The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-03

concealments of the real facts, playing
of mon who are not In any true sense
students-all these are still known
among US. Perhaps the most subtle
evil Of all. and one that Is on the IN
crease In North Carolina, IL the prac-
tice Of sending out scouts to raid niSn
schools and other colleges for prom
isinr athletes. am collecting tnfor-
nation on this whole subject which l
hope later to be able to publish.
In spite of the dark picture have
sketched I think ! see some signs OF
a better day. In the hope OF helping
to bring this about and In order 10
deal more directly with the situation
in our territory, the faculty and the
athletic council. with my. approval.
this year voted to withdraw Tor
period of three years from the South
ern intercollegiate Athletic Associa-
ton. Alone Of the colleges In North
Carolina and Virginia Trinity years
AFRO Joined this association because It
was tho only effective organization
actually at the task OF trying to bet
ter athletics in the South. Our with
drawal from this association will not
change our policy in any particular.
We enforce and will continue to en-
force precisely the same rules. except
that now we can deal directly with
other colleges rather than through tho
Southern intercollegiate Athletic as
ISOLATION: and unless We can get sat
isfactory agreements with colleges In
this region at the end of three years,
we shall renew our membership In tho
Southern intercollegiate Athletic as
ISOLATION.
Imposing restrictions that other
colleges in the State do not impose
and that are not heartily supported by
local popular sentiment, our problem
all along has been to carry our own
public with US. Too few people In this
State at present appreciate clean and
high-minded craftsmanship. They
rather demand a spectacle and. IL the
college game does not furnish the
spectacle, then they do not patronize
It. This dimculty has been increased
here this year by the organization Of
a Durham league team. Professional
baseball has confiicted greatly with
our games and has brought to our
athletic management serious 0nancial
embarrassment. In the present state
of public opinion and with the
restraints that we are morally bound
to place upon intercollegiate games
here. IL we are to continue to get out
OF athletics the wholesome and whole
sale benefits they can give, then the
college must provide better gymnasium
facilities. adequate Fairgrounds. and
expert supervision Of the physical life
OF our students the year round. BY
these aids we can improve the physical
and. for that matter also the moral.
tone Of the whole student body. And
this Is a better program than to rely
on the prowess and fame of a picked
squad of overturned and professional
lied athletes.
1t may seem to some that in giving
disproportionate attention to this SUBJ
ject have myself fallen into the
sin Of excess. But insist that this ID
not just an academic discussion, as
to whether school boys shall play
games with other school boys or not
play games with other school boys In
IL Is involved the whole question of
the sort OF intellectual and moral
leadership our colleges are to supply:
1t involves a fundamental attitude that
will not only influence students gem
Grafton after generation. but will at
feet the moral fibre of the institution
itself. The cause II OF suficient mo-
ment to make Trinity college. ac-
customed as 1t IL to stand on the firing
line OF progress. glad ito sacrifice for
1t and II need be even to suffer for
It, whatever the unthinking may
say only the college that IL dedicated
to sound ideas and disciplined by
sacrifice in the high causes Of human
welfare can in its influence and ideals
either abide or command. For the
golden heart OF youth as well as in the
chastened memories Of maturer men
nothing less than the white light of
burning conviction can give to alma
mater an ever shining face"