The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-19
WITH THB COLLEGE ATHLETES
DOIN6S IN THE FIELD or SPORT
EAST AND VEST
Breaking Up the Western Conference me
Latest-DiSSOluttOn Not Considered
Likely Lafayette FrOtegts Against
Treatment Accorded Its Relay Team.

~ III ~ ~
Latest-DissOlutiOn Not Considered
Likely Lafayette Protests Against
Treatment Accorded Its Relay Team,
About the latest intelligence procurable
on the subject Of intercollegiate sport ia the
West Is that the conference intercollegiate
association is doomed to failure. The story
goes that the defections Of Michigan and
Nebraska are expected to work ruin to the
association, although the others are going
to stand together for a while. Just how
this will work out Is not made very clear.
The report emanates from those who do not
bear the conference any good will. Thsy
believe that Michigan, as the most important
element In the conference since its founda-
ton not 90 many years ago, will cripple 1t
hopelessly by Withdrawing.
There does not appear to be any good rea-
son for expecting, however. that such lie
going TO be the case, The conference has
stood some h6rdknocks in it's brief existence
and the withdrawal Of one institution from
the Big Nine, viewed reasonably. cannot
destroy the whole fabric. In feet. as mat
ters now stand Michigan is qualifying 70 play
a lone role In western sport, and the chances
are that unless the observation-disclosures well
come the Ann Arbor people heartily the
Maize I'M Blue will be forced into making
peace with the conference. II does not APP
pear reasonable that Michigan can force
eight other colleges into line, because with
Chicago, Minnesota and Wisconsin grouped.
there is enough first rate competition with
out recourse to Michigan.
The Eastern view Of the whole matter Is
that Michigan was hardly justified in an
objection to the rules passed by the con-
ference. The complaint made was that
these rules were devised by Chicago and
we're aimed particularly at the success Of
Michigan. In football, for instance. Michi-
gan playing LAST season was really and truly
hampered. The eleven was admittedly
weak. However, there were no really
standards Of other years, and It is safe to
say that no team suffered much less than
that Of Michigan.
All we're in the same boat and the restric-
tions as to training tables, limited seasons
and schedules and the barring Of first year
men and graduates hit all alike. Michigan
set forth the contention that there we're
more men affected by the graduate rule at
Ann Arbor than at any other institutionJ
and that it was a deliberate attempt by Prof.
Stage to cripple the Ann Arbor track teams
80 that the next intercollegiate games would
20 to the Maroons.
II does not seem reasonable that all the
colleges would join with Chicago to help
the Maroons accomplish such legislation
for the private ends Of the Midway institu-
ton. In fact 1t is safe to say that Chicago
is as we'll hated as ever Michigan was or Is
by the smaller institutions. Fair warning
of an intention TO withdraw in case Of I'M
favorable legislation was set forth by the
Michigan delegates. II anything in the line
OF a deal to hurt Michigan was framed up
those who fixed IL knew that they were
taking a chance OF driving out Of the con-
ference the most prominent athletic
member.
Fasteners cannot exactly figure out how
Michigan can hold the conference by the
throat in an attempt to force legislation
favorable to Ann Arbor. For instance, in
the East Harvard is affected more un-
.favoraply by the graduate rule than any
other institution. Harvard is the great
postgraduate institution OF those ~ctively
engaged I'm athletic sports. The rule cuts
the Harvard athletic population AVA down
in figures. In fact, Harvard men sa y that
of figuring on the basis of 5000 4
men to draw from for athletic sports various
restrictions make the figure actually about
of that number. II is added that
all in all Dartmouth probably has
as many students to call upon for the
support Of athletic teams.
To resume, II Harvard had scented in the
graduate rule a plan by Yale, for instance, |
and had refused TO continue in competition
against the Blue and other colleges. what
would have been the likely result? Harvard
would have been free to go and no one would
have made any step TO bar the way for the
Crimson. Even Yale, whose condition Of
rivalry with Harvard 10 more
than that OF any other college,
to hold Harvard in any intercollegiate
association. II is unlikely that the L. G. A.
A. A. A. would have adopted the retaliatory
taken by the conference in making
Il difficult for those not subscribing to the
conference to take any active part in inter
collegiate games. But Harvard would have
been free to 20 exactly as is Michigan and
no better justification.
So IL seems that little chance az HARVARD
would have to break up the I. c. A.. A. A, A,
eled. However, Michigan may be bank
ng on the numerous r~ivalries and differ
,nces among the Western colleges 10 form q
brand new coalition. II that effort is sue
that combination may last as long
Is the conference.
John H. Hubbard, 'O7 Amherst, who will
the football team In that Institution
1ext fall snd Is the present track team
has been selected to act as secretary
II the Y. M. c. A. at Amherst, which seems
o call for special m from the Am
.erst student. The idea OF that college
PAPER is that the appointment Of an athlete
% such a position Is altogether 30 new and
exceptional a thing that it constitutes an
altogether unprecedented situation,
MIR. Hubhard's presence in Amherst next
rear in the dual capacity OF football coach
ind association secretary will place Amherst
n a unique position among the colleges of
he country says Bruce Barton in the
3tudent. Il think l do the coaching pro-
ession no wrong when ! gay that the coaches
II very few colleges would attain distinction
Is association secretaries. Certainly the
Of college associations which could !
command the services OF a man Of Mr..
1ubbard's ability is SMALL
The writer recalls other instances OF
uch things before and not 30 long since. ,
Iosiah G.. McCraoken, the we'll known
'ennsylvania football player and track ,
Lthlete, was secretary OF the Columbia
Z. M. G. A. for a time. He helped with
ONE OF Columbia's jeans. Howard Rich ,
rds of Yale also acted as secretary at
Both these men distinguished
in missionary fields and both :