The Wrangell sentinel., 1923-01-04
WHEN IS A TOURNAMENT
 NOT A TOURNAMENT?

greater part Of the time since the opening of the school year and have had a great deal of work to attend to; consequently, I have not given the matter any thought or attention. I assumed that Wrangell would take the lead in this matter and that ar arrangements would be made and the tournament handled from that point. I understand from MT. Gross that both Ketchikan and Metlakatla ex- pect to be in Wrangeli during the holidays. MT. Mitchell of Douglas seems to want to take his boys down, also; however, in my conversation with him he stated that he had had no information from Wrangell re- garding the plan for holding the meet and whether or not the boys would be taken care of while in Wrangell or given any refund on ex- penditures. I presume that MT. Gross has already had a communica- tion from him on this point and that matter will be cleared up. Coach Hughes of Juneau apparently has his team in condition. However, in la conversation with him yesterday he was of the opinion that at least fewmembers of the team did not like to leave home at Christmas time, al- though if tournament is held 1t is very likely that Juneau will have a team there.
 Both Superintendents Mitchell and Lang are desirous of taking large boats to and from Wrangell since gas boating ill the winter time is not only inconvenient but. to some ex- tent, dangerous; consequently, the dates on which the tournament will be held will, of necessity, have to fit into the steamship schedule.
 I am wiring Superintendent Gross today to the effect hat if he desires this office to appoint special com mittee on arrangements, l will ap- point Mr. Mitchell of Douglas and MT. Snyder of Ketchikan to serve with him. do not feel that should personally take an active part in meets or tournaments regardless of where they are held. This office devoted considerable time to the h. ter-School Meet held in Juneau last spring for the reason that there was no organization for handling mat ters of this kind and in order that meet of this description might be held. In doing so we neglected a number of other things which we should have been doing. However, I feel that the enterprise was worth while ard that much good was ac- complished. I am urging upon both the Juneau and Douglas schools the advisability of entering the tourna- ment at Wrangell during the Christ mas vacation and shall be pleased to render you all the moral support possible.
 Cordially yours,
 LESTER D. HENDERSON
 Commissioner of Education
 Supt. Gross, upon receipt of the message from MT. Henderson, went to work immediately upon the tour nament arrangements, keeping in touch with his committee by cable to expedite matters. Douglas had made previous arrangements to play at Ketchikan at Christmas and the tournament was scheduled with due respect for this arrangement and the steamboat sailings. Metlakatla arrived here Wednesday morning and Ketchikan and Douglas came that evening. Juneau failed to ar rive..s Not until the committee met here was it suspected that a tourna ment is not always a tournament.
 At the meeting Friday, MT. Mitch ell was of the opinion that the mo- tion made at Juneau last spring was that a preliminary meet" be held at Wrangell. A letter from Miss Rees, received recently by Mrs. John son of the school board, who had written Miss Rees for information regarding the meeting, stated that the motion was made by the princi- pal of the Haines school to hold the basketball tournament separate from the General Meet on account of the boys having to practice so long (after a discussion upon the sub ject) and that such a tournament be held at Wrangell at Christmas time. In order to settle the question, it was decided to cable MT. Henderson. MT. Corser appointed MT. Witten, MT. Mitchell and Mrs. Johnson a committee and the following mes7 sage was sent:
 Argument as to whether tourna- ment decides championship. Matter left for you to decide. Wire decision