Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-10-06

Representatives 1TOIl S1SHC NAcAy
land colleges and universities met in
Baltimore at the Southern Hotel last
week for the purpose Of forming a
"Maryland Conference" for athletics.
The institutions sending delegates
were Johns Hopkins University, st.
Johns, Western Maryland, Blue
Ridge, Mount St. Mary's, Loyola,
Washington College and the Univer-
sity Of Maryland.
These came together at the sugges-
ton of the Sun and the object stated
was "the promotion of the finest spir-
it, of clean craftsmanship, the opening
Of the way to a closer and more sat
isfactory contact in athletics among
the several institutions and the pro-
viding for more frequent tests of
strength and skill under conditions
that would be mutually beneficial"
William L. Lush, of st. Johns, was
chosen president of the temporary
organization; committee composed
Of himself and J. T. Kibler, of Wash
ington College; Walter H. Halas, of
Mt. St. Mary's College; and Norman
Reyes Of Johns Hopkins, was ap-
pointed to draw up a set of bylaws
to be presented at a meeting to be
held in the near future for permanent
organization.
It is probable that should the
maryland Conference" become a
fact, no effort will be made to regu-
late any collegiate sport this year ex-
cept basket ball. All the schools will
probably be represeted on the courts,
and championship season would
wonderfully augment interest in this
popular indoor game.
Some organization like this has
long been needed amongst Maryland
colleges. It is to be hoped that one
can be framed that will stand the test
Of a period of time, at least, longer
than a year. Attempts have been
made in the past to bind these same
schools into a Maryland 1ntercollegi-
ate League, only to result in abandon
ment~of all agreements after one or
two seasons.
While there may be many phases of
violations of rules ard regulations,
leading to assumptions, the outstand-
ing one is professionalism" The diff
ferent schools will not hesitate to en-
ter into iron-clad provisions regulat-
ing this evil, and they are equally
non-hesitant in breaking them.
The desire to win is so rampant in
all sport that evasions are constantly
being made in inducing students to
attend colleges, who can be of SER
vice in an athletic way. Sport for
sports sake is principle rarely es-
tablished among college boys and to
lose is with them an everlasting dis
grace.
Therefore promising athletes arc
sought for and inducements" offered
them to enter college. These induce
ments take the form of waiterships
not requiring the waiter to wait; jani-
torships that do not require them Ito
janitor;" care takers that do not re-
quire them "to take care" of any
thing; in short all sort of technicali-
ties are taken advantage Of to place a
boy in a position to work his way
through college, when the position
does not require him to work-the
.equently being done by Fresh.
men.
It is safe to say that, if the truth
were known, there is not an institu.
ton Of higher learning IN the State
that is keeping the spirit of that
regulation which forbids any remu'
Lneration to students for athletic a.
bility.
- In the big universities it is the
same. It was reported few years
back that famous athlete at Yale
was working his way through col.
lege" through the aid and assistance
of the Laundry Concession;" and ir
accepting this, he was guaranteed
that the students laundry bills woult
net him $4,000 per annum-and HI
nevel handle collar or shirt.
This is the rock on which the clear
athletics ship will split if care is no
taken, and it is to be hoped success
will attend this latest effort to stee
il into safe waters.
Results of collegiate contests il