Evening star., 1927-12-09
THREE:yEAR RULE
! NOT UP TO CADETS
Nothing in Athletic Pact With
Annapolis Calls for
Limitation.
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

YEW YORK, December 9.-1f the
official views of the Army ath-
VI letic authorities on the agita-
4 ton concerning the three-year
eligibility rule proposed by the
United States Naval Academy were
devnitely set forth. it is quite Likely
that the matter of relative enroll
ment would he ignored by them as in
consequential.
But no statements on the situation,
official or otherwise. are coming from
West Point. So far as the writer is
able to sense Army feeling, the ten
dency is to abide by the athletic agree
ment between the two service acade-
mics, in which among other things it
was stipulated that teams of West
Point and Annaolis should play foot
ball over a four-year period, OF which
this year wa sthe first.
1t would seem that this agreement
was signed in good faith with perfect
understanding by both parties of the
conditions. If the writer does not err
in catching prevailing Army senti-
ment, it may be asserted that this
document is regarded as binding and
that if it were treated by one or the
other as a mere scrap of paper, sheer
bad faith would be indicated.
And it is felt-even granting the
lack of supporting opinion from of
ficial Army athletic sources-that
West Point will adhere strictly to this
agreement. tolerating no second
thought amendments. such as the
three-y year rule. In other words. the
belief is herewith set forth that the
Army will not follow the Navy in
adopting the three-year rule.
All Treated Alike
So far as the spirit of West Point
with regard to athletics and students
generally has been gathered by the
writer in the course of visits TO the
Point this fall the essence of the at
titude toward cadets is that there shall
be no discrimination whatever. The
son Of a millionaire receives treatment
no different from the son of huckster
and the boy who comes to West Point
from some college where he has
played foot ball enjoys similar con-
Sideration: but no more. and no less.
than the high or preparatory school
athlete.
If this principle is to be jettisoned,
II the college man is to be singled out
for discrimination. then far better that
intercollegiate athletics be abandoned
at West Point. The main job at the
United States Military Academy is the
development of army officers out of
raw material. Athletics of whatever
sort are incidental and must always
be-which does not mean that their
value to the students, as well as fac
tors in the solidarity of the student
and alumni bodies. is not appreciated.
1t would appear that civilian institu-
tions appreciate the situation. evidence
of which may be seen in the annual
games with Yale, and the contract
which has just been signed by Har-
ward two institutions where eligi-
bility standards both scholastic and
otherwise, are rigidly observed.
View Not Influenced
There is nothing in the way of of.
fetal sanction in what has been set
forth in the foregoing paragraphs; nor
official influence either. The writer
has not set this down in the spirit of
erecting a brief for the Army. He has
merely written what he believed to be
the spirit underlying the conduct of
athletics and everything else at West
Point as he has caught it this year
and in past years.
It is timely, in view of what looks
like an approaching impasse between
the two service institutions. that this
analysis Of fundamentals be printed.
It is not believed that in the last
reckoning the spirit of the Navy in
respect to these things differs in any
material degree from that of the Army.
This being so, break which might
be prevented by a frank and tolerant
discussion of matters which are abso-
lutely iusticia BILE, would be a calamity
to intercollegiate sport generally.
tCopyright 1927