TATE <ATSUIMNI SRrrmkKLy
NEWS FROM HARVARD.
New Movement to Unite the Gradu-
ates in Support of Athletics.
[Correspondence of YALE ALUMNI WEEKLY.]
Cambridge, Jan. 10.—After a holiday
recess of rather brief duration, the Uni-
versity entered upon the Winter term
last Monday. The six weeks following
the Christmas vacation are always the
busiest of the year at Harvard. The ap-
proach of the mid-year examinations
and the absence of athletic distractions
offer incentive and opportunity for hard
work in the curriculum. For this
limited period the wheels of the great
intellectual factory fairly hum with in-
dustry. Everything is run at forced
draft and the men work long hours to
meet the unusual demands ‘of the mid-
year period.
GRADUATE INTEREST.
But, while the undergraduates are
busied in scholarly pursuits, a move-
ment has developed among the alumni,
looking to the organization of the
graduate body in the interests of uni-
versity athletics. The movement had
its inception a month ago in a meeting
of prominent graduates to consider
ways and means for concentrating the
graduate interest in athletics, unifying
graduate opinion, and effecting greater
permanency in Harvard’s athletic pol-
icy. During the past week a circular
letter has been sent out to all living
graduates of the University, whose ad-
dresses are known, explaining the pur-
pose of the movement and the scheme
of organization. This letter, which is
reprinted in full in another column
of the WEEKLY, shows the function of
the proposed organization in regard to
the conduct of university sports, to be
merely advisory. Among the graduates
it is to serve as an information bureau
and supply the machinery for collect-
ing funds in support of athletic enter-
prises. ;
THE PLAN’S PRACTICAL VALUE.
The practical value of the proposed
association remains to be demonstrated.
Its usefulness depends entirely upon the
existence of genuine and wide-spread
desire on the part of the alumni to give
, attention to the athletic interests of the
University. If there is indifference on
the part of the graduates, no amount of
machinery will alter this condition.
The insertion of another cogwheel in
the already complicated mechanism of
“athletic Harvard” will then tend only
to render its working more involved
with the chance of added friction.
When the Athletic Committee was
organized here, it was asserted by its
advocates that it furnished a remedy for
the evils which up to that time had
negatived all efforts to manage and con-
trol University athletics. The scheme
of the Harvard Committee has been
imitated at other universities in one or
two instances. To what extend has its
working verified the claims made for
it? An editorial in the Harvard Crim-
son of last Thursday, supporting the
proposed Graduate Organization, is sig-
nificant in this connection. The editor
writes:
“The great weakness of Harvard
athletics, a -weakness which extends
through every department of sport, and
indeed through the whole of the less
serious side of the University life, is
an utter lack of permanent organization.
The policy of the Faculty and the other
University officials is to leave the regu-
lations of athletics and of social ques-
tions so far as possible to the under-
graduates themselves. The Athletic
Committee’s function is not to guide
and develop, but to restrain. Its work
is in a sense purely negative. In many
respects this policy of non-interference
is wise, but it has a distinct disadvan-
tage, for it makes a permanent policy
an utter impossibility.”
This, if true, is a startling confession.
The stock argument in favor of the Har-
vard system has been that it gave per-
manency to the athletic policy. The
Athletic Committee was, in effect, a
court of highest resort, with provision
for the filling of all vacancies which
might occur. Men might come and
men might go, but this Committee
went on forever. Matters of detail
were left to the various teams and
coaches; matters which affected. the
general athletic policy of the Univer-
sity were controlled by the Committee.
Now we are told that the great weak-
ness of Harvard athletics is an utter
lack of permanent organization, and
that the Committee’s policy of non-in-
terference makes a permanent policy an
utter impossibility. It is difficult to see
how a graduate organization, acting
only in an advisory capacity, is to suc-
ceed in accomplishing this desired re-
sult where a permanent Athletic Com-
mittee with unlimited powers has failed.
