Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-08
Is Conveniently Located.

Another factor that favors Phila-
delphia is that it is about the same
distance from West Point and An
napolis and the expense of the trip
especially in transporting the student
bodies of the two schools. is thereby
practically equalized. The same thing
holds good in regard to the physical
condition of the teams on their ar
rival.
Baltimore. however, has lately come
in for a bid for the game which at
least Will give IL much consideration.
Enlargement of the stadium there Is
proposed to give a a seating capacity
of l12 900. Among the student bodies
of the two institutions il is the feeling,
as expressed several times to the
writer, that Baltimore does not offer
many opportunities for an evening OF
leave" as Philadelphia or New York.
especially New York. However, this
is a factor that probably will have
little weight in the choice of place
Washington Logical Site.
When all is said that can be said
about the ArmyNavy game there
really is not any reason why II
should not come to Washington. II
Congress carries through a plan now
before it to build a big stadium here,
then logical proposition would be to
alternate the game between New DIX
and Washington. The Navy could
have il in its year at Washington and
the Army could select New York when
It's turn came. That would even up the
length of trip, giving the Navy
short trip one year and the Army
short trip the next year.
And If the game has come to be III
such demand as il has. and has as
sumed a position OF great commercial
and social Importance TO a city, then
il is only a question of time before the
Navy and Army will be compelled to
adopt a set policy of playing the
game on the same field, or on the
same alternate fields. every year. If
such a policy is not adopted there will
be no limit to the demands for the
game. There is just as much reason
why the game should go to San Fran
cisco as to Chicago. and it is just as
reasonable for San Francisco to ask
for it.
1t is almost ridiculous to assume
that the Army and Navy can play
the part of a circus and put on a
show for different cities year after
year From a standpoint OF educa-
ton and athletics such an arrange
ment would be entirely wrong, but
once let the two schools get started
II that way and there is no telling
what might IdDpeil.
Suppose, for instance, somebody
ere TO mention to Yale and Harvard
HAT they transfer their annual game
TO some Middle Western city and
then transport their student bodies to
that city Such a suggestion would
he laughed at as utterly beyond rea
son. because it would be in direct OPP
position to the standards now aimed
at in intercollegiate athletics, if for
no other reason. And certainly, the
Army and Navy, notwithstanding
they are at the mercy of Congress-
should be allowed to maintain the
same standards that are maintained
al other educational institutions, and
probably they will be.
The Fundamental Consideration.
The Army-Navy game should be
played each year at such place as will
cause the least interruption to the
general routine of duties necessary to
carry out educational plans of the two
institutions. The sole function of the
Naval Academy and Military Academy
IS to develop leaders for the Army and
Navy, to serve as directors of the ma
tional defense, and it is this for which
the taxpayers of Orono, Kalamazoo.
Tallahassee, Indigo and sundry other
places on the taXpaying map of the
United States lay out their hard-earn-
ed cash. And the real interest of the
taxpayers, and the lawmakers who
represent them, should be to see that
everything possible be done to aid the
Naval Academy and Military Academy
in accomplishing this, the real pur-
pose for which they are maintained.