The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-11-17
Keep Sports Clean.

Inc RECORD was the first paper in
South Carolina to protest against the
quarreling incident to and preceding
matched games Of football between
the State University and Clemson
college. We called for statement.
In respectful manner. President Riggs
OF Clemson Immediately wrote that
Clemson would at all times answer
any specific questions that might be
asked Of his institution. But the time
for asking questions had passed and
The Record was making an inquiry,
not an investigation. We thought
that the colleges should make brief
statements and bring an end to much
talk.
The University authorities declared
that they deemed it unnecessary to
make statement that would only
serve to pillory one person in particu-
lar who had been caught in false
hood. He had deceived the university
management and had brought discred-
1t to all athletes at the university, and
now the institution itself is being pill
loried because the public does not un-
derstand tho situation. The offender
has been expelled but that does not
fully clear the other athletes who are
clean in their titles.
The Record feels that it has done
enough in Offering it's services to get
the facts before the public. At the
time Of the game the university au-
thorities filed affidavits that three or
four Clemson men had violated the
rules of the s. 1. A. A. and the Glenn
son management filed affidavits that
the university team was composed in
part OF outsiders who were not eligi-
BILE and had falsined their matricula-
tion papers.
But aside from any incidental con-
troversy, there is one thing that
strikes US peculiarly and with force.
1t Is the fact that before a closely
contested game Of football there Will
be heard on the street and perhaps
there will appear In the papers u
statement that the "odds on the game
are 3 to 1 in favor Of" etc. A few
years ago the people of this State ran
the ponies out because it was alleged
that the races were fixed" and that
the people were being robbed by a
swindle and crooked gamble. How
much more is it to be regretted that
football games between institutions OF
Learning" should be prostituted by
gamblers, and If reports be true that
Is what was to happen in South Car
olina, but was balked by the vigilance
OF tho athletic committees.
Now that the boil is open, we would
suggest that If the colleges wish TO
purify the blood, let them hunt out
the gamblers who did or attempted to
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orously. That is what would have
thrown discredit on our schools. And
the management Of the colleges can
not be blamed for matriculating young
men whose entrance papers are at
tested by citizens of the State.
intercollegiate athletics are per-
mitted in this State by the tolerance
Of the people alone and If the reluc-
tant sanction of the people is not
properly respected and safeguarded,
there will be an outburst against ath-
letics. for as a matter Of fact, that is
but feature Of college life and should
not be made paramount, as it is done
In some places.
AS to which is worse pharaseeism
or professionalism, we do not express
an opinion, hut the people demand
clean sport or none.--Columbia Rec
ord.