Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-28
MAY DO away
WITH POSITION
Georgetown Not Likely to
Have a Graduate Manager
of Athletics Next Year.
is THORPE MORE A
"PRO" THAN OTHERS?
Should Ban Be Placed on Him
for Old Action, While Hun
dreds of Others Go Clear?
BY II. C. BYRD.

1t is practically certain that there
will be no graduate manager at
Georgetown next year. According to
definite advices. the position left va
cant by the resignation OF Vincent
Daley will not be filled. 1t is said
that there is very strong sentiment
in opposition to it among the alumni
and also that the athletic association
cannot afford to pay the extra salary.
OF course. nothing definite has been
ultimately be done, but the general
consensus is that the place will be left
vacant. 1t will not be long before
some announcement is made in regard
to the matter.
There seems to be some friction be-
tween the members of the alumni and
the students. The former have been de-
sirous that some experienced graduate
of the school take up the reins. while
the latter want a student who is famil-
lar with present conditions to be given
the place. Several members of the
alumni association have expressed
isfied with the way things have been
carried on. saying positively that the
end is near, and affairs must be con-
Quoted on a different basis.
Another side to the question is that
the athletic association cannot afford
the extra expense. 1t is stated that
Daley received $1,975 for his services
during the past few months. which was
almost an absolutely unnecessary Drain
on the funds of the association. 1t is
said that the association is not In a
position to pay the extra salary that Is
necessary for a graduate manager.
It might be mentioned in this connec-
ton that when the system which en-
bodied a supervisor of athletics was es-
tablished last spring the main argument
said to be in its favor was that 1t would
cause less expense to the athletic assoc
citation. and the association could not az.
ford to keep matters going under the oid
conditions. 1t is rather queer now that
it is found that the old system is really
more desirable than the new, for the rea-
son that 1t was less expensive
Just what will be the outcome or the
matter is hard to say, but 1t is probable
that some definite announcement will be
made soon. Affairs at Georgetown are
not in the best of condition just at pres
ent. and something will have to be done
to straighten them out before long.
Jim Thorpe a professional. Because
Of an indiscretion committed at time
when he probably did not know that the
A. A. U. was in existence he is barred
forever from further participation in
amateur contests. According to the rules
Of the Amateur Athletic Union. man
who receives even the least compensa-
ton for competition in any branch or
sport is branded a professional in all.
There may be room for the application
Of such a ruling. and there is no inten-
ton to dispute the wisdom Of men who
originated 1t. 1t does appear. however,
that there should be some allowances
made for certain conditions.
The case of Thorpe brings up the ques-
ton as to whether or not the fact that
a man has received money for partici-
patton in one branch of sport makes him
a professional in all. Just what connec-
ton there is between base ball and track
athletics is hard to understand.
Granted that Thorpe played professional
base ball. why should he be declared a
professional in track athletics and foot
ball. or any other sport in which he de-
sired to indulge? To get at the. real
ethics of the matter. is Thorpe really a
professional in track athletics? He has
never been paid for competition on the
track; he has refused offers for his ap-
pearance at meets. and has never allowed
himself to go beyond the pale to the least
extent in any manner of track compe-
tition. That being the case, is he really
a professional runner?
Again. what is really a professional?
Because man engages in any profession
for short time for pay does that cause
him to be branded as a professional In
that line of work and in other lines? If
a hricklayer pleads a case in a police
court or applies aid in some medical case
in which doctor should have been called
is he a professional in those two lines OF
work? Such a thing would be laughed
at as being ridiculous IL stated. and yet
the A. A. L. practically does that very
thing in it's manner of declaring a man a
professional.
In one part of the letter which en-
bodies his confession Thorpe strikes
the real note of the men who are really
professionals on the track. He says that
he has been offered thousands of dollars
to appear in meets since his return from
the Olympics-and he undoubtedly has
but he refused all because he did not
want to become a professional In this
connection it may be said that there are
many just such men, men who are being
paid to compete in every set of games in
which they appear. Let some manager
Of track meet try to get individuals of