Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-13
PROF. CRAFT LAUDS ATHLETE
Principal Of Omaha High School
Defends the Manly Sportsman.
SAYS COLLEGE INFLUENCE GOOD
Universities Lure Many Boys to study
Further-R. L. earns, Athletic
DiPectOr, Lends Ala in Pro-
noting Indoor Meet.

Many colleges are trying to get more
students interested In athletics and It Is
a great thing" said Prof E. U. Graft,
principal Of the Omaha High school, last
wOek In talking to a group of college men.
~ RAIstics tendA e build rAan UP, both
physically and morally. aud make him
more competent to meet the battles which
confront him in his journey through life.
1T has always seemed to me that the
high schools and the colleges follow too
much the general trend OF our national
life. Base ball is our great national game.
What is it7 1t is q game in which nine
men on a side meet and strive for SUI
premacy. The big majority Of the Ameri-
can people are content to sit in the grand
stand and bleachers and root for the home
boys who have been selected to represent
them because OF their superior knowledge
OF the game
THAT is become the national habit. We
love base ball. but we all like to see the
other fellow play It. In England II is
different. There the Englishman likes to
get out to a cricket match because he
himself is a player.
American colleges are striving to get as
many Of the students interested in ath-
letics as possible and are contriving all
sorts OF games by whi a greater ma
jority OF the college students may be err
abled to take part Princeton and Cornell
are both working along this line and are
increasing the number Of students inter-
ested in athletics each year
The Omaha High school win have
boys gymnasium next year and we hope
to double the number Of students inter-
ested in athletics. The strife for su-
premacy is American and every boy should
be worked up to this idea not only for
the physical training, but for the training
1t gives him to meet the battles Of life"
Prof. Graft has been a keen supporter
OF athletics and a friend OF athletes for
twelve years While in Iowa he was one
Of the founders OF the Principals Club"
an organization OF high school principals
who met to put athletics on high plane
I'm Iowa. This was found necessary be-
cause It was then in more or less cor
rupt condition.
Each principal was bound 20 promote the
objects OF the club. II was this organlza-
tiOn then that is responsible for the SPLEEN
did standing OF athletics In Iowa today.
Mr. Graft was a member OF tho Illinois
Interscholastic association five years and
was president Of the association one year.
He has always taken q keen interest In
athletics and n has always been his en-
deayor to become interested IN athletics
wherever he has been. He is proud Of the
Nebraska Interscholastic Athletic associa-
tion, which he considers one OF the best
schoolboy working organizations In the
country. Mr.. Graft is vice president. a
member OF the board OF directors and one
OF the prime movers Of the Omaha Ath-
ietic association, which Is to give the meet
at the Auditorium April /.
Mr.. Graft has an able assistant at the
Omaha High school In r. L. Carns who is
coach OF the athletic teams. He is a
graduate OF Dartmouth college and was a
member OF the Dartmouth college track
team during the years he was In college,
earns was a member Of the Dartmouth
relay team which won the intercollegiate
championship in 1876 at Boston and was
also q member OF the relay team which
defeated Yale in the two-mile relay race
In 1906 He represented Dartmouth In the
half-mile during his time In college. earns
was athletic director at Doane in 1908 and
1909. and while there coached the track
team which won the Nebraska State Inter-
collegiate championship.