Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-02-27
SATURDAY. FEB. 81, 1909
Once Athletes now Lawmakers
Few would suspect that in [

quiet, dignified heads of the two
houses of the Tenth session Of the
Idaho legislature, were the former
leaders of athletics in two Of the
country's foremost colleges. Presi-
dent Sweetzer of the senate and
Speaker Clag stone of the house
were contem poraries at Harvard
and Yale, and while Paul GLADSTONE
was keeping up the standard of
football, boxing and wrestling at
Hartford, Lewis Sweetzer was COM
peting for the amateur champion
ship for wrestling for the United
States. This great honor he missed
by being thrown in the finals in
the big contest which was held at
the New York Athletic club.
Mr.. GLADSTONE first appeared as
one of the foremost college athletes
while at Andover, which reputa-
ton he fully sustained later at
Harvard. In speaking on this SUBJ
ject to reporter Mr.. Clagstone
remarked that he was firm believ-
er in men keeping up their athlet-
les after they leave college. eff it
is good thing while in SCHOOL, he
said, "why shouldn't it be kept up?
Since leaving college l have en-
deavoIed to keep up my practice
when at my ranch. l ride horse
back a great deal, l play polo and
when / am in city l do general
gymnasium work. consider foot
ball and polo the very best out of
door games and boxing and wrest-
ling the best indoor games, fer gen.
eral development.
Zone reason" said Mr.. GLADSTONE
"why the Anglo Saxon race is so
strong is because it believes in
exercise. Art, literature and sci
ence in a country are worth little
if that country is decadent physic-
ally. The race which is the most
viril is bound to win out in any
hattie.
ut is very encouraging to learn
that the United States government
is encouraging polo among the
cavalry companies by furnishing
ponies for this sport. No other
game requires such skill in horse
manship as polo and its practice is
sure to develop expert horsemen.
In England practically all the
mounted troops play polo, and some
of the greatest cricket and polo
players are old men, it not being
uncommon to see a man of 60 the
champion polo player of his COM
munity.
"The future of our nation" con-
tinued Mr.. Clagstone, 81 believe
depends not only on our school
athletic, but our keeping up the
practice in after years. The chief
objection have to automobiles is
that they deprive us of all exercise
while they produce at the same
time a nervous strain"
SwEETzER's CAREER
During the last two years Mr..
Sweetzer was at Yale he was con-
sidered the best all-round college
athlete. While his athletic ambi-
tons never took him into the base
ball or football field he was promi-
nently identified with nearly all
other branches of college athletics.
Since coming to this state, however,
he has paid little attention to ath-
letics but devoted the most of his
attention to business.
While attending Yale Mr.. Sweet
ger in his senior year, held the
amateur middleweight champion
ship in boxing and wrestling. He
was captain of the class crew and
rowed No. 1. He was anchor for
for the tug-of-war team and the
champion shotgun expert aside
from being captain of the Yale Gun
club.
In 1899 the noted athlete was
defeated by Joe Smith for the anna