The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-05
ATHLETIC CONTROL
PARAMOUNT issue
. OF FIERCE DISPUTE
interference of North Central
Group May Split Two
Organizations
UNIVERSITY HEADS TO MEET
Western Conference Committee
Will Meet in Two Weeks
to Study Question

S1llCdSO, NAdICAl -HJ-ooVeiC AAiASo
were being drawn in the Western
Conference Thursday for a fight tc
the finish with the North Central As
ISOLATION of Colleges and Secondary
Schools over the issue Of athletic con-
troll in the Big Ten.
The issue famed to a breaking
point Wednesday when Walter Dill
Scott, president of Northwestern uni
versity. issued a call for the presi-
dents of all the Big Ten universities
together with directors Of athletics
and faculty representatives. to meet
in Chicago, within two weeks, to con-
slider the Western Conference relation
to the North Central in regard to ath
letic control. This committee will
number thirty-one, including Major
John L. Griffith. commissioner OF
athletics in the Big Ten.
The North Central association, an
organization in which practically
; every college and university between
the Alleghenies and Rocky Mountains
is a member. was organized to bring
about uniformity in scholastic stand
ards that affected transfer of credits
of students migrating from one school
to another.
Assume New Powers
Recently, however, the North Cen
trail assumed other powers, one OF
which was a ruling that universities
should not sponsor any interscholastic
track meets or basketball tourna-
ments. Because of this, Amos Alonzo
Stagg was forced to give up the ma
tional interscholastic basketball tour
nament conducted by the University
of Chicago, which, In former years
had attracted teams from almost
every state in the union.
Then the North Central began ath-
letic investigation of five Big Ter
universities-Chicago, Minnesota, H.
linois, Ohio State and Northwestern
President Scott of Northwestern
learning of the visit of the paid in
vestigators of the North Central as
ISOLATION, called the meeting.
Whether the interference of the
North Central in the Big Ten affair:
will cause a rupture between the two
organizations which might result ir
the Big Ten withdrawal from tho
North Central group, cannot be de-
! termined until the conference COM
mittee of thirty-one meets to decide
on its policy.
Will BE Bitter Fight
Major Griffith pointed out Thurs.
day that the North Central associa.
ton, in attempting to supercede tn
authority of the Western Conference
in it's internal athletic problems, wa
inconsistent.
1.-THE situation must be settled al
the meeting of university presidents,
Major Griffith said. 1.-THE Western
Conference is stronger today thar
ever. but in my judgment, If cligibil'
ity issues and questions of intercol'
legiate relationship which in the pas
have been handled by the conference
are to be passed upon by another
group the Western Conference vii
have surrendered its sovereignty TX
the North Central association"
Prof. O. F.. Long, faculty represent
alive at Northwestern, said there car
be no middle ground in the conflic'
between the conference and tho
North Central. Either the Big Ter
must surrender its control OF ath'
letics. or fight to retain the position
it has held since the conference wa
organized 80 years ago.