers
nave LOT years played summer ball and
nave vastly increased their efficiency
ny 50 DONG. They have made consid-
cradle money during the summer and II
Is most probable that they will con-
tinue doing 50 even if they lose their
intercollegiate standing by their ac-
tons a.
IL is well known that the number Of
odli players in the Maine colleges is
not SO large that a second team couid
DC obtained that would rank almost
.uqaiy with the first. In fact second
team from any of the Maine coIlepes
would tall easy fitting to several of tho
rreparatory school mines of the State
mus to deprive the Maine COLLEGE
cams OF the services Of several of their
pes! men, would result in inferior base
oaii' the eventual cutting out Of tha
games with the Massachusetts coI,eges
ana SO far as Maine, Colby and Rates
dre concerned eventually making
very easy proposition for Bowdoin nro~
Vlded the latter institution CONTINUES