New-York tribune., 1918-01-06
OEynpic Games Doomed
For Time, Says Englishman

Olympics requires not only populace
enthusiastic and educated in athletic
competition, but many years of expert
ence in the management Of such con-
tests.
OF course, there is moro or less
speculation in the foregoing, but in
making such absolute statements as
that credited to MIR. Cook it should be
remembered that a great many things
may happen in a very short time.
Wartime Sports Endorsed
There is not likely to be any further
argument concerning the need or the
propriety of maintaining intercolle-
giate athletics during the period of the
war. The action of the National Col
legiate Athletic Association at it's an
nual convention and the strong indorse-
nent Of college sports as contribu-
ton to the military strength Of tho
government by Secretary of War Baker
and Secretary of the Navy Daniels, both
of whom were understood to express
the wishes Of President Wilson him
self, prevented further debate.
AS matter of fact, the National
Collegiate Athletic Association went on
record in favor of continuation Of
all sports, little stronger, if pos
sible, than it did last summer, when it
was voted by the executive committee
to recommend to all colleges within the
association that they revive and con-
tinue their athletic schedules under
certain restrictions, of course, but just
as thoroughly as possible and as long
as the government desired it.
To those who have been advocating
the retention of all athletics it was
good to see the spirit with which the
action ne tho cnnvan%SOv, rpCoivoH
In fact, there was not a dissenting
voice. There was no feeling exhibited
by those who felt that the few colleges
which abandoned football in the fall
had rather begged the question when
they excused their withdrawal on tho
ground of the necessity Of military
training. 1t was felt that what differ
ence Of opinion had existed was, on
the whole, honest.
There is naturally a great deal of
interest taken in the probable action
of Harvard, Yale and Princeton toward
the major sports of the coming spring.
All three universities were represent
ed with delegates, and they made no
objection to the action Of the associa-
tidh, though this does not mean that
they necessarily have decided to re-
sumo all competitive sports. But the
fact that Yale and Princeton have en-
tered their teams for the intercollegi-
ate basketball championship series is
taken to mean that less something
now unforeseen happens they will also
take an active part in track and base
ball.
Credit to Sporting Editors
There was one visitor at the
N. c. A. A. convention who called at
tention privately to the debt the public
was under to the sporting editors OF
the country, who have advocated in sea-
son and out the continuation OF ali
athletics. Since the writer is not a
sporting editor he can pass this COM
ment on. Said this observer:
"When the pressure was brought TO
bear on the colleges to give up their
athletics on the false assumption that
tors of the country. who have an un-
usually keen appreciation of the good
ali kinds of athletics do the boys and
young men of the land argued vigor-
ously against it. They took the side OF
those few universities which refused
to be stampeded by the hystcria which
swept over the country upon the out,
break of the war and showed in loglca
fashion that by maintaining all thfl'
sports they were not only remaining
true TO the best interests Of their stu
dents, but that in reality they were
making the best contribution withir
their power to the military arm of the
government AS a matter of RECORD
the part these men played in stmmins
, the tide of hysteria and compelling I
| sane view Of the situation ought to b'
stated"
Without question one Of the fines
: speeches ever made on the subject o
= college athletics was that delivered be
1 fore the convention by Presiden
t Faunce Of Brown University. His Gle
fence of college sports in war time an
the good Of college athletics in genera
7 ought to be read by every student an
, every professor in the land.