New-York tribune., 1909-12-29

letic Association of the United States ana
the spread of interest in its work among the
universities and colleges which have long
been lukewarm toward 1t, were discussed
fully in the early part II the afternoon,
when district representatives made reports
covering their sections. All scanned to in
dicate a wholesome and steady growth. and
liberal applause served TO indicate the pleas
ure of the delegates in the good work that
had been done. as shown by the tremendous
increase in influence of the association
Half-hearted work has not lain In the prov
ince of these representatives. as they have
seen it, to judge from their reports, and
their watchfulness has covered every form
OF collegiate sport and the intangible mani
festations of what is good and what is bad
in intercollegiate athletics.
The country is divided at present into
seven districts. New England, the Middle
States and Maryland the South, the West
ern Conference, Ohio, which has a confer
ence of its own; the Southwest, represented
by the Missouri Conference; the Northwest
Minnesota and the Dakotas. and the Pacific
Coast being the great divisions. There is
some overlapping al present Ohios dis
trict report was additional feature yes
terday, because that district is really a part
of the conference territory The Pacific
Coast was not represented but there was
an additional report from North Carolina,
presented by the most entertaining speaker
OF the meeting Professor Riddick, of the
Agricultural and Mechanical College of that
state summer baseball being his topic.
The districts will probably be rearranged
before the next meeting. II the work is not
done Numerous small leagues
and conferences. modelled on the great
Western governing bodies, springng up
and each reference 10 one OF them yester
day seemed TO give keen and particular
pleasure to Captain Pierce, who said en-
phatically that the hope of real solutions
of collegiate and intercollegiate problems
I lay in the formation of local leagues. Pro-
fessor Bevier. of Rutgers. was insistent on
this point, too. Captain Pierce referred
10 il repeatedly.
Professor Paul c. Philips. OF Amherst,
speaking for the first district, made the
first report. Professor Philips had first to
report the increase of membership in his
district from six colleges to ten. this in
crease being made especially noteworthy
| because Harvard and Brown were among
the new members. Harvard's entrance has
been taken to indicate the possible acqui-
and Brown. important per Sc, will be Of
great aid in discussing summer baseball.
Bates and Norwich University also Joined
since the last meeting.
Professor Philips reported. in part, as
follows:
During the last year there has been. on
! the whole, a tendency toward a stricter
enforcement of eligibility rules. =. The
most noteworthy progress toward uniform
ma . ttot otot,
! of New England Colleges for Conference
| on Athletics. This association. had its sec
ond annual meeting In May. with nineteen
| were summer baseball, sportsmanship at
games, length of Schedules pr6fessional
| coaching and the training ia Bile The fol
| Loving statistics were complied as re-
Summer BasebaIl-Aliowed by ten col
/ leees, prohibited by SIX Reported effect
| where allowed: Good 8; fairly good. l; not
Injurious, !; not serious, /; not very good,
| ply. q Enforcement of rules Strict. 2;
9G,te nrd strict; Stt,,, z; fairy striet Tendency
| fed, l.
AS result of its work the sub-commit-
tee on summer baseball did not deem II
| wise 10 commend a common basis of ac-
| tion, buJ instead a more thorough study OF
the question and the education of the stu
dents into sympathy with amateurism.
The most marked tendencies manifested
In TINS district are toward Increase in intra-
mural sports and the generalization OF
athletics. gradual reduction In the num-
Der Of intercollegiate contests. and tho re-
| strictfon or abolition of the training ia bic
| particularly In football
Professor Eevier. of Rutgers. spoke for
| tie second district, including the New York
and Pennsylvania groups important as
containing many of the smaller colleges.
as we'll as Pennsylvania, Syracuse, Roches-
/ ter and New York University.
Professor Bevier said, in part:
The last year has shown marked
growth Of influence of this association. in
/ Gicated in many ways This is shown
/ irst in the renewed interest in football
/ In which more direct appeal than ever
before is made to this association to obtain
! needed reforms. The colleges and univer-
/ sites feel thai here is an agency which
may may use its organized forces to a specific
countable for results, being itself ultimate
| ly held responsible
The growth in our influence is manifested
again In the increase Of membership. Out
| Of total membership of sixty-nine the
Middle States and Maryland furnish thirty
The effect of the work we are doing is
| further shown by the more active assump-
tion Of responsibility for athletics by
| faculties, and moro real control than
ever before. collection OF the eligibility
| rules nominaly in force shows great d.
the standards Of this association is unmIs-
taxable tual,,,. The deuslon must pass that
| eligibility rules or any other laws are or
| can be made self-enforcins. Here ls where
| the greatest lack exists IN this part OF the
country: what is most needed is the form
| tlation of local leagues between allied in
| stitutions for the comparison Of method
and the exchange Of ideas This work has
scarcely been begun.
W. l.. Dudley, OF Vanderbilt OF the
Southern District was absent hut report
ed by means OF letter. in which he be-
gan by saying that conditions generally In
his district were good. and that all the
institutions belonged to some association
| or had proper rules. Football he said
was attracting more interest than any other
sport. He went on to say:
There is nothing of special interest to re.
| port concerning baseball basketball ar
track or field athletics in the South. hui
| football is attracting wide attention In my
| district, as Is the casa elsewhere In sthe