Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-22
COACHES WANT TAX ON
ATHLETIC GOODS LIFTED
Bcdzcck and Sharpe Denouncc
Evil - Tell Of Value of
Physical Education.
Ry Peter y. Carnrr

Hugo Bczdek, director of athletics
at Pennsylvania State College. and
Albert III. Sharpe, head of the Ithaca
school OF Physical Educate and
former director OF athletics at Yale
ana cornell, are two men who know
me Na!ue OF athletics for the masses
fhey have accomplished wonders dur
ing the past few s,ars in their
CHOSEN lines. The government liked
ie|dck's IDEAS so much that they
We're utilized i'm all the army cam
comments To improve the physical iii :
ness OF our soldiers.
No two men In the United States
are more opposed to the 10 per cent
war tax on athletic goods than these
TWO athletic directors. Bezdek has
spent considerable Of his time this
summer in talking the cause of the
youngsters. lie is a friend of the kid.
and goodness knows If the American
Kid ever needed Il friend it is right
now
Congress hasn't paid much attcn-
ton to complaints of the kids in the
past. but this time the kids have
h"wled so much and so long. and
nave gotten the support of so many
grown-ups that maybe Congress will
pay some attention and take OFF the
pcrnicious tax that SO intcrfercs with
the welfare OF the youth and also Of
the United States
Possibly you remember that some
:.00oU00 Americans We're declared un-
fit for service in the last war. What
does that tell you? II should have
opened the eyes of Congress Unless
the youth of this land is provided
with the proper tools 10 play with
YOU cannot expect him to be physi-
cally perfect.
Playground associations through
out tho United States are building
places for our youth TO play, and
then we find they cannot plny be-
cause they can't raise the means TO
purchase tools. And when they don't
play they can't expect to remain
healthy. And if they do not go to the
Fairgrounds ii is only natural To be-
lieve that they will go TO other places
places not so desirable.
The world war" says DR.. Sharpe,
opened our eyes To the fact that a
much greater percentage of young
men were physically unfit for ser
vice. than anybody had ever ina gin ell.
The only way to reach and correct
this evil is To enforce physical edu-
cation in the grammar schools OF the
country.
Each State should see to IL that it's
youth are brought up correctly
along fundamental physical, mental
and moral lines. Unless these habits
are enforced during the grammar
school period. much valuable time is
lost and il is much better 20 teach
good habits at the proper time than
it is tn correct bad habits later,
The boy and girl so full of life
and energy that they go out for
teams which represent the athletic
life Of the school are by no means
in the majority. and any state which
ncGlccts the proper education of the
youth in its care can hardly be said
to be doing its full duty in bringing
up its future citizens. A good ply
steal education is the rock upon
which to build n good mental and
moral structure"
II you believe rs DR.. Sharpe does,
please write Chairman Fordney, OF
the Ways and Means Committee to-
day and ask him to use his influence
to take or this tax.