San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-29
MAN WHO HELPED MAKE
1T CRITICIZES PACT
BETWEEN "BIG THREE"
Athletic Agreement Strikes
at Sportsmanship,
Says Briggs.

tdIDTluse. MISS. Jan. -J.-l ne
athletic agreement now in effect among
Princeton. Harvard and Yale involves
an inquisition into the financial status
of athletes that strikes at the founda-
ton of craftsmanship, Dean Leibon X.
Briggs asserts in his annual report as
chairman of Harvard athletic commit
tee, which was made public today.
Though the athletic situation at the
time seemed to make the inquisitiOn
necessary. the dean said he looked for a
time when Harvard. Yale and Princeton
should say 10 one another. Il need
ltlow nothing more about the legiti
macy of your players than is implied
by your willingness that they shall rep
resent you" Only then, he added, would
those involved he sportsmen.
Dean Briggs introduced his critic.
ism of the agreement with reference
to the conditions out of which il grew.
The evils of substituting athletes
we're illustrated last year." he said. "by
discoveries which led the authorities at
Princeton TO disqualify some Of their
best known and most skillful players
The disqualification. already determined
at Princeton by Princeton alone, was
promptly reported TO the committee of
the three chairmen. Like every other
act of the kind il was asSailed as I'M
| Just by those who did not know the
situation and il gave rise TO new sus.
plclons, naturally enough, regarding the
athletes OF Yale and Harvard. Every
athlete named by anybody TO the Har-
| ward committee as suspected of receiv-
| ing lllegitimate aid was looked up as
carefully as circumstances permitted.
Brief reports of the financial resources
of prominent athletes at Yale and Har-
| ward were submitted by the Yale and
Harvard chairmen, respectively. to the
committee Of the three chairmen and
much To suppose that all suspicious
were allayed; but no case calling for
disqualification was discovered"
How far prOsClyting has gone among
college athletes the report continues
may be inferred from the attention
paid in recent discussions TO students
who have moved from one college 10 nm,
other and who are designated by the
QuestiOn-begging name of "tramp ath
letes.. At Harvard the pro
portion of athletes among transferred
students is said TO be less than th,
proportion among students who CONT
straight from schools TO the freshman
class. 1t is in schools rather than in
colleges that the chief danger of illegi
innate propaganda lies, and notbiDt
can check this propaganda but right
mindedness among under graduates am
alumni. Speaking always with IN,
knowledge that something sCaudolou,
may be uncarthed at any moment.
nevertheless, know that this right
mindedness has been greatly increase,
IN the last thirty-five years. Indeed
there is serious danger of Discriminate,
against the athletes. The question tha
we ask him would be insolently per
s9nal if it were possible. as school
master once said. TO treat an athlet,
Ike an ordinary decent citizen Mr. /,
the athlete permitted. unrhallpuccd. I,
receive such aid as n non-afhlctic youth
who NAV not have half his intelligence
or strength of Character. might go on
receivln: undistrbed for years. Al
Harvari the danger Of Prosecuting If
schools is now slight. The true dangp,
rs eagCfneSs 10 help an athlete al.eady
in college.
"TaougE tho athletic situation last
at Prin' "A. ln;r sud iILrvnr,I If,
at Princeton. a'r and Harvard IN.
financial i"GaiEition o. which | nm
writing and in the responsibility al
| NHiCH snare. S".n q method cannot
be perElnen; 81 indeed cannot he
used at all without danger to the very
foundation Of craftsmanship. Ultimate
ly. the information received by the com
mittee depends in most cases on tho
players word. There is no question
airc that dishonest man cannot cir
cumyent. Eventually. the QUESTIONABLE
based on universal distrust will defeat
its end. II the college office should
treat every student as n suspect. il
would stimulate in the students general
y n desire to circumvent il and woult
destroy that frank and friendly inter
course on which its efficiency depends
Can committee on athletics viii
a similar policy escape a similar fault
| look for the time when Harvard. Yal,
and Princeton shall say to one another
need e7'W nO'hin: ~ about IN,
legitimacy of your players than is i'm
Piled by your willingness that the,
should represent you Then and not til
then s":.lI we lic slurtsmcn."