, 1907-02-23
Spoke at Harvard

Cambridge, Mass, Feb. 23.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt this afternoon deliv-
cred an address before the Harvard
union, giving some of his ideas on col
lege athletics. The address is a clear
cut, mastery appeal for athletics, the
president declaring that the colleges
of the country should turn out men and
not mollycoddles. He does not dislike
a game that is rough, but urges that
perversions and unfair methods be
eliminated. There were present many
members of the union.
Mr.. Roosevelt Said in Part.
In speaking here at the Harvard I'm
ion ! wish to say first a special word
as one Harvard man to his fellow Har-
ward men. I feel that We can none of
us ever be sufficiently grateful to Col
onel Higginson for having founded this
Harvard Union, because each loyal
Harvard man should do all he can to
foster in Harvard that spirit of real
democracy which will make Harvard
men feel the vital sense of solidarity
SO that they can all join to work to-
gether in the things that are of most
concern to the college.
The Differences in Men.
1t is idle to expect nor indeed would
it be desirable that there should be,
in Harvard a uniform level of taste
and association. Some men will excel
in one thing and some in another;
some in things of the body, some in
things Of the mind; and where thou
sands are gathered together each will
naturally find ONE group of specially
c%ongenial friends with whom he will
form ties of peculiar social intimacy.
These groups-athletic, artistic, scien.
tiic, social-must inevitably exist.
Not to Be Denied.
My plea is not for their abolition.
My plea is that they shall be got into
the right focus in the eyes of college
men; that the relative Importance of
the different groups shall be under
stool when compared with the infinite
ly greater life of the college as a
whole. Let each man have his special
associates, his special interests, his
special studies and pursuits, but let
him remember that he can not get the
full benefit of life in college if he does
nothing but specialize; and that, what's
even more important, he a not do
his full duty by the college unless his
first and greatest interest is in the col
lege itself, in his associates taken as
a mass, and not in any small group.
A Democratic Spirit.
One reason why l SO thoroughly be
lieve in the athletic spirit at Harvard
is because the athletic spirit is essen.
tally democratic. Our chief interest
in sport. On the contrary our concern
should be most of ali to widen the
base, the foundation in athletic sports;
to encourage in every way a healthy
rivalry which shall give to the largest
possible number of students the chance
to take part in vigorous outdoor games.
Better Badly Than Not at All.
1t is Of far more Importance that a
man shall play something himself, ev-
en- II he plays it badly, than that he
shall go with hundreds of companions
to see some one else play well; and it
is not healthy for either students or
athletes. If the terms are mutually ex-
elusive. But even having this aim
especially in view, it seems to me we
can best attain 1t by giving proper en-
couragement to the champions in the
sports, and this can only be done by
encouraging intercollegiate sport.
Down on MoIlycoddles.
AS I emphatically disbelieve in see