New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-03

them are men Of collegiate experience
Very few have had military expert
ence.
II visited one of these camps three
days after it was organized: l was
amazed at the ease with which these
men adapted themselves to the mill
tary life. In a few days they acted like
seasoned soldiers. They adapted them
selves TO discipline almost automati'
cally. Where it would have taken the
raw soldier long time, the spirit OF
team play which had been engendered
in these men by college athletics made
this possible.
when the British and French Off
GERS were here they visited these
camps, and said that nowhere in the
whole world can so many men so
quickly acquire the spirit OF military
life.
"We will call together an army OF
two million men. They will need
recreation, for they will have sore
leisure. They must have healthy en-
vironment, and what are we going TO
tdo TO keep them wholesome?
"Thc answer is immediate. The col
, leges have solved the problem for US
By their development of system OF
athletics which is distinct contribu-
ton of the colleges to a national need
"You are troubled about the aca-
demic life of the nation during the
war War is a young mans business
In the Civil War the average age OF
the men on both sides was less than
twenty-five years. Most of them were
from eighteen to twenty-one. 1t is
more so now than ever that young men
must Go the fighting. We ought not
to bemoan this. We must face it.
$50 far as the colleges by any in.
ducement can maintain the flow OF
students and keep the classroom
] filled it is an obligation of patriotism
for them to do so. One of these in
| ducements is college athletics. IL Is
highly important that this college ath'
letic programme be continued to equip
| young men for the reception of mill
tary training. | hope there will be nc
suggestion for the abandonment OF
J college athletics.
But there is one great criticism OF
college athletics. The wrong men are
trained, for the big, strong, husky
men are the ones who are taken and
they are made specialized athletes
while the anaemic and the studious
and the intellectually inclined are left
to fill the bleachers. Star teams and
specialized athletes, while good and
valuable in their way, re not numerous
enough to make armies.
college athletics should be made to
spread over the entire student body
The gospel of college athletics should
be athletics for all"
Whole Harvard Squad Enlisted
Fred Moore, representing Harvard
| University, reported that the entire
football squad Of Harvard was now IN
the service. 81 wish to deny thu
canard that Harvard is afraid to play
football this year." he said. I'VE have
no football players, that'is all
Dean Howard C. McLenehan anc
Joseph f. Raycroft, representing
Princeton, said that the same condi
tons existed at Princeton. Yale wa;
not represented. But it is known thai
! every prominent Yale athlete is now ir
some branch of the service.
While the resolutions passed by the
conference are III no way mandatory
the recommendation of the Collegiate
Athletic Association always have beer
accepted as law by the important uni
versities. The new policy for college
sports does not mean that they will
play a less important part in college
life but they will be less spectacular
more democratic and more practical.
1--WE must preserve athletics said
Lieutenant Colonel Pierce. "We must
make every potential soldier an athlete
in these days Of the return to hand-to-
hand fighting"