New-York tribune., 1908-03-23

is problematical. 1T Is generally ocheVeo AT
Harvard University that the vote OF the faculty
at a special meeting on Friday night recommend
ing an intercollegiate agreement to reduce the
number of intercollegiate contests Will have no ef-
feet whatever any of the matches arranged
for this academic year The baseball schedule for
this spring has been completed, and includes twen-
ty-seven games.
But, in the opinion of many Harvard men, there
is a strong possibility of a radical change next
fall in the football schedule. There is even
prospect is asserted, that the schedule may be
cut to two games, and that the Harvard team Is
public activity in this line of sport may eventually
be limited. though probably not this year. to con-
tests with Yale and one other college oniy-propa-
bly, Dartmouth The supporters of this plan take
the view that football should be put on plane
with rowing and that the football team, like the
crew should be trained and developed for not more
| than three contests.
At a conference last fall the New England col
ege presidents III reply to request by President
Eliot voted in favor of curtalling the scheouie Vi
| intercollegiate athletic contests Following .his
| action. The Associated Press canvassed the rae
uty representatives the athletic committees vi
| the various New England colleges and with one or
| two exceptions all favored the proposed plan.
! President George Harris and the athletic author
| tiles of Amherst College in favor of the pian
| President Harris holding that a few games are
better the scholarship and physical we'll oelns
| of the students than long schedule OR the aooi-
| shment of contests altogether. Amhersts base
| ball schedule has already been cut to twenty
games
| President NJ. H Buckham of the University of
! Vermont. favors the plan, but as the baseball
games have already heen made up there will be no
| curtailment this spring at least.
| Dartmouth, which has for the last few years
trimmed her athletic schedules, will probably not
be affected by any further curtailment, acting
President John X. Lord believing that the present
! proportion of athletics is a necessary form OF
| amusement TO the college.
Dr. Frank H. Whittier, physical director at Bow
! doin College believes that Bowdon's present
/ sporting schedules satisfactory
| Princeton, n. j.. March 22.-Speaking tonight
of the at Harvard for reduction in the
number of intercollegiate athletic contests, Pro-
fessor ]. B. Fine, head of the athletic executive
committee of Princeton University, said
There two questions involved in reducing
/ the number of contests in athletics the academic
! and the athletic. From athletic viewpoint
and that of developing strong teams the present
| system needed; but far the academic
side is concerned that is question for the ath-
| ete himself to decide. At Princeton an athlete
compete in only two branches of sport so
that there has been little difficulty for the ind
yfdual, although university teams have lost many
a valuable in this way
President Woodrow Wilson has declared him.
self personally in favor Of reducing the number
of contests in athletics. but said tonight that
there had been official discussion Of the ques-
ton among the faculty. and that there was no
indication Of such action in the future.
| President Hadey Of Yale was quoted In The
! Tribune yesterday saving:
| THE question is difficult one AS matters
stand to-day the students in large colleges
| the greater part of Saturday at their own dis
posa Some of them wish to go home for Satur-
| day and Sunday; others go to the nearest city to
anuse themselves Each Of these things, particu-
| larly the latter is serious of inter
ruption to college work than most of the inter
collegiate sports. If sports keep the students to-
| gether, 1 am afraid shall do more harm than
| good by discouraging them.
1T has been the policy Of the Yale faculties to
take this matter the positive side.
| much by limiting the sports as by insisting on reg
ular attendance and on the performance Of college
| duties
In the absence of President Butler who is in
| Bermuda, none of the faculty of Columbia Uni
| versity any member Of the committee on
student organization would say anything yesterday
with reference the resolution passed by
! Harvard faculty for reduction In the number of
! intercollegiate athletic contests.
! we'll known graduate of Columbia who has
taken much interest in athletics, in discussing the
action of the Harvard faculty, said
Harvard, In my opinion, may depend CO.
lumbia to follow in her steps in this matter The
| Columbia faculty for the last few years has shown
sentiment against the general participation OF
the students In intercollegiate contests In 1906
when Columbia decided to quit the game of foot
the abolition of intercollegiate sport to as great an
extent possible. 1t the idea Of the pro-
fessors in charge Of athletics that too much
| ton devoted to sport instead of study, and
consequently they opposed intercollegiate sport In
general
'As for the undergraduates and the younger
! alumni they will undoubtedly oppose any step
toward restriction but they will not be taken into
consideration by the faculty to any great extent
Judging from its action in the past. 1t will be
membered that when Columbia abolished football
| President Eliot of Harvard wanted to take the
same step, and probably would have done had
he been able to overrule the sentiment OF the Har-
ward alumni and students. did the Columbia
authorities
Madison Wis, March 22.-Presdent Charles r.
Van Hise OF the University of Wisconsin to-day
expressed himself being entirely in accord with
the Harvard faculty in its recommendation to re-
duce the number of intercollegiate contests. Presi
dent Van Hse the faculty OF the University
of Wisconsin is unanimously in favor of this reduc
ton.
The number of baseball games which have been
played by Eastern universities is about double that
of the University of Wisconsin, said President
Van Hise According to the papers Harvard is
scheduled to play twenty-seyen baseball games.
and not more than a year ago their football sched-
uie called for ten games. This year have five
football and twelve baseball games. The West has
preceded the East in reducing intercollegiate
tests"
Professor w. X. Gillett. member of the faculty
committee on student Organizations of New York
University. in speaking OF the action or the Har-
ward faculty last night. said:
For almost a year the committee student
organizations has been considering the matter.
About three months ago it was decided to limit to
one the number of athletic contests Of any kind
held at the university between Monday and FRI