New-York tribune., 1909-12-19
TO IMPROVE SPORTS
MORE HELP NEEDED.
Captain Pierce Makes Plea to
Larger Colleges.

Ndptdin Palmer r Pierce. l. = A. pI---
ident OF the intercollegiate Athletic A.
socistton Of the United States. has fssued
a statement to correct. IL possible. a wrong
impression which seems 90 on ain ar Yale.
Harvard. Princeton and Cornell relativs
to the workings and purposes of the or
ganizatiOn formed three years agO at tbs
conference 90 colleges called % consider
the question OF football and IT'S reform
This association viii hold It's annual
meeting in this city on December 3. when
many questions viii be discussed NOT tho
least OF which will be football. and what
can he done to save the game. Captain
Pierce says that Brown. the College OF the
City Of New York. Indiana University and
the University of Ohio. among others. have
joined since the last annual meeting. but
that Yale. Princeton. Harvard and Cor
nell are still holding or. although ne -
hoping that Princeton and Harvard may
soon lend their support 20 the movement
Captain Pierce says IN his statement:
The IntercolIagiate Athletic Association ot
tne United states ~ an organization 81,
some sixty Of the colleges and uniVs rsfrfes
OF the country for the purpose cf improving
eoAeSiate athletics Since 1875 its delegates
nave held yearly meetings in New York
city, where qIesJons OF interest 10 inter-
eolsglate sports. as well a. collegiate stE-
ietlcs IN general. are discussed and rules
appointed and Instructed The association
does not pretend TO be governing body
Ike the Amateur Athletic Union C0nii-
tlonS DO not seem 10 variant its attempt to
control collegiate athletics except by m
uuenCe- The association realizes that what
would De suitable Cor one locality would nOc
DO for another end what would be salts
Factory TO a small college would not he at
az acceptable % large UNIVERSITY The
shows that this association Is founded on
The honor system Its authority may ap-
pear weak but u believes ID attaining is
elGs Dy educatiOnai means Tns article OF
the constitution referred 70 reads rkus-
section : The colleges and universities
to take control OF student athletic sports.
as tar as may be necessary 10 maiutain IN
them a high stsndard ef personal hOuor.
eligibility and fair play. and 70 remedy
whatever abuses may exist
Sec p The colleges and universities en-
rolled N this association are bound By ths
provisions OF ts constitution aud bylaws
But legislation enacted AZ a conferences oc
delegates shall not be binding upon any IN
stltutlOn II the proper athletic authority Oc
said institution makes formal objection 10
the same Sbch formal objection shall BE-
fled In wririDg with the execuriys con-
The object OF the second section Is 20 re-
move all fear that the smaller colleges
the larger. IL was hoped that by IutrOduc-
ING such a prOvlSO AL objections % Ger
tain or the larger institutions 70 joining IN
the work would be removed II Was also
felt that II would be a good thing II such
rules committees as may be necessary for
collegiate sports could be elected and IL
strucfsd bv an 0rssTfzarfon rpnrsSe1riDa-
all or most of the colleges In this Way the
rules rules made would more likely sur eondi-
association did not wish 70 attempt 70 dis
place the members Of the old rules CON-
mittee IL desired TO work IN harmony win
them II possible
In order 20 remove sny apprehension that
might exist on this point the asSoclariol
proposed not 10 0iSpiace the rnemb@rS OF
the old rules committee football. should
their institution join the association
pennsylvania and Chicago have joined
and the association has never questioned
the position OF their representatives. eu
the football rules committee. II is true
that Yale. Harvard. Princeton and Cor
nell have not as YET joined the aSsocla-
tlon, but u Is hoped that as its purposes
jections 10 II will be removed. and every
Institution OF any athletic prominence n
the country Will become member
realize that great universities may well
hesitate joining the ranks OF an OrSaniZs-
tiOn OF such diverse elements. and do not
wish 10 appear IN the light OF a critic q
them. / DO not know their problems. their
athletic conditions. But j have been Try
ing 70 remove all objections that may ex-
list by securing necessary changes n our
constitution. and BY 50 directing the a-aIrS
Of the sSSossfarion that IN will spuear what
it is-a league Of gentlemen With pur-
pose that II entirely unSelnsh and Ot
enough Importance 10 be worthy OF careful
consideration.
The nembership of the large universities
this movement for wise control or col
lsgiate athletics Think what the leader
ship in this work Of such Institutions as
vale. Harvard. Princeton and Cornell
would mean The association would then
exercise powerful inhusn>s thar would be
felt not only in the colleges, hut III all
the minor schools. 7 earnestly believe that
the time will come when all the great edu-
Gators Of the land viii see the Importance
OF this phase Of the playground problem
There is big heid here for affecting the
national character. and those or Us WEO
have been Iaboring in II have been dong
I have been asked what win be done as
70 football. This subject vii ee discussed
during the Afternoon session Reports on
the subject will be received from the repIe-
sentatives OF the districts into which the
United States Is divided A special report
by the secretary will be read giving The
consensus OF opinion OF the eoAeges as 10
what should be done 20 rev-Se the game
A rules committee 70 represent ths ssSo-
citation for the ensuing wear viii then hs
elected Instructions VIII oe given 20 y for
its guidance. I do not believe that dele
Changes that may De thought nscesssry-
the general lines laid down by ths con
ference Without doubt this representa-
in conjunction with the old rules commit
tee. II that Is possible.
The harmonious working OF the rules
committee since the amalganauon n lso5
is much appreciated. and il Is hoped this
harmony VIII continue during the Crisis
that is upon US this winter
i have been asked 20 state nv position
and do not hesitate 10 say that I am Tor
sIlCn changes in the rules Of fooroaH a.
viii make she game safe II Is a rough
game and I Ike II 20 be reasonably 50.
but when PLAYING IL becomes unnecessarily
dangerous to life and limb then It Is time
TO change the rules OF play
The changes necessary are now being
care fully considered ] am not Judge
OF the technique of the game. but I believe
certain lines OF reform can be laid down
tor the guidance OF the committee. and
expect 10 see this done at the meeting On
December =. There viii be no attempt.
am sure. 10 formulate actual changes n ths
playing rules during the conference.
What are deSirouS OF avoiding ~ srv
injury TO the athletic spirit IN our colleges
7 believe IN II thoroughly. and hope the
intercollegiate Association Is helping 70
improve it, II / did not think so. 7 Ger
tainly would cease my efforts 20 advance
its work.
The association has always been con
seTvative and 7 believe ~ Is not going 80
become revolutionary now 10 wants 70
improve collegiate athletics by reason q
its influence and by educational methods.
Incidentally ~ supports representative
rules committees Tor football and basket
ball some day its field may be more eN-
tended. but this viii come by a process
of evolution and not hv revolution. What
we an desire Is unity Of effort net for per-
sonsl benefit. but for the good Of the whels
country.