Evening star., 1932-12-18
BY WILLIAM H. WRANEK, JR.

CHARLOTTESVILLE Va. Decem-
Der l7.-Old lady conference
turned out to be twins, and
" Siamese twins at that. The
operation Of changing her into
them was successful, and both patients
seem likely to live.
The ancient dame had long been sus-
pected Of having dual personality. Dut
many were surprised when the Knoxville
surgeons separated her into two distinct
individuals. They should have looked
back twelve years to that December day
in 1920 when two bodies agreed TO
become one.
The old Southern intercollegiate Ath-
letic Association, no relation OF the very
dighty individual now carrying the same
name. and the Athletic Conference OF
Southern State Universities agreed that
In union there might be strength For
IL years an attempt was made at work.
ing as one. Now there are two OF them
again.
MEMBERS Of the family have been
lvl divided. Mrs Southern Confer
ence who retained the name. holds
on to 10 Of the brood. The Is others
who ran away will seek shelter under
the maternal skirts OF Mrs. South
eastern Conference.
The long geographical span between
College Park, Nd. and Baton Rouge.
La. was given as the first and foremost
reason for the separation. Those who
offered this reason forgot to remember
that there is almost the same distance
between Columbus. Ohio. and Mime
somewhat further reach frcm Los An
Reles, Calf. to Seattle. Wash. the ex-
tremes Of the Pacific Coast Conference.
Now the less than 400 miles between
College Park and Columbia, S. C..
makes the children Of Mrs. S. c.
rather compact group. The air line
from Lexington. KY to New Orleans or
to Gainesville. Fla. is something above
500 miles The offspring Of Mrs. Sc.
c. won't be such near neighbors.
4 N address delivered in Gainesville by
n the late Prof. Albert Lefevre, then
chairman Of Virginias Faculty
Committee on Athletics, had . great
deal to do with the first eligibility
standards adopted by the Southern
Conference. What DR.. Lefevre said IL
years ago Is Just as timely, II not more
SO, today.
In a soil Of subterfuge and deceit
good seed shall not be planted" This
was not voiced as a forecast OF failure,
but with the hope that q union OF the
S. I. A. A. with the Conference OF
Southern State Universities would see
an end Of jealous chickering's.
This was not to be. DR.. Lefevre saw
an untimely end for whatever "organt-
zation would have for its corner stone
the basic principle Of the reciprocity
of mistrust and distrust." Such q basic
weakness led to the split in Knoxville
last week.
can ever properly lead to abdication OF
the moral autonomy Of the individual
college," DR.. Lefevre stated. Each In
stitution must assume the fullest re-
sponsibility for Its own athletic dis
position, attitude, obligation and honor.
If the eligibility Of players OF one
college Is to be judged by omcers who
are not responsible authorities IN that
college, then faculty representatives are
led to adopt the attitude Of the lawyer.
who by profession takes q partisan view
and holds a brief for his clients. They
cease to be open-minded executives, su.
premely responsible for principles and
policies which should make for the at
tainment Of ideals of justice. fairness,
purity, truth and honor in our sports
manship."