South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-19
TenaCity of Germans is Partly
Due to Fact That All Boys
Are Trained in AthIet-
les at School.
DIV ChnrIcs w. CAL.

great, formative influences in our
national life and they are becom-
ing more and more so every day.
Likewise are athletics very intim-
ately bound up with our university
life The question of compulsory
athletics FOR al student bodies as
advocated by :he executive commit
tee OF tEe National collegiate Ath-
Ietic association, becomes one Of
paramount Importance, especially
i'm time of war
The present work Of raising an
American army has brought TO
public attention more than anything
else i'm recent years the necessity
for better training of young men
Dcspise Germany as YOU may you
cannot but admit she has traine i
her youth we'll Germany has shown
the world what can be done during
school DAYS to prepare men not on
Is TO carry a rifle, but to perfect
them In every department OF ser
vice The rigorous discipline to
which the youth of the country
we're subjected during their mill
tary training accounts in large
measure for the resistance to the
assaults of the allies that only re-
Gently has begun TO weaken.
England has taken notice of
taiS 4 result IS seen in the heavy
increase i'm appropriations, even IN
war time. for more intensive train
ing OF young men.
Educators Discuss Question.
For many years past majority
of the best American educators
have been working on the system
OF athletics which would not only
improve the physical makeup Of the
various members OF their student
bodies but would have a far reach
ing effect I'm the moral tone of the
COLLEGIATE bodies Therefore, NJ was
with the most admirable of motives
that the subject OF introducing COM
pulsory athletics was brought out
at the recent meeting of the y. {.
4. a. at Washington.
BY compelling each student TO
divide his CollCge course so that q
portion of each day might DE given
mn 10 some strengthening branch
of athletic. the general makeup al
the college student would be great
~ improved Under the present
conditions. larger colleges and uni
versities. by a process of selection
and elimination, gather squad Oh
mon who are already as near phy-
steal perfection as can he found on
the campus. Money, coaching ana
training are then lavished upon
them For the most part IN the
mast the student who has not been
equipped with what appears TO be
the necessary requirements or an
otbleti. star has been sadly neg
lected Afraid Co force himself 10
the coach'- notice he has been Ieit
10 sit on the sidelines and cheer
ON his mere fortunate brother.
Good for All students.
All OF this is no reflection on
iutercoIIeeiate sports. Far from lt.
The fact that colleges allow their
students 10 engage I'M lutercOlles-
late athletics has proved good
thing for all the students Even
the disadvantages which have
handicapped the underdevelOped
student during the past has work
ed 10 DO his acneit The fact that
his stronger brothers created the
necessary amount of interest 20
draw him 10 the athletic field Is
I'm itself happening which mas
helped him physically. The relax
alton derived from Witnessing ath-
letic contests. us we'll as the slim
Mating effects of a close struggle
are such that they invariably prove
of benefit 10 the nou-participators.
At Columbia university and some
Il. Ffrf a L.
lotics have been I'm vogue for some
time During the coming months
many more institutions VIII tall IN
line. Out at Notre Dame probably
a higher percentage OF the student
body takes part in some sort oil
athletics than i'm any other col
lege i'm the country. Besides the
we'll filled quota Of each varsity
team the system of inter-hall ath-
lercs has through many years OF
competition built I'M a secondary
defense of athletics that embraces
Is percent of the students
Training Rules Help.
Fxrcriarce teaches that the fel-
low who deVotes a goodly portion
Of his time to the athletic field lives
a cleaner life than the one who does
not Training rules, such as are
exacted of varsity athletics. gener-
ally prevent the athlete from con-
t~actine bad habits. Several things
rantrihute 20 keep she athlete on
the path often designated as
e--.igbt and as having little
breadth He is out to win a place
on the team. Having won his place
ON the team he is out 10 win from
another team Even more than
The ordinary human being, ne IS
held IN check by public opinion.
Tr,srcoIIegiate competition
won q be bettered by a system OF
COMPULSORY athletics. Many a po-
tantial athletic star never dOns a
suit under the present system. To
make him train for his college
team would help him, and would
help his Alma Mater. BY compel
ling all TO subject themselves TO a