Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1945-02-10

mating periods of prestige and
diSreputc.
Baseball still one of our
pureSt institutions today. had
been fouled. rescued, exploited,
again betrayed and, finally,
Under Judge KcneSaw Noun
tain Lands. redeemed as
national treasure almost as
significant as the Stars and
Stripes,
l am not eXaggerating.
MY CONTEMPORARIES will
VA agree that the people were
more deeply aroused by the in
fidelity of the erring members
of the White SoX IN the World
Series of 1919 against the Gin
Cinnati Reds-tAan they-were by
the revelations, later, of the
conSplracieS of the Harding
regime.
The men VINO Consplred 10
throw the games were con-
demned TO historic dlSrepute.
Unlike many other and more
grieVouS offenders against more
important articles OF our Senti-
mental faith, they were branded
and barred forever although,
actually, they had only taken
revenge on a Stingy and AFRO
CANT employer who paid them
miserable wages and Supped
them with long spoon.
All this while. however. and
from the days of 90 when the
troops came back from Cuba.
our intercollegiate sport had
been proceeding under nasty
attempt al compromise between
honesty and deceitful pretense.
Great educators. including
clergymen, who should have
had a finer sense of honor and
responsibility. would Connive at
bargains with young physical
giants who thus were coasted
through their classes with false
scholastic ratings so that they
were awarded degrees which
they had not earned. in order
that they might he kept eligible
under the rules TO play foot
ball.
THEY squinted at covert sub
Il sides and salaries to young
professionals hired for the pur-
pose of advertising their schools
and improving their own spu-
riouS distinction as educators.
The effect on a more and
more cynical public was less
harmful than the impression OF
their dishonesty on their own
legitimate undergraduate stu
dents.
In the era Of wonderful non
sense some Of us were called
cynicS and destructive critics
because we jibed and Sneered at
moCk-amateuriSm and Snide-
professionalism. That was a
strange way Of putting il be-
cause the cyniCiSm was on the
other side and they were de-
Stroying faith by their toler-
ance of hypocrisy.
Those who Condoned the col
legiate sport system held that
a little cheating and a little
more cheating was only an ami
able folly which we'll justified it.
self in the fine new buildings,
the athletic equipment, the
swimming pools and other sub
Stantial profits of a corrosive
example to the young.
l find that some Democratic
voters of today have the same
mental attitude regarding per-
sonal graft in office masked as
legitimate earnings. toward the
bribery of voters by relief grants
and the extortIon of enormous
campaign funds for the ruling
party through compulsory as
SeSsmentS levied on men and
women who may be thrown out
Of work for failure 10 pay.
Look what we got i'm return
Social security. bank insurance
and collective bargaining.
IN THE beginning / referred
Il to RooSeveltS first inaugu-
ration and our almost unani-
nous faith in his campaign
promises. his party platform
and his proteStations of purpose
Almost Immediately these all
were betrayed
Never before has our govern
ment had such a great personal.
moral influence on the young
men and women of the United
States and this cyniCiSm, greed.
SordidnesS and fiippancy i'm
grave matters OF trust is re-
Elected. i'm miniature, i'm the
confessions OF a group of young
college players who agreed 10
fake basketball games for the
benefit Of gamblers who bribed
them.
This is not a new feat of
corruption. Only the field IS
new and these pioneers can
point 10 high example.
Isn't public office a racket?
Isn't unionism a racket
Why then should varsity ath-