New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-15
Columbia Man Proposes a
conference" as in Other
College Sports.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
CALL FOR REFORMS
Changes Needed In Method OF
Selecting Umpires and In
Eligibility Rules.

The agitation over summer oaseoar
which is stirring college faculties IRON
East 20 West seems likely 10 produce AZ
least ono wholesome result, II the propo-
sit.on which 10 made at Columbia
through Harry A. Fisher. graduate man
ager OF athletics, bears fruit.
Tho scheme which Fisher plans &c pre-
sent 70 the faculty athletic committees
OF the colleges IN the East virtually CANS
for IN. organization OF a baseball CON
ference" which will legislate on all ma'-
Tar, Of eligibility. including summer
hall" tho selecting OF umpires for games
and also on the moro important que'''o"
OF rules for college mines
The conference will be ORGANIZED
slo,r mora or less informal lines. accord
ing 10 the present scheme, ana coileee
hos.heu will be controlled in much the
same way as college basketball ana COZ
lege football, although more care VIII DC
taken In formulating rules governing 'he
eligibility OF players than In either OF
the other sports
rha. there is need for such confer
.noe. in the East AZ least. is borne OUT
by the conditions which exist not only
as regards eligibility, but with particular
reference to summer baseban ana inc
naming OF competent umpires.
The matter Of rules for the game, al
though OF vital importance. VIII be lei'
until the present evils are taken care OF,
and for the time being the rules as laiu
down by the major leagues VIII be al
hered TO, as in the past, save with refer-
ence 70 conduct on the field and coaching
Although tho summer baseball evil and
baseball conditions in general have been
discussed at the last four meetings of
the National Collegiate Athletic Asso-
citation, nothing definite has resulted. eho
II is felt that unless abuses are TO De
continued a remedy will have 10 be APP
piled Immediately.
A conference such as the one proposed
would meet in general session once a
, wear TO thrash out all problems pertain
ing 10 college baseball. In addition TO the
annual meeting, however, there would be
an executive committee. continuing from
meeting TO meeting. the chief function OF
which would be the naming OF umplres,
much the same as the central board OF
officials names referees and umpires Tor
football games.
II would be impossible, OF course, TOY
tho proposed conference" TO adopt It's
LEGISLATION. but with suhc body to lay
down a set Of uniform rules It Is believed
that all colleagues subscribing to II would
feel duty bound to incorporate these rules
IN their own rules OF eligibility. The ICON
ference" would have nothing 10 do witt
the arrangement OF schedules. but II Is
hoped that eventually the conference
would conduct a championship series cor
responding TO the annual championship
truck and field meeting of the l. c. A. A
a. A.. and TO the annual regatta a.
Poughkeepsie Of the intercollegiate Row
ing Association.
Neither Of these bodies regulates the
schedules Of its members, but each pro
vides common meeting place for th'
deciding of the championship and alst
fixes rules OF eligibility governing the
competition Of individuals in its cham
pionship contests
Were a similar organization established
TO control baseball the natural resul
would be to have all players contestint
in the championship games conform t.
the eligibility rules of the organization
IN this way legislation for or agains
summer baseball could be administered
with the greatest degree Of effectiveness
Next TO summer baseball the creates
evil of baseball as the game is played II
the colleges is the lack of efficient Off
Gals More bitter feeling between col
leRes has been engendered by decisions OF
the diamond by incompetent officials thar
in any other way.
ANY method or means which would pro
vide for the elimination OF incompetent
umpires and the substitution Of mel
whose authority would come. not from
the CAPTAINS OF the home teams, but from
q central board OF officials, would d'
much 70 clean up this end OF the game.
In college football this remedy wal
! first applied, half a dozen years ago
through the central board of officials
and in basketball similar board hat
been appointing officials for the last -four
wears With central board for baseball
practically all OF the sports which arouse
keen personal antagonism would be con
trolled and regulated by men whose com
petence would be tested before they were
allowed 10 take charge OF a game.