The Washington herald., 1915-12-12
~ EDWARD n. DUsHNBLL.

ASoOcSot - IA oeA8Ss ~ ~~e~o>
sport. The suggestion has been seriously
made in the West a. we'll ~ in the East
that II some solution cannot be found
for the evils Of summer baseball, that IL.
II students cannot be depended upon to
be honest about their participation in 1t.
1t would be better to abolish 1t altogether.
That was the subject Of a good many
heated arguments at the recent big
Nine" conference in the Middle West.
and intercollegiate athletic authorities in
the East have advocated the same thing.
II the solution Of the difficulty were
put to a vote of the students themselves
they would probably give an overwhelm-
ing majority In favor of retaining the
game. and permitting members OF their
teams to do openly what many OF them
now do slyly-play with nonlesgue teams
either for their summer board and lodg-
ing or for a small salary. At several
Western universities the matter was put
to vote recently and the advocates OF
summer ball won by majority Of nearly
70 to !.
No such opportunity for an expression
Of opipion has been given In the Eastern
universities. but IL one may judge from
the number of players who openly vio-
late the rule and the number Of captains
who advocate II. the majority would
probably be quite as large. What will
probably do more than anything else to
clear up the situation will be the con-
ference called for the last week in De-
cember by the Intercollegiate Association
Of Amateur Athletes OF America. This
association, although devoted primarily
to track and field athletics. has been
the only body i'm the East with initiative
enough to start something to clear up
the muddle that has existed for years.
What the I. c. A. A. A. A. wants to
do is not to change its own amateur laws.
but TO find some kind of a working agree
ment on the subject Of amateurism be-
tween the various sports. To this end it
has invited every intercollegiate asso-
citation it knows Of to send representa-
tives to a meeting which will precede
the annual convention Of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association.
Here enters the most curious feature
Of the conference. Although called in the
interests Of college baseball. this is the
one sport which has no association to
represent its cause. Baseball is on trial
for its life, yet Its advocates are the
of other sports. The big
have no one but themselves
10 blame for the situation. For years
hey have been urged to organize for the :
purpose of solving the summer ball''
problem. but fear that the subject !
would not bear too close scrutiny or in
ercollegiate jealousies have killed every !
Mort made.
Every other sport will be fully repre- |
'ented, though football fares hardly any /
'etter than baseball. There will be pres |
mt delegates or associations represent |
ng track athletics, rowing. swimming, |
lacrosse. association football. basketball, |
ennis. golf. fencing, hockey. etc.
Gustavus T. Kirby. of Columbia, chair
nan of the I. c. A. A. A. \. Advisory |
Committee, and the man who suggested |
he conference. has believed for several |
rears that there is nothing inconsistent
n different associations having different
Imateur rules because conditions vary
n different sports. He is not willing to /
i've up anything of the amateu0 code
low governing track sports. but he be-
ieves that track men should recognize
he essential difference In baseball and
make the necessary concessions.
This conference will probably recognize
rom the start that it will be utterly i'm
ossib!e for anyone to prevent COLLEGE
tudents from playing baseball during the
unmer and getting something for 1t. at
.ast board and lodging. II this principle
e granted then it will be necessary to
each some agreement as to how far
ian may go in this direction and still
e eligible to represent his college on the
iamond or participate in other forms of
mateur athletics. The intercollegiate
Torld seems ready to make some conces-
Ions from its hard and fast rules on
his subject. but It is hardly likely to 20
5 far as Brown University has gone.
'rown gives its students free rein in
laying summer baseball provided they
lay only with teams not under the ma
lonal agreement Brown is a member
the I. c. A. A. A. A., but to retain
s membership had to agree not to USE