PROBLEM NOT SOLVED.
The failure of the Athletic Commit-
tee to solve the problem of managing
University athletics lies in quite another
direction. That it has, to a degree
at least, given permanency and de-
finiteness to the athletic policy of the
University, can hardly be denied by
one who carefully considers the course
of Harvard in the different branches
of intercollegiate sport during recent
years. The present movement to effect
an organization of the alumni indicates
the direction in which the Committee
has failed. The nine members are
chosen in equal proportions from the
undergraduates, the alumni, and the
Faculty. Theoretically it is an ideal
board. But, so far as representing the
three constituencies from which the
members are chosen in concerned, it
has been an emphatic failure.
The three members of the Faculty have
in a sense represented their body, be-
cause on matters athletic, the majority
of the Faculty take little or no individ-
ual interest and acquiesce in the opin-
ions of the committee members: Yet,
in one notable instance, when the Fa-
culty voted to abolish football, the
Faculty members of the
stood squarely for a continuance of the
game in opposition to their constitu-
ents.
That the members of the undergradute
body have in any real sense represented
their contituency is not compatable
with the conditions which exist at
Cambridge. The lack of cohesion be-
tween individuals or groups here ,at
Harvard makes it difficult to feel the
pulse of the body politic. But the voice
of the students is not sought. These
three representatives of the undergradu-
-ates are not even chosen by those
whom they represent. They are ap-
pointed to membership on the Com-
mittee. Of late, steps have been taken
to increase the student representation
on the Committee.
An equal difficulty is encountered in
the case of the gradute members of the
Committee. They, too, are appointed,
and their scattered constituency has no
voice in their selection. It the Com-
mittee acts without consulting the body
of graduates, there is no recourse but to
protest.
the consensus of graduate opinion
found expression in the Committee,
‘there would be little occasion for the
proposed organization. The movement
for organization speaks the inadequacy
of the present order of things.
Under the system which now obtains
it is natural that the Faculty members
should dominate the Committee. If
the proposed organization of graduates
is consummated, it will be interesting to
note the results. It is difficult to see
how the graduates will gain by the in-
creased opportunity to express their
opinions if the Athletic Committee does
not see fit to act in accordance with
such advisory suggestions.
J. WESTON ALLEN.
<td.
Se: Cab
Track Athletics at Brown.
The Board of Directors of the Brown
University Athletic Association has
voted to discontinue the track athletic
team this year unless a sum equal to
unpaid subscriptions to the Association
is paid on or: before Jan. 25. The
directors thought it best to contract no
debts until the way to pay them. is
clearly seen. If a team is organized
John F. Moakley, official handicapper
of the New England Association of the
Amateur Athletic Union, will probably
be engaged as coach.
The candidates for the Brown base-
ball team will meet on Wednesday.
Fred Tenney, first baseman of the Bos-
ton nine of the National League, and a
graduate of Brown, will instruct the
members of the team.
Committee —
If under the existing system —
- Success.
CORNELL'S REPLY COMING.
Believed She Wishes to Name the
Conditions for 1899.
[By telegraph to ‘The WEEKLY.]
Ithaca, N. Y., Jan. 12.—The Athletic
Council reached a decision Monday
night and sent communications em-
bodying this decision to Yale, Colum-
bia, Pennsylvania and Harvard. Not-
hing regarding the contents of the com-
munication, however will be, officially
given out until these communications
have reached their destinations. The
general impression here is, however,
that Cornell replied to Yale saying
something like this: ‘‘We will accept
your invitation to join the Yale-Har-
vard race to be rowed over the New
London course on date named, but in
doing this it is understood that inas-
much as Yale named all the conditions
for this year’s race, Cornell shall be
allowed to name the conditions for next
year’s race.” In other words Cornell
does not ask for an agreement, but
merely an understanding like that be-
tween Yale and Princeton. The ques-
tion whether the race be rowed is, if
this version be true, left to Yale. lf
Yale consents Cornell will row her
other triangular race with Columbia
and Pennsylvania at New London. If
Yale refuses to row with this under-
standing as to next year’s race, it is
believed that Cornell will arrange for
an open regatta probably the Pough-
keepsie course.
