The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-11
PREP. LEAGUE HAS DISBANDED;
ELIGIBILITY RULES ARE THE CAUSE
AGREE CoNsTITu-
AGREE CONSTTTU-
TToN NEEDS REVISION NO
BASEBALL CUP TO BE GIVEN.
WILL PROBABLY REORGANIZE
NEXT FALL-BENEDICTINE TO
BE ADMITTED.

BE ADMITTED.
The interscholastic league has dis
banded after seven years Of fighting
for championships because Of a dis
agreement among the three schools
with regard to the qualifications OF
the men who were to compete in the
contests All remaining games on
the schedule have been cancelled. No
cup will be given for the baseball
season, but II is thought that by
fall the difficulties will have been
overcome. and that the league will be
of the three which have heretofore
completed its membership. The
fourth school to enter the league will
be the Benedictine college
Early In the sAason there were pro-
tests made against several OF the
players from the John Marshall high
school playing in the championship
games. II was claimed by the Rich
mond academy representatives that
| they were not qualified according to
the rules governing the league. and
that the games In which they had
participated were illegal and should
be forfeited to them. or that the high
school should be compelled to play
these contests over.
Academy, at that time had twice
defeated McGuire's and. because high
school had lost to that team. was
In good line to take the lead in the
race. They lost the protested game
to the high school and took the mat
ter to the league officials. In the ex-
ecutive meeting 1t Is understood that
McGuire's representatives favored
high schools stand In the matter.
Bylaws to Blame.
The entire matter hinges around an
Interpretation OF section three OF the
bylaws This section read that no
student shall be eligible to &C 4nplete in
the games controlled by the rules gov
erning the tnterscholastic games who
Is not making an average on his
studies which il continued would in
sure his promotion. Another section
OF the bylaws makes In obligatory
on the principal of the school TO file
statement with the representative of
the other teams five days before the
playing of championship game as
To the eligibility of the player to rep
resent his school.
Because of the difference in the
standards of the three schools this
section is subject TO variety OF inter
pretatfons. Both the Academy and
McGuire's sent In n list Of players
who were certified as being eligible
under the bylaws. High school,
through Principal J. c. HARDWOOD. sent
In its list with the statement that the
men named were eligible with the ex-
ception of two who were not making
an average of rs per cent on each sub
ject This standard was considerably
higher than that imposed by the other
schools. for IL demanded not a general
average of 7s cent. but an actual mark
OF rs on each and every subject in
the curriculum, course which was
not to be selected by the pupil. but
containing some subjects which no
matter how much he wished to be rid
Of the student was forced. under the
school board regulations, to take.
In view OF these facts Professor
HARDWOOD sent In the statement that in
hts opinion the men were eligible.
When the section of the bylaws came
up before the league committee an in
depreciation of the section was de-
manded and the league refused to
pass upon IL leaving settlement OF
the difficulty to the principals of the
three schools.
Principals Consider Matter.
The professors met and the entire
matter was threshed out. The vary
ing standards was duly recognized by
the heads OF the institutions and each
declared that they thought the sec
ton too narrow and that It tended
to discourage pupils who, while doing
their best work. were still unable to
make the high mark demanded.
Each admitted that concessions In
some particular cases should be made
and that they would not hesitate to
certify that in his own opinion q
player was qualified If he was. doing
his best In his studies and working
studiously.
This was in reality what Professor
HARDWOOD had done, he having stated
in his note to the other gentlemen
that he considered his men eligible.
but adding their respective marks and
leaving it to the league to make a
definite decision. In the meeting II
was demanded of Professor HARDWOOD
that he interpret the section OF the
bylaws under discussion and this he
refused to do. He left the matter OF
eligibility of his players TO settle
ment by the league and this the others
failed to take action upon.
Obviously an immediate settlement
OF the matter was impossible. but each
OF the principals recognized the I'M
fairness of the rule and 1t was agreed
to offer an amendment to the con-
stitution of the league changing the
section 80 that the principal Of the
school would be the sole Judge as to
the eligibility, in the broad sense, of
the men to represent his school.
This amendment will be offered at
the next meeting Of the league officials
but that will be too late to have any
effect upon the baseball situation. 1t
was decided to consider the league
closed for the present and to form q
now organization next fall, when 1t Is
probable that Benedictine will be ad-