Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-24

The Big Ten Conference is still a
| storm center as a result of ousting the
! athletic teams of the University OF
Iowa. This is Notwithstanding the fact
| that the Betting fund at Iowa, from
which loans were made, has been repu-
dated at home and some players have
been declared ineligible
In support Of the action of the con-
ference the Milwaukee Journal argues
Iowa was caught in practices that
were too unethical to be tolerated. Her
very action now admits it. The II ath-
letes who are barred were borrowing
money from a fund to pay their tut
ton. There was no assurance that this
money would be paid back, and until it
was repaid the thing amounted to the
hiring OF men to compete for Iowa. And
the way the money was distributed is
significant. Loans were made to IL foot
ball and basket ball players. Ten OF
them lived outside the State. Why was
Iowa favoring outsiders with tuition
loans? When it is revealed that
q nouse-cleaning must be made before
even outside schools can be played.
Iowans ought to begin to do some sober
thinking"
Replying to critics, the Des Moines
Tribune Capital says: Iowa is simply
undergoing a needless humiliation in
now admitting everything after going
to the big conference and denying
everything. Iowa should have known
what was in the wind and adopted the
military motto that the best defensive
is an offensive. 1oWa'S nose would not
be rubbed in the dirt If Iowa had sent
some tactful men to the other schools
and learned in detail just what they
are doing to provide for their athletes.
There is not a school whose mouth
would not be closed If the real inside
was known Of its methods for getting
and holding athletes" The Des Moines
paper makes the charge that there is
no reason why there should be any
subterfuge about this matter of inviting
is an organized activity in every big
school in the United States"
In repudiating the so-called Betting
fund and declaring ineligible the ath-
leteS who benefited from it," according
to the Chicago Daily News, "the board
in control at the University of Iowa
took action that shocked many sup
porters Of Iowa teams. In the circum-
stances, however, it was the only proper
action that could have been taken.
1t Is not to be regarded merely
Big Ten. 1t is straightforward recog-
milton and reputation of diScredit-
able situation in Iowa athletics. Iowa
erred, and now has acknowledged It's
error. Apparently there is no reason
why 1t should not be welcomed back
into the fold of the Big Ten"
Questioning the drastic action of the
conference, however, the Fort Wayne
NewS-Sentinel declares: Couldn't the
conference have accomplished as much
by way Of reform by extending Iowa's
probationary period as by making final
custer of one of the Middle Vests finest
schools from full fraternity in athletic
affairs? Whatever may be the whole
merit of the case, Iowa has undoubtedly
drawn much sympathy from the alumni
OF other schools. whose representatives
and agents acted summarily in kicking
the Hawkeyes out of the Big Ten" The
Des MoineS Register discusses the sub
ject OF amateur status with the state
ment that I'VE have two astonishing
inheritances from England in this New
World. One is from the long past, when
the laborer and soldier were serfs and
vassalS OF the upper lords" continues
the Register. "To this day we saw the
common soldier must fight for the glory
of his country. But we reward the COM
manders with titles and estates. The
other is that our college boys must win
the games for nothing and board them
selves. while the colleges and coaches
cash in with hundreds of thousands of
dollars in a single game"
The Worcester Evening Gazette con-
tends that there is not reputable COL
lege in the country which would pay its
athletes If 1t had to make a public ac-
counting Of its acts and the acts Of its