Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27
INTERCOLLEGIATE
ATHLETIC MEETING
Summer Base Ball Players to
Be Placed on Proper
Footing.

IleS0 DUSy Wien tllc .
Of the large number Of college base ball
teams are announcing their schedules,
players anxiously awaiting the opportuni-
ty to indulge in the first toss of the raw
hide and the coaches carefully inYestigat-
ing and doping out the material at hand,
little or no thought is given to the ap-
preaching meeting of the Intercollegiate
Athletic Association Of the United States.
which will be held in New York January
2, 1909, and which will determine the fate
OF the much-discussed and troublesome
collegiate summer base ball players.
At the last meeting of this association.
which is composed practically of all the
colleges Of any consequence in the east. or
west with the exception of Yale, Harvard
AMI Princeton. the question of summer
base BALI with reference to collegiate
players was thoroughly discussed, inves-
tigated and incidentally handled without
gloves. The malpractices generally in
dulged in by collegiate players in par
ticipating in summer base ball and which
have never been effectively controlled
of the specially designated committee. The
methods Of evasion of the amateur rule,
the petty falsehOods and elaborate sub
terfuges were all exposed, and possible
remedies discussed. 1t was held that the
most exhaustive effort should be made 4,
unanimous vote the following expression
Of belief and recommendation was
adopted:
Good Recommendations.
Believing that it is important to keep
all college athletics from any faint of
professionalism and that the playing of
base ball in summer for gain is distinctly
opposed to the principles of amateurism
on which all student athletics should rest !;
Relieving also as a result of the in
veStigation of the committee on summer
base ball that the matter can be success
fully controlled when taken seriously and
when supported by an enlightened senti-
ment, such as the effort In the intercolle-
giate conference colleges and the South
ern intercollegiate Association. etc, we
make the following recommendations:
THAT the principle Of amateurism be
maintained in all branches Of collegiate
athletics:
THAT athletic authorities Of colleges and
universities be urged to create an edu-
Gated sentiment in favor of the amateur
ideal:
THAT in view of the complex nature of
the situation in connection with summer
base ball and the need for further inves-
tigation that the present committee be
continued
After thus putting itself squarely on
record against summer base ball In all
ed and empowered to formulate the most
drastic measures to carry into effect the
declarations OF the association. 1t is at
the meeting to be held next month that
the rules and regulations for controlling
summer base ball will be reported by
the committee and adopted by the inter-
collegiate association for immediate en-
forcement by the various colleges who
are members thereof. Just how drastic
these rules will be it is impossible to
prophesy as they are being shrouded in
secrecy and will not be made public until
be surprising, however. in view OF the
determined stand already taken by the
association, to find that they are of
most sweeping character. and will throw
out every type Of summer base ball play
err who has heretofore been able to play
OH college teams.
May Worry Big Boys.
A very interesting result will arise in
the case OF the three big boys who arc
without the fold of the association, Yale.
Harvard and Princeton. IT is freely pre-
dicted that the members of the associa-
ton and they include most every college
in the east except those named, viii be
forbidden to schedule any athletic con-
tests with colleges who do not prohibit
summer base ball among their students
So it appears from present Indications
that the big three will be in a position to
have a nice little game of ping pong all to
themselves
Hardly any college. with the exception
anticipation of the coming control of
summer base ball and there will be
many walls from managers, coaches and
the like when the stern hand of the fac
ulty invites the summer base ball player
to take a back seat when the good old
rolls around.