Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-15

Aggies he made three
objected to being s:de-tracked In this
manner a race was arranged between
them and the second eight and the de-
cisive victory of the second crew Quoted
all the criticism which had been heard
Of Ward.
College Athletics in Middle West.
The intercollegiate Conference Athletic
Association, better known as the big
Eight" looks to be on the rocks. Ever
since the withdrawal of Michigan, when
some members Of this association were
in the clutches of a reform spasm, the
conference has had perennial trouble No
sooner did the association quell one dis
turbance than another arose from a diff
ferent quarter. From that time to the
present there has been something threat
ening the disruption Of the association,
and just now the University Of Mime
its students to learn whether or not
the sentiment is for the secession
OF Minnesota. The same sort Of
sentiment seems to exist at one or two
other colleges, and the prediction is freely
made that the association will either
break up into groups or dissolve alto
gether.
The immediate cause of the present
sAOefoAS 40 eAiC ACAuSdl VI tic dSSOCl-
alton to accept scholarship as the
standard Of athletic eligibility, in
stead Of the combination of scholar
ships and amateurism. The trouble
had It's origin in the failure of the
and decisive action on the question of
summer ball. The principal instigator
Of the trouble has been the University
or Illinois. Here Director HUFF, who,
In addition to his duties as coach at
this institution, is a scout for one of
the major league teams, has been adj
vocating the letting down of all bars
against the professional in baseball
MIR. Hun's contention has been that
college ball players do not respect the
amateur code. anyhow; that it cannot
be enforced, and that under such cir
cumstances it would be better for the
association to legalize summer base
Oall. The University Of Chicago has
always been the bitter foe of this idea.
Director Stage having always stood
firm for absolute amateurism in ali
branches of college athletics.
At the last meeting of the associ-
alton the proposition to legalize sum-
mer base ball by insisting only on q
scholarship standard for all athletes
was introduced. After almost inces-
that summer base ball should not be
allowed. and that all men who par
ticipated in athletics under the juris-
dlction OF the association should be
been made more complicated by the
ruling of the conference that no man
who had anything to do with the
athletics OF member of the associ-
university. This eliminated Director
Stage of Chicago and Director Ehler
OF Wisconsin, the two strongest advo-
Gates in the association of amateurism
In college sports.
There is good reason for the friends
OF the conference to feel some concern
over its future. 1t is certain that it
has less prestige now than it has had
true also that the detection of Michigan
IS responsible for much Of its con-
dition. There is likewise little doubt
that If the Wolverines would agree to re-
turn to the association this would be a
so we'll satisfied with its eastern al
liances that there is hardly any pos
sibility of the Wolverines returning to
the fold.
The Olympic Commissioner.
Those who have been intimately as
ISOLATED with the athletic career of
James e. Sullivan, the secretary Of the
American Olympic committee, will un-
doubtedly be pleased that the Swedish
Olympic committee has assured this gov
eminent that the appointment of COM
would be satisfactory. There was ,
tempest In teapot in New York circles
few weeks ago, when some disaffected
members of the New York Athletic Club
endeavored to bring about a contest be-
tween Col. Thompson and Mr. Sullivan
for this position. Col. Thompson was abb
sent from the city at the time and not
until his return did he know Of the ac-
ton Of his injudicious friends. He put
an end to the difficulty Immediately by
announcing that he favored the appoint |
ment of Mr.. Sullivan.
With this cleared up word came from
Stockholm that the Swedish committee
did not intend to have the different coun- |
tries appoint commissioners to repre-
Washington information came from the
White House that Mr.. Taft under the
circumstances. would not appoint a COM
missioner. cablegram was then sent
to Sweden to learn whether or not the
appointment OF sEch a commissioner
would be satisfactory, the reply coming
back that 1t would be entirely agreeable
objections to the appointment, and when
the time comes 1t Is more than likely
that President Taft will name Mr.. Sui
Ivan.
II there is any man in this country who
deserves the honor 1t Is Sullivan. He
has been instrumental, more than any
one else, In having this country properly
represented at these quadrennial games.
He has been the commissioner from the
United States at all OF them, and had
rendered tho most important service In
this capacity.
Murphy Will Be Coach.
The rumors emanating from various
~ NJ L.. las aA1x ~,