The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-22
COST ALMOST
SCANDALOUS
Organized Athletics in Colleges Far Too
Expensive-Dean Briggs of Har-
ward Criticises Present
Tendency.

Cambridge, Mass, Feb. 22.-"The cost
of organized athletics is almost scandal
ous,' says Dean LeBaron r, Briggs OF
Harvard university, chairman OF the
committee on the regulation of athletic
sports, in his report to President a.
Lawrence Lowell
| Dean Briggs reviews the achievements
of the various athletic teams during the
past year; urges that something be done
to interest all students in athletic sports
and discusses the problems connected
with the business administration Of ath-
letics
The report continues "In spite Of
large receipts from baseball and enor-
nous receipts from football, the Harvard
Athletic association, after moderate pay.
ment toward the permanent improve
ment of Soldiers field, can barely meet
its bills.
"Ihe almost complete abolition of sub
scriptions such as once viotimized fresh
men is healthy curtailment of our In.
come; the increased outlay for hospital
ity to visiting teams is a healthy addi-
ton to our expenses; the cost Of expert
medical aid is duty cheerfully as.
sumed but some expenses bear about
the same relation to the health and
success of our teams that silver
mounted bride bears TO good horseman-
ship.
Captains, managers and coaches in
cline to throw aside equipment that is
highly serviceahe and almost new and
to buy at great expense something Who'll
~ new and shade better; they tend
to encourage an exaggerated fastidious-
ness in hotel Accommodations, in food
and in clothing; they too often require
for themselves and their men luxllries
of the table and OF transportation such
as none but the rich man car afford.
The days when the players bought their
own uniforms and equipment and paid
their own travelling expenses and doc
tors bills are gone past returning.
"Shoes and sweaters for players, din
ners for coaches and committees, taxi
cabs for busy men who steal time to
help us without remuneration--thes
things have become necessary; but shoes
and sweaters to wear once or not at all
shoes or sweaters as keepsakes, souye.
mir photographs. taxieabs MS the sole
means of getting about, costly dinners
with wines and cigars-all to be paid
ont of the gate money--these things
belong with that theory OF training
which furnishes free automobile rides
and theatre trips as relief to the over
taxed nervous systems Of the university
squads. II is things like these that
give a handle TO the enemy of athletic
sports, and pamper or even pauperize
strong men,
That petting is not essential TO vic
tory may be learned from the athletic
history Of the George Junior Republic.
when an athlete feels that victory
hangs on gratuitious automobile rides
or on the substitution Of squads for
chicken at the training table, [ suspect
that he is already beaten
ut "a pleasant TO note that in lal0I
baseball at Harvard was free from con-
spicuous discourtesy Yet throughout
the country this sport and other sports
suffered from low ideals. These low
ideals are responsible for the waste OF
money in eneryating luxury to which
have already referred
1T is these that give rise to the prse-
tees in baseball scarcely ereditable |
among gentlemen 1t is these also that
have made possible the occasional out
breaks, the distrst and the pathetic
in the relations Of what
should be notable rivals, such as Har-
ward and Yale All that is needed to
lift the intercollegiate sport beyond the
reach OF inst attack and put it where
it belongs in physical. mental and moral
il simple honesty and com
mon sense