New-York tribune., 1916-01-17

DR.. Eliot, Of Harvard. sowe time
ago made startling statement in op-
position 20 summer baseball. at de-
volops desire to follow the lines Of
least resistance he said, "and foStcrs :
low ideals Of life"
II is necessary TO treat the two
clauses OF this sentence separately.
First, II develops a desire to follow
the lines of least resistance.
Probably there is not a college in
the land that is not teaching that sue
cess has IT'S basis in utilizing one $
abilities along the lines for which they
are best adapted. Certain il is thai
this is an axiom Of all vocational odu-
cation. Everything else being equal,
therefore, II u man is at his best play
ing baseball, then let him be baseball
player, the best he can possibly make
of himself
But perhaps the good doctor refers
10 the financial aspect Of summer base
ball as a means for getting college eN-
penseS.
II this is his idea, then it seems TO
the writer that earning money by play
ing baseball no more seeks the line of
least resistance than. for instance, sell
ing 50-ccnt maps for So, or those popu-
lar pastimes of many college gradu-
ateS of reducing wages and increasing
divid nGs and playing the stock mar
ket When the antagoniSm against
these methods is as keenly exercised
as 10 is against summer baseball, then
our sense of fair play may convert Us
10 the opposite position 10 that which
we now maintain. Meanwhile, we say
10 the college man playing summer
hall: THE laborer is worthy Of his
hire
Second-Dr Eliot says, at creates
low ideals" Certainly. if all men were
college eX-presidents, earning money
by playing baseball would be low
IDEAL Otherwise this becomes ques-
ZION Of comparisons.
Baseball to-day is recognized as n
legitimate profession. II IS an art.
The ball player as an artist takes his
place on the plane with an actor. an
operatic star, musician or any other
public entertainer Each Of these ar
lists supplies a certain human need.
One is as honorable profession as the
other. and the ideal is as high whether
one is catering to the musical tastes
OF the Back Bay populace. or TO the
baseball tastes of those from South
Boston.
The writer yields TO no man in ap-
preciation of all that is termed culture.
I'm our COLLEGE DAYS we paid our last 81
70 see Sir Henry Irving IN The Mer-
chant of Venice and loaned our watch
10 q Shylock 10 secure the opportunity
70 hear Melba We have also stood for
two hours 10 hear one of our professors
give q public reading of selections from
the classics and counted not the mo-
ments.
Certainly the lad who earns money
by playing baseball 20 meet the eX-
penses of his education seeks no more
the line Of least resistance and even
maintains a higher ethical ideal than
the mass of men who merely draw on
father for the monthly check.
We stand now confronted with the
Inconsistency Of those college faculties
that are making the attack on the stu
dent who plays summer baseball and
also seeks TO represent his college on
the diamond.
The inconsistency takes two forms;
first. the paucity Of college profession
ais; second, the unjust discrimination
among the various phases OF college
professionalism. Let US consider these
in detail.
AT the limit only nine professionals
can represent the college on baseball
team. Doubtless no team ever averaged
more than so per cent OF professional
element. But, granting the hypothesis
Of the 100 per cent average, nine pro-
fessionals take the place OF nine anna
teurs on the college team.
But nine amateurs, if thew represent
the college, prevent nine other anna
teurs from securing the honor There
fore professionalism does not anect
any more than amateurlsm, the esprit
de corDs Of the college. As 10 com
peting institution, il has the privilege
Of refusing 10 compete, or 1t may en-
ploy its quota of professionals. WheIe
The matter is treated candldly ana
openly between colleges there Is no
friction. This is proven by the long
sustained competitive relationships De
tween those institutions that are hon
es .-.L 90 o~o.N~~
When We remember that the faculty
now possesses every essential means
for self-protcction, the attack on pro-
fessionalism becomes farclcal.
The one-ycar residence rule prevents
any professional from representing a
college for the first year of his student
life therein. No man with baseoali
ability is fool enough to wait a wnoic.
year before being permitted to play II
his only ambition is to play ball on
college team. His desire Tor an edu-
cation is the .ncentiy. that keeps MN
VA tbe extreme espionage Of one
student Guriag the non-college perl3,u
IL c., the summer vacation "hll'
other students possessing equai capac
INV for harm are permitted TO continue
tbeir course Of conduct unmoiesteGF A
student can tend bar, either IN ironTy
or behind il. during the vacation perio'
md the faculty takes no oihciai coghi-
man for pay may teach music, play
q church organ or play IN proles-
sional orchestra and still represent MS
college on the glee club. He may even
nv the college chapel organ Tor pay
and be eligible for any social or ath-
lrtic honor. and the very faculty that Is
nartjccps criminis in making him pro
tCssional encourages this poor outt
worthy young man, but lifts the eye o..
susnicion and the hand Of hostiliI
sgainst the other who earns hlss college
exnenses playing summer baseball