Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-14

NCNG1Ah IuIluTeQ WHO az
- tended the George Wash
ington varsity dinner in
honor of Colonial athletes
last night came away thrilled by
a brilliant talk by Maj. John L.
Grif1ths, Big Ten commissioner,
but uppermoSt in the minds of
many today was the thought of
a happy future in athletics as
viSioned by the institutions presi-
dent, DR.. Cloyd Heck Marvin.
DR.. Marvin expressed confidence that
within another year George Washington
would have its long needed athletic field
to be financed from the $500 900 estate
of the late Richard E. Pairo, but almost
equally encouraging. especially to
alumni and friends of the school, was
the complete satisfaction he voiced over
the progress made by James E Pixlee.
finishing his second year as director of
athletics.
Pixles's appointment was the result
Of painstski search for the right
man to do a difficult job.
He was given four years to do GER
tain things" said DR.. Marvin, land so
far ne has exceeded all my expecta-
tions"
Griffith Defends Athletics.
Maj. Griffith ran the gamut of college
sport problems and in the main stoutly
defended athletics. He declared the
Carnegie report presented an untrue
picture and cited other instances in
which educators have reached distorted
conclusions by starting from cratic
premises. He charged them with per-
ceiving evil without seeking the good in
college athletics and fiouted the belief
Of some that sport interfered with aca-
demic development. He presented con-
vincing facts along his oratorical trail.
which ives punctuated with rib-splitting
anecdotes.
Speaking of foot ball overemphaSis
and commercialism, he said: college
athletics are commercial in the same
sense that the schools, colleges, the art
galleries, public libraries and hospitals
are commercial Foot ball is a
commercially hilanthropic rather than a
mercenary- commercial enterprise. Out
of the thousand institutions in the
United States above high school grade
maintaining foot ball teams only Is
realize enough of return to support
the many other sides of the athletic
curriculum.
II cannot believe that the people take
cognizance of this so-called over
empsasis, nor can they be patient with
the measures some have suggested in
routing the alleged evil. 1t seems
almost likely that the whole scope of
engineered by professor who resented
the fact that 10000 attended a foot
ball game and $50 attended his lectures
He would blast the stadium in the hope
that the 10000 would promptly file into
his room of learning"
Mai. Gritiiths drew a parallel be-
tween the philosophy of sport and
democracy, in which he made the OBJ
servation: Where, l ask, except in
athletics is man given start on equal
terms with his fellow, clear track
ahead of him and a just reward at
the end? Name a human activity
which can boast of the athletic worlds
absolute sense OF fair play"
Other Distinguished Speakers
Other speakers included Senator
James w. Brookhart Of Iowa, Senator
Gerald p. Nye of North Dakota and
Stephen E. Kramer. assistant superin-
tendent of Washington schools. Letters
were presented by Director of Athletics
Pixlee. Associate Justice James Nc
PherSon Proctor, District Supreme
Court, was the POSTMASTER. Honored
guests included:
Smith w. Brookhart, Senator from
Iowa: Gerald P. Nye, Senator from
North Dakota-both of whose State uni
versities will meet George Washington
In foot ball next season; John Bell
Larner, chairman of the schools board
OF trustees; DR.. Cloyd Heck Marvin,
president OF the university; Capt Joel
I. Boone, physician to President Hoo
yer; Capt. John w. Wilcox. jr, director
OF athletics, United States Naval Acad-
envy; Rip Miller, Navy coach; Brig
Gen. Charles D. Rhodes, Drs F. A.
Hornaday, Daniel Borden, Stanley
White, c. N Chapman, w. T. Davis
and Calvin T. Milans and Shirley L.
Povich, sports editor of the Post.
The Colonials nationally famous
Glee Club rendered G. WIS songs, THE
Bun and Blue" and Alma Mater"