New-York tribune., 1911-12-30
TRAINING TABLE FlAYED
College Physical Directors Dr.
l7nrvided as to Its Value.
ARGUMENTS WAX WARM
Chicago Athletes Much Better
Off Without 1t, Says DR..
Joseph Raycroft.

The Society Of Directors of Physical Edu-
cation held its fifteenth annual meeting at
Columbia University yesterday. The merits
a, tho training table and compulsory phys
,cal examination for entrance into colleges
o,d universities were discussed. CONNER
cialization Of football was also brought up.
and the argument waxed warm all through
ire morning session. Most Of the delegates
attended the annual meeting Of the Ma
t,orai collegiate Athletic Association on
THURSDAY and STAYED over. Professor r. G..
clam Of tho University Of Nebraska, was
~ tho chair. I'm the absence Of Dr.. A. 4.
s'aer. Of chicago, who is the president Of
the society.
Tho training table elected some heated
arguments on the whole. the representa-
,,vps ~ the conference colleges seemed
,rptty well satisfied with the abolition Of
the training table but some of the Eastern
rcnrescntatives were opposed 70 the sys-
gen Dr Joseph L. Raycroft. who was at
she University OF Chicago until last spring.
said that when the abolition Of tho train
ir- table was first instituted he was ahso-
Iutely opposed 10 the Plan. but after five
wa OF ''IrI ne ~ n lIltll nc " ~ I'Tfffl W
admit tho advantages Of developing athletic
teams without training table. According
~ pr Edv.roft. the table is neither ueces-
sary nor essential in getting men into good
rhv,i.a' condition. aud the meu who
rlav football in the conference today arc
every A't as good as, II not better than.
those V1O played when the training table
was used
y Rdycroft said that where tho training
table va- operated unrestrtctedlv there
wera positive dangers. due to overeatinE
snd tho ike. which have been eliminated
tn absence Of the training table has, ac-
eordnc % DR. Raycroft. been a great factor
n teaching men self-control and reliance
50 far ds evadinS the conference rules by
having private eating clubs was concerned.
Dr. RayCroft said that there was very
rtile danger Of that. and that in the West
there were few cases Of such evasions Of
the rules Dr. George W. Ehler, the phys
zeal director Of the University Of Wiscon-
sin. said that Or. Raycroft had stated the
case correctly.
Or James Naismith. Of tho University Of
Kansas. where they have no training table.
uas not 50 certain that the absence Of the
training table was the advantage that both
Or Raycroft and Dr. Ehler said it was.
Dr Naismith declared that the Kansas
foot ball team was not as strong as IL was
jn The davs OF the training table. and that
H. a college where "A large part OF the stu
de~t body is made up of self-supporting
Ioys II is a positive hardship TO ask them
70 live during the football season as they
should. He said that last season he had
tEo mon on the football team who were uu-
ale 10 buy proper food for themselves and
who had TO be fed by the football manage
ment.
DR.. G. T. Bowler. Of Dartmouth. made a
strong plea for the retention OF the train
ing able.
. Football Of the present day is a com
Jncrc;at proposition. pure and simple" said
5pr. Bowler. land as long as we continue
10 force men to so into the game. Just so
long viii we have TO see that they are
properly fed and in a fit physiological con-
Cition TO take part in the game. EthiCaly
;'e training table does have its faults, but
Tie game thing would be true II We tried 10
ct along without IT, At Dartmouth we
suffer a little because OF the grating of
some Of the men. but on the whole We ind
T. Is far better for the men 10 have a train
irS table and bc in proper physical condi-
Ton for the game
The proposition of a special entrance ex-
a-z-lation in reference 10 the physical quail
1fca ions Of entering students was brought
D. ~ Dr. James A. Babbtt Of HavcTford
tn1leCc. Al the afternoon session. Or. Bah
bitts : idea Is 10 have the examination in the
nature Of d medical examination. rather
. ,,f ST a aRilifr
tat # the college were more and more re-
cririu2 physical educS ton as prerequisite
for s-adua ti0n II would be well for them 10
require that the students who enter meas
Ire Up 10 certain physical standards.
Wisconsin has Just finished a complete
nization # its PHYSICAL education and
athletic departments. according 10 paper
Nl,ct Vas read by 1T. Ehler. Under the
rex arrangement every student in the first
and second year classes is compelled TO
sSs certain specified hours Of exercise
sct y eek. The freshman class as a whole
3 put through two months of compulsory
fpo''aN DIM r the fall and In the winter
ard -r~.uc months they turn thoir attention
r. other sports. IN their second year they
also follow up any line Of athletic work
trdt they choose. According 10 DR.. Ehlcr.
tie deadly cry gymnastics are eliminated
l. a .s~gc cKtcnt.
Among those present were Or. n l. Sar-
rer.. ~ Harvard: Or. i. e. Clapp. OF the
University OF Nebraska: Or. James 4. Bah
h't. q Iiarcrford. D.. O. W. Ehler, OF the
University II Wisconsin: Dr. James Mai
sul'H. or the University OF Kansas: Dr.
George L. Mevlan. of Columbia; Dr. Paul
e. L. .'frs Of Amherst: Or. J. r. RayCroft
Of Princeton: Dr. c. 5. Bowler. Of Dart
mN,'-l. Ir. Z. TAFT Mckenzie. OF the Uni
v1~i'. II Pennsylvania: D.. I. ". Marvel.
q Brown University; Or. y. II. Savage. OF
G.-,c-.e Technnlogical: Or. L. n. Fauyer.
q, Wesleyan. and Dr.. W. \. Lambeth. Of
ths Fl.-.Isity of Virginia