New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-22
AFTER ATHLETIC EVILS
Free Discussion on Friday at
Annual Gathering.
MANY POINTS OF INTEREST
College Body Must Elect a Pres
ident to Succeed Major
Palmer E. Pierce.

The National Collegiate Athletic Asso-
citation will hold it's seventh annual meet
ing at the Hotel Astor in this city on
Friday, and in some respects the session
promises to be more interesting ana
profitable than those of other years The
election of a president to succeed Majo"
Palmer Z. Pierce, who is now in the Far
East with his regiment. will be all inn
portant, while the discussion Oh such sub
jects as eligibility, training and physical
condition is likely to SOW the seed for
even more Improvement in the morale Of
college athletics
The National Collegiate Athletic Asso-
citation was organized seven years ago
and grew out Of a conference OF colleges
called for the purpose of instituting a
crusade against football. 1t looked for a
time as IL the feeling and sentiment were
such that the great American college
game would be reformed by complete
tearing up, but wiser heads prevailed and,
led by Major Pierce, an instructor at the
time at the United States Military Acad-
envy, a resolution was adopted which
brought about a radical revision of the
rules and saved the sport. Better yet
perhaps, an organization was effected
with Major Pierce as president, which
has done much TO purge college athletics
Of some of the more crying evils and 10
place them OIL plane in keeping with the
higher principles Of education.
This association is now national in its
scope, and while II does not assume any
governing powers. it carries on cam
paign Of direction and suggestion which
is having a wide influence. Yale. Prince
ton and Cornell have not joined up TO
this time, but thae is a chance that
Princeton may lend its support to the
good work this year. Otherwise, most #
the country are members.
Major Pierce. who has now been forced to
give up the rens, has been an inspiring
leader, and he has been ably seconded in
his efforts by such men as Professor
Frank w. Nicolson, OF Wesleyan; Pro-
fessor Bevler. of Rutgers. Professor Will
lam l.. Dudley, of Vanderbilt; DR.. James
A. Rabbit, Of Haverford; w. F. Garcelon,
Of Harvard, and many others. No doubt
a man will be selected as president VINO
will be we'll qualified to carry on the
work.
At the morning session, besides the In
formal address Of the presiding officer and
the report of the secretary, in which an
attempt will be made to sketch briefly
the history OF the association, TO outline
It's aims and methods and TO indicate how
its usefulness may be increased. there
will be two formal addresses. Professor
William L. Dudley. of Vanderbilt Uni
yersity, president of the Southern Inter-
collegiate Athletic Association, who has
had many years OF experience in dealing
with intercollegiate athletics, will discuss
1.-The Proper Control OF College Ath-
letics" DR.. George l.. Meyan, medical
director of Columbia University, in his
paper on Athletic Training" will review
briefly the history OF training for athletic
contests at the time of the ancient Olym-
pic games In England. and later In the
United States, and will consider in detail
the Important topics Of coaching, medical
supervision and training table.
At the afternoon session there VIII be
the usual reports of district representa-
tives, affording a survey OF the whole
field OF college athletics in the United
States.
The replies to the annual QUESTIONABLE
this year on the subjects of eligibility.
training, physical condition and finances
are much more complete than usual. and
a summary Of them will prove of value
In guiding various institutions In their
athletic policy.
The reports of the rules committees for
football basketball and track athletics
will explain the difficulties that confront
these important bodies and show the
progress that has been made. The reports
of the new committees on soccer football
and on amateurism will be awaited with
interest
Those who attended the evening session
last year and who heard the frank and
informing discussion on summer" base
ball may look forward with pleasure TO
another informal discussion this year Of
some vital topics by men of national
reputation who are will qualified to speak.
The delegates will decide by ballot what
subjects are to be taken up.
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