Later.
The above report was confirmed by
the arrival at noon of the official reply
It states that ~“Cor-
nell accepts the proposition of Yale for
from Cornell.
a triangular race at New London pro-
vided Cornell be allowed to name the
place and time of a similar race for next
year.” It is not possible to say what
~Yale’s answer will be, but it will ‘be
made at once.
——+e—_______
Hockey Team Beaten.
The most important game of the
Yale Hockey Team during the holi-
days was that with the St. Nicholas
Skating Club at the St. Nicholas rink,
New York, on Saturday. night, Jan. 8.
The Yale. team, though playing -a
strong, fast game, was beaten by the
score of 6 to I.
Yale started the game with a snap _
that surprised the St. Nicholas players
for a few minutes. Barnett captured
the puck in the face-off and passed to
Cox, who dribbled the rubber as far
as Wrenn. The latter lifted it to Hall,
who, in turn, started down the ice with
the speed of an express train. His
shot for goal was blocked by Robb,
who carried the puck half way back
and passed it to Wrenn, who drove it
between the flags for the first goal.
Yale again won the puck on the face-
off, but quickly lost it to Barron, who
repeatedly tried for goal. Collender
also tried several times with no better
After fourteen minutes of fast
play Larned shot the second goal for
St. Nicholas, on a pass by Barrom
The former repeated the feat, without
assistance, one mintte after the rubber
was again put in play. The score at
the end of the half was 3 to o in favor
of the home players.
At this point Hall captured the puck
and made a brilliant run the entire
length of the rink. His shot for goal,
however, was stopped by Hewitt.
Yale now worked desperately, and
with barely two minutes more to play
Cox saved his team from a “‘white-
washing” on a pass by Stoddard.
The team also met defeat the previous
night at the hands of the Skating Club
of Brooklyn, before a crowd of 1200
people, at the Clermont Avenue rink
in Brooklyn. /Yale’s only goal was
made by Hall, who captured the puck
in the second half in front of Yale’s
goal and with splendid protection and
judgment dribbled close to the Brook-
lyn goal. Here, although the tender
point and coverpoint were guarding, he
shot the rubber between the flags. The
referee was George Sheldon, Yale, 1900.
ALREADY A STRONG TRADITION
Yale is a place full of tradition. va-
ditions not only govern the conduct
of Freshmen, the relation of classes
and the status of institutions, but
also the business dealings of the new
comer. They direct him where to
go for the necessaries and the lux-
uries of life.
Some of these traditions become
strongly intrenched in a few years,
and there is generally a very good
reason for it. We think if you will
communicate with our store by a
personal call or by correspondence,
you will see why the tradition has
become so strong in a few years
among Yale men to get their fur-
nishings of
CHASE & 10.,
NEW HAVEN HOUSE BLOCK.
FRANK A. CORBIN,
i a oe?
TO THE
STUDENTS OF YALE
AND TO THE
GRADUATES
in all parts of the country.
Address:
1000 Chapel Street,
New Haven, Conn.
‘‘Wiedical Journal” Contents.
- The contents of the January number
of the Vale Medical Journal, beside the
usual medical society reports, alumni
news and editorials, are:
On the Parasites of Malarial Fever,
William Sydney Thayer, M.D.; Fash-
ions in Gynecology, Henry J. Garri-
gues, A.M., M.D.; Ophthalmic Clini-
cal Notes, David Webster, M.D.;
Koch’s New Tuberculin, Edward: R.
Baldwin, ’90 M.S., M.D.
[T FITS, AND ITS A
KNOX
THAT COVERS THE CASE.
Full-grown Men
ogy eS eee
THE SUN.
