The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-31
MAKE PUBLIC LETTER
SENT BY NOTRE Dame
TOSEVENTY COLLEGES
(By Associated Press)

Dame university officials today made
public copies of a letter sent six
weeks ago to seventy middle western
colleges calling attention to the
threat Of professionalism IN college
athletics and asking cooperation In a
concerted movement to clean it out.
The letter was mailed ON Dec. 16,
six weeks before there was any public
hint of the football scandal which has
resulted in disqualification OF nine Il
linois and eight Notre Dame men and
todays announcement of it followed
on the heels of an announcement in
Chicago yesterday that the western
conference planned wholesale in
vestigation.
While the letter was sent to seventy
schools, only nine replied, 1t was an
nounced and two of these were west
ern conference schools. The letters
said that while Notre Dame had al
most conclusive evidence that profes-
sionalism was making serious inroads
into our great college sport" it might
be difficult to prove the charges in
court but that an investigation would
separate the wheat from the chaff.
Point to Investigation.
Inc tellGT 0Apldlutu lIldL LNOlI6
Dame of it's own accord investigated
the reports that three of its men play
ed pro-ball in Milwaukee, Wis, and
that the men-Garvey, Anderson and
Larsen-confessed and were disquali-
fled. The letter then said: "In con-
Quoting this investigation the mem
bcrs of the faculty board have been
confronted with situation that merits
the serious attention of the faculty of
every college and university in the
middlewest. We have reason TO be-
lieve that a number of other players
from leading colleges and universities
of the middlewest have participated
in similar games. Indeed we have al
most conclusive evidence that profess
sionalism is making serious inroads in
to our great college sport and that it
will require close supervision and
very watchful care to prevent our col
lege football players from competing
as members of professional teams on
Sundays during the football season.
This communication is being sent
TO every college and university of ath-
letic note in the middlewest. We are
of the opinion that you will be glad to
receive 1t so that you may exercise
whatever preventive precaution you
think necessary. From our experience
in Milwaukee ION the Garvey, Larsen
and r. Anderson cases. we knew that
witnesses are unwilling to give testi-
mony that may be used to convict
college player of professionalism.
Merits Attention
1t would therefore be difficult to
prove before a court what we believe
10 be true: That the promoters of pro-
fessional football are rapidly profess
sionalizing our college players. The
situation, however, merits our very
serious attention.
at is hoped that this communica-
ton will rouse the middle west col
leges and universities to concerted
action against the promoters of pro-
fessional football. Our cooperation
with any such effort may be relied
upon"
A statement from Father William
Carey, chairman of the athletic
board, said that there seemed to be
an incidious propaganda to keep alive
the old superstition that Notre Dame
does not observe eligibility"
LAS a matter of fact" he said.
il "since 1913 Notre Dame has observed
the same rules as the western confer
ence. Freshmen are not permitted to
play, every athlete must be up in his
classes-and most of our athletes
make very high grade-and every
hint of violation Of any rule is care
fully investigated. The fact that a
years have been disqualified for play
ing professional games is looked on
by many to mean that we have many
professionals here, whereas it really
shows only that we are untiring in our
efforts to combat this evil and that
we act without leniency."
Eight athletes of Notre Dame, among
them two all-American football play
ers. a championship track man and
captains of the basket ball and track
teams, yesterday confessed to school
authorities that they played in the
semi-professional football game at
Taylorville, Ill. last November, which
produced the biggest collegiate ath-
letic scandal in the annals of Ameri-
can colleges.
Immediate disqualification of each
man was announced by the university
officials:
The men disqualified are:
Eddie Anderson, Mason City, Ia, all
American end.
Chester Wynne, Orinoque, Kas., all
Western full back selection of several
football writer's, star hurdler and track
team captain.
Roger Kiley, Chicago, varsity end
captain of the basketball team and
star track man.
Lawrence Shaw, Stewart, Ia, varsity
tackle and Western champion shot
- putter.
Harry Mehre, Huntington, Ind, sub
center in football, regular baseball
DlaVer and last wears ba SkethaU can
tain.
Robert Phelan, Fort Madison, Ia,
subyarsity full back
Earl Walsh, Adrian, Ia, subvarsity
back
Dick Seyfrit, Carlinville, H., subvar-
sity end.
nnMMIINITY 2ERMLnE