The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-26
| F | T S II E R E
IT'S RIGHT
SUMMER BALlFOR
COLLEGE PLAYERS
Missouri Professor Believes It
Should Not Affect ANA
teur Standing.

New York. Jan. 25.-The question OF
summer baseball Tor the members Of the
university teams is one which has troub-
led the diatators of college athletics for
some time, and il has received consider
able attention both from the intercolleei-
ate Athletic association OF the United
states and the smaller body. the Western
Oollege conference. At the recent meet
inSs of these bodies exhaustive reports on
TINS phase of the sport were submitted.
but apparently that is as far as the &C
ton went. Professor c. W. Hetheringtop
of the University of Missouri has come
forward with much writing on this sub
JecI ana some OF his thoughts are worthy
OF consideration by those who have the
disposal of college athletics in their
hands He says:
Baseball stimulates the most serious
violations of the amateur rule first from
the standpoint of frequency Of oceTT-
renee second, from the standpoint OF
conflicting opinions concerning the seri-
BUSINESS of the infractions, and from the
standpoint Of differences in the remedies
suggested for lettering conditions. No
where in the whole discussion of college
athletic problems is the craving for relief
from responsibility so clearly shown. Be
cause OF its peculiar dual professional and
amateur character baseball has produced
another intolerable athletic situation and
again exposed an athletic apotheosis and
destroyed finally the faith of many in
the amateur law.
Is Not Professionalism.
There are those who argue that playing
summer baseball is not professionalism
A professional is one who makes his Iiv-
ing by playing ball. Summer players do
not make their living in this way Max
ing few dollars here and there does not
make a professional in anything This is
quibblng on a word The question IS nor
a hut
Iect MS being allowed to receive anything
has on the development of athletics. The
issue is squarely between athletics as a
force in the lives OF young men and ath-
ietics for the spectator Some argue that
many baseball players must make their
way through college. II they are not al
lowed TO play summer baseball they will
nave to labor In the harvest field E" II Is
only an act of humanity to give them this
easier opportunity to make necessary
money for an education. Now, there Is
absolutely no objection to college men
playing on summer teams. They have a
right to all the money benefit they can
get through their skill in the game. bur
when they exercise this right have they
also the right to play on the college team?
ThiS larger right is questioned.
Present Evils in System.
The present evils connected with secret
professionalism cannot be tolerated. one
or the other OF the two positions must be
broader agreement among college authori-
ties concerning the principles upon which
oaseball as well as all intercollegiate ath-
letics shall be conducted and a stricter
enforcement Of these principles; or (bb
There must be a modification of these
principles. especially Of the amateur
clause.
This position cannot be maintained
without the support Of the great majority
OF school and college men. This support
can be secured by showing two things.
ta). That the law is necessary to protect
seekers after pleasure, recreation and ex-
ercise, with all their educational imDlica-
tons. as against the mere seekers after
material gain. 1t must be shown that the
rule is valid, which Will require clear
demonstrations and an educational cam
paign. tb). That the future athlete can
be protected from ignorant, technical vfo-
lations of the law through a dissemina-
ton OF information concerning the mean
ing and purpose Of amateurism and by
creating national board of eligibility.
with power OF reinstatement. If the pres
ent amateur rule be supported and base
ball be retained as an intercollegiate game
there must be an agreement concerning
policies ID. There must be an agree
ment concerning the practice of college
teams playing professional teams or semi
professional teams, or any team other
than college teams under faculty control
and o. There must be an agreement
the practice of college students
playing on teams under other than col
lege auspices.