New Britain herald., 1926-04-15
HOPKINS DEFENDS
 COLLEGE SPORTS
Dartmouth Head Hits From
 Shoulder in Speech Here
ATHLETICS ARE ESSENTIAL
Docs Nut Object To Betting On Ttams-Rcfcrs To Drinking At sporting Events And Lays Burden On Outsiders Present.

The responsibility for maintaining i the higher ideals of intercollegiate lelhletirs was put scuarey up 10 the public. by President Ernest NJ. Hopkins who spoEe to meeting of almost goo mou, representing the Rotary, Exchange, Kiwanis, Lions Iand Racus clubs Of New Britain at , the Burriit hotel this noon.
 In opening his address, which was Oil the subject Of intercollegiate ath- ictiCs, Pr sident Hopkins said there was $ good deal Of mixed logic and lhcfuidIcd argument on this subject. He pointed out that from the time Harvard was founded in 1G36, to 1924, there were 9S0,000 persons graduated from the institutions Of 1 lhighed. learning in the United States. In 1924 there were enrolled 1600O0 persons.
 "Twonty years from now the ideals prevailing in the institutions of learning will be those which pre- dominate the ideals of the country" he said. "Thu American college Of today is a different institution than when these institutions were first established. During the first 1000 years of the Christian era the col lege was a by product of the church, the temple or the monastery. Later on men began to seek learning In q search for truth and there was es- Itatlshed scholastic colonies on the domain of common life"
 Athletics Essential
 Intercollegiate athletics are de- fensible and essential part of college life. Unless these are maintained as hy-products of colleges for the pur- pose of promoting team work, men
 will not go out into life with the CO., opcratiyeness they should have. In tercollegiate athletics is something which should be defended but not apologized for.
 America is 2 sporting nation and we take great interest in sports here. but we must zen ember that
 there are some people to whom
 sports do not appeal. When King | Edward invited the shan of Persia to go See the English Derby, the shah replied: It has long been no news to me that one horse can run faster than another, and I am not interest ed in which it is."
 "When it is inferred that the so- called over emphasis on sports is a new thing in college life, this is not so. Intercollegiate athletics are probably in more critical situation now than ever before because of public interest. There are certain parasitical growthS which the col lcges are unable to control
 T don't care to go into the dues- ton Of the effectiveness of prohibit ion. but if the public Is going to en- ter as guests at intercollegiate con- tests, there is a responsibility on the part of the public not to attempt to does not work.
 Approves Betting on Games
 "Gambling is another problem. If an undergraduate feels that his team needs the support of his tl- nancial wager, l have no particular objection 10 that phase, but the big objection is to the gambling pool.
 There was posted at Hanover one time a statement that another college which Dartmouth was to play had $16,0Oo to back it's team. The statement concluded with the question Has Dartmouth any money?' We investigated and found, as we suspected, that the money did not come from the col leges or from the undergraduate or from the place where the college is located. It came from a group of professional gamblers. Two of the men a few weeks previously had tampered with thu Chicago White SoX in the world series.
 If men endorse the so-called bet ting pool now, eventually there will be found in some college a boy who will be in need of money and when receive black eye and it will mean the elimination of college athletics in that zone if not in America.
 Hits at Red Grange.
 During the past season the Ques- ton of professionalism has come up. If 6 man who has embarked upon a college course and acquired the skill and reputation by virtue of the investment the college has made in him and at a time when his reputa- tion has been acquired by the -op- eration of his team mates; if he goes out on a moments notice and capi- talizes his skill for financial effect, putting it before the completion of his college course, you will have the situation which now faces many col leges.
 When a man is an undergraduate ne should confine himself to under graduate work. When he purports to be an amateur he should remain an amateur, until he is prepared to announce that he is a professional.
 Boys who are entrusted to col Ieges should acquire a sense of pro- portion. What would happen if 1t was universally conceded that a pro- fessional athlete rendered the great est service to the country? All America thrilled with pride when the President Roosevelt stood by and rescued those drowning sailors in the face of grave hazards, In New York Captain Fried and his men were given tremendous ovation. Rut