The national forum., 1910-11-05

ball and field and track training and
competition will be carried on. Dur
ing another year the intensive form
Of athletics will be encouraged. This
is the sort of athletics in which a
boy trains to reach different stand
ards of athletic ability, and receives
prize button in reward for his in
dividual attainment. The records
to reach are only those capable of
being made by normally strong
and healthy boy of classified weight
or age. In this way athletics will
appeal to the masses of boys.
By beginning with grade-school
boys the high schools will receive
boys of more highly developed and
resistant physiques. The city will
produce a higher grade of athletics.
Through personal contact with the
male teachers of the grades in other
than school work boys will be
greatly benefited. For all such work
done it is certain that the sum total
of results will be a better citizenship
and greater happiness for future
men and women.
Prof. Kelly Miller is leading a
fight for colored men to officiate in
football games where Howard Uni
versity teams contend. In past years
colored men have officiated without
pay and in interest of the sport dur
ing minor games of the season, but
have been dropped or relegated to
minor positions whenever Lincoln
or Hampton teams we're factors.
White men have been obtained to
oficiate, and receive sums of from
SIS to $50 and expense money for
their services.
1t is claimed by contending
schools that the few colored officials
are too likely to be incompetent or
partial, and white men are prob
ably neither
This supposition is not correct or
lust. Some colored teams are
coached by white men whose sal
aries depend upon the success of the
team as a winning eleven, and it is
presumed that such professional
coach will do much to insure his
team to win. On quite few occa-
sions throughout the South a per-
sonal friend of a white coach has
oficiated to prevent defeat by the
other team.
have oficiated in games along
side white men whose decisions |
have repeatedly held up as decidedly
wrong. Many players OH Howard
teams can remember occasions
where white officials we're in error.
Many instances have occurred I'm
der my personal observation on the
field of play that prove false the
idea that white men are more de-
sirable than colored men as officials.
That there are but few competent
colored officials is true. The job is
a thankless one, and its rewards
have been simply the appreciation of
the winning team. The task re-
quires such careful study, hard work
and personal qualifications, and in
important games so severely taxes
the nervous makeup of the official
that men are paid up to and beyond
$Ioo in many big games in the coun-
try for their services. To make the
Job appreciable, and to increase the
number of competent officials, col
ored men as we'll as white should be
paid. If impartiality is desired, and
no local men will do, tits far the
better plan in my judgment to send
South or North for competent col
ored men, pay their expenses and a
reasonable charge for services than
to pay a white man of equal or less
competency $50 and expenses to
the field of play.-Ed9srm B. Hen
derSoN.
Mr.. w. Preston Bayless Of THE
~ 4 r.