The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-04
RAP AT FOOTBALL
President SlOcum of Colorado
College Is a RefOrmer.
Says Popular Game Is Nothing
Less Than a Fight.
GOING TO START WAR
At Present Admits He Is En-.
thuSiastic OH the Field.
Says Game Does Not Tend to
Produce Normal Results.
GOING TO START WAR

President William F. Slocum of Colo
RADIO college, who gave the dedicatory
address Thursday afternoon on the oc-
casion of the dedication of the new
gymnasium building, made a state
ment to the effect that the pasttime of
football as is now played in the uni
versities and colleges in the United
States is a game in connection with
which "a few train and the many look
on" and is really nothing more nor less
than a great fight on the part of the
gridiron heroes. In speaking to a State
Journal reporter DR.. Slocum said, II
expect in the near future to wage a
war against football as it is played at
the present time, but I shall have to
admit that when it comes right down
to the point 1 am just as much of an
enthusiast on the football field as any
one else and want my boys to win.
The game undoubtedly. however does
not tend towards producing normal re-
SUITS
The following is the address in part:
President Stearne in his first annual
report to the trustees of Amherst col
lege in 1885 said: No one thing has
demanded more of my anxious atten-
ton than the health of my students
The waning Of the physical energies in
the midway of the college course is al
most the rule, rather than the excep-
ton among us and cases of complete
breakdown are painfully numerous
This is not the case today owing to
better conception of hygiene, the care
of health. the worth of food, and
changes of the modes of living of the
students. The making of normal h1-
man beings is the end we should have
in view. Normality exists when each
function is performing in a natural
manner It's work, for example weak
heart is not a normal heart. DIR. Hart
well says: Physical education has to
90 with the nerves as well as the
muscles I would add physical educa-
ton has to do with the mind as well
as the muscles and nerves.
THE creation of self control is the
end towards which we should work,
and self control is a mental quality.
The reaction and intera action of mind
and body are two of the most irnpor-
tant and well defined facts of human
life. The sane mind has the power of
self control. The insane or 'unsane'
minds is one that has lost its power of
self control. The physical instructor
is just as much a trainer of the mind
as the teacher of psychology. He, too,
Is helping souls to be born, or at least
he should be doing this. The Greek
Idea has not been surpassed, which was
to produce health-that is harmony and
sympathy and grace in every faculty
of mind and body.
ITO make normal man or woman
the gymnasium must have it's connec-
tive work, namely, for an eastern col
lege for women lists showed that 81 per
cent of the young women had more or
less curvature of the spine. This would
lead to nervous break downs, but it
was for the most part rectified. The
ma jority of men and women have
shoulders of uneven height. This indi-
Gates that practically every one should
have physical exercise and sport. The
present condition in colleges is wrong,
as far as a few train and the many
look on and root The best exercise is
that of which one is unconscious"
1.-The system of football now in vogue
IN our colleges is wrong. 1t is not rea
play but a fight. 1t is a great mistake
to make the gymnasium into a training
school for a few fighters. In this case
the training master is apparently not
seeking to produce normal men, but tc
produce abnormal men for a few spec
ial efforts.
True sport makes people unconsci-
ously moral. Men will give up wine
and whisky when they begin to feel the
pleasure of good health from INDUCING
in out of door sports. Yet there mus
be a motive for physical culture. The
true motive is that one may make the
most of himself in order that he may
give his best self to the service o.
good and humanity. This is why thu
college gymnasium and athletic fielC
should have good healthy sport, anl