Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-31
NOTRE DAME AIMS
TO BATTLE "PROS'
South Bend Officials Started
investigation Of Athletes
Six Weeks Ago
FRAZIER WILL GET DIPLOMA ASK FOR COOPERATION

South Bend. Ind. Jan. 31.-Notrc
Dame University officials today made
public copies Of letter sent six weeks
ago TO seventy Middle Western colleges
cnlling attention TO the threat Of pro-
fessionalisn in college athletics and ask
ing 60 operation in concerted move
ment to clean It out.
The letter was mailed on December
16. six weeks before there was any pub
lie hint Of the football scandal which
has resulted in disqualification of nine
Illinois and eight Notrc Dame men, and
today's announcement Of II followed on
the heels Of an announcement in Chi
cago yesterday that tae Western Con-
ference planned wholesale inycStiga-
ton.
While the letter was sent TO seventy
schools, only nine replied, it was an
nounced. and two Of these we're West
ern Conference schools. The letters
said that while NOtre Dame "had al
most conclusive evidence that profCS-
sionaIiSm was making serious lnroadS
into our great college sport, IT might
be difficult TO prove the charges in court,
but that an Investigation would sepa-
rate the wheat from the chat.
Started Investigation
Tho letter explained that Notrc Dame
Of its own accord investigated the re-
ports that three Of its men played pro
balls in Milwaukee, Wis, and that
the mcn-Garvcy, Anderson and Larsen
confessed and were disqualified. The
letter then said:
I'm conducting this Investigation the
members of the faculty board have been
confronted with n situation that merits
the serious attention Of tho faculty nf
every college and university in the Mid
die West We have reason to believe
that number of other players from
leading colleges and universities of the
Middle West have participated in Simi-
lar games. Indeed, we have almost con-
elusive evidence that professionalism is
making serious inrOaGs into our great
college sport and that it will require
close supervision and very watChful care
TO prevent our college football players
from competing as members of profcS-
slonal teams ON Sundays during the
football season.
This communication is being sent
to every college and university Of ath-
letic note in the Middle West. We
are of the opinion that YOU will be glad
to receive it, 50 that You may exercise
whatever preventive proraution You
think necessary. From our experience
in Milwaukee ton the Garvcy. Larsen
and II. Anderson rascSD wC know that
witnesses are unwilling to give tcsti-
mony that may be used to convict n
college player Of professionalism. II
would therefore be difficult 10 prove bc-
for Il court what we believe to be true
that the promoters of professional foot e
ball are rapidly prOrcssiOnalizlng our
college players. The situation. how
ever, merits our very serious attention.
Pleaded for Action
"lt is hoped that this communication
will rouse tho Middle West colleges
and universities to concerted action
against the promoters of professional
football. Our ro-Operution with any
such effort may be relied upon.
\ statement from Father William
| Carey. chairman of the Athletic Board,
said that "therc seemed to be an in
sidious propaganda to keep alive the old
/ superstition that Notrc Dame does not
! observe eligibility"
AS matter Of fact" ho said
''sincc 1913 Notrc Dame has observed
! the same rules as the Western Confer
enCe. Freshmen are not permitted tC
play. every athlete must be- up in his
clasSeS-and most of our athlctr~ have q
very high gradc-and every hint of vio-
latlOn of any rule il carefully invcStI-
gated. The fact thar Il number Of our
men during recent years have been dis
qualified for playing professional game,
is looked ON by many 10 mean that w
have many professionals here whereas
it really shows only that W" are untIr-
ing in our efforts 10 combat this evil
and that we act without lcnicn"y.