Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-04

Charges That college athletes who APP
pear In the big contests are becoming
a part Of q professional system produce
a wide variety of public comment. The
report by the Carnegie Foundation, con-
tanning the results Of investigations COW
ering . period Of years, has inspired
some suggestions that there should be
/ housekeeping, but there Is q general
feeling that as long as there Is . public
demand and an enthusiastic alumni
and undergraduates subsidy OF sport
viii be sanctioned.
'Annerican foot ball-the corner stone
of college sports" says the Pittsburgh
st-Gazetts, now commands an ag-
gregate annual gate Of around $50
ooo, 900. 1t is big business; By foot
ball is the college advertised and kept
before the world. The large student
bodies are attracted in some measure to
institutions, It is contended, by the
success of the team. There will be ar
gument that IL sports have harmful
influence they likewise have their good
points which may outweigh the doubt
full. The Carnegie bulletin naturally
will give rise to much discussion. Foot
ball, however. may be depended upon 10
stege a goal-line defense. The bulletin
is ikelv to become a storm center, but
the result cannot well help but be
wholesome"
"The dubious element is the colleges
insistsnce that foot ball players are all
Students" AYERS the Baltimore Evening
Sun, with the further query: Why
cannot that inSistence be eliminated?
Foot ball is profitable industry. Peo-
pie like to watch 1t and will pay great
sums OF money TO watch 1t. Why should
not the colleges operate this industry
and collect the profits? Since they are
alreadv in the business, they might as
well make all they can out Of It"
Considerable OF the objection 70
nresent-day foot ball is based apparent
" on the theory that 1t Is too enjoy
able to be permitted" remarks the
Chicago Daily Tribune, which, however,
holds that "it might be better managed
by Morris Gest in collaboration WITH
viii be-" The Little Rock Arkansas
Democrat states that Substituting OF
college athletics has been exposed by
learned men after 1t has been an open
secret for 40 years." and that paper
Concludes: $50 long as alumni-and
alumnae. too. for that nnatter-demand
that their alma matters be bigger ana
better, thus rejecting their own mag:
nificence, we can expect subsidized
alumni and alumnae in a 100000
stadium rising as one to cheer the ap-
nearance of the professor of physicist"
"But what can be done about 1t. or
what should be aone?" asks the New
York Sun, with the further comment:
"Nobody can imagine for minute that
the institutions and persons indicted
by DR.. Pritchett are going to disappear
or even change their nature or charac-
teristics. There will be no return to
Acadian beginnings of American sport"
The Aberdeen. Wash, Daily World be-
lieves that intercollegiate athletics
especially foot ball, are too deeply rooted
tn be torn up, and as long as they con-
tinue, so will commercialism and
5The people demand big spectacles.
patronize games where winning teams
r1Iay. idolize the successful players and
demand a form of entertainment that
has become q huge commercial enter
prise. If people demanded reform, in
sisted that no more foot ball players be
subsidized, and withheld their patronage
from all except clean, amateur ath-
letics," in the opinion Of the Indian
epolis News, the reforms would come
soon enough"
justification for college assistance for
athletes is found by the New Orleans
there is no objection to the help granted
non athletic studentS-and we hear Of
none-why should that same help be
denied to other students who need II,
merely because they play in the college
games?" The Oakland Tribune is con-
Vinced that $50 far as California and
Stanford are concerned, the charges are
both minor and vague" and 1t points
out that Gin the way the two colleges
and many others are accepting the
charges, throwing open their books and
instituting inquiries, there Is assurance
that the report, instead Of detracting
from the reputation Of the game. win
aid in putting II on q higher level"
"It seems that the Carnegie Founda- |
ton is asking too much Of the COLLEGES - |
says the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
1T would require superhuman decision