STEMMING THE TIDE

Pointing to the imminent doom of amateurism in athletics the country over, Mr. Bingham has put his finger on a problem that strikes the roots of Harvard's athletic tradition. Dedicated to the strictest amateur ideal, Harvard is threatened on all sides by the amazing growth of professionalism which has developed during the past decades. If box-office interests continue to rule the sport, the college will soon face a situation where no teams of similar standards can be found for the schedule.

As Mr. Bingham observes, the fault lies with college presidents who have sat by, content to watch their institutions catapult to fame behind the artillery of big time football brigades. President Conant has declared his contempt for "professional teams maneuvering behind collegiate banners", and has proposed an endowment policy to rid Harvard's sports of their dependence on gate receipts. But unfortunately an endowment fund large enough to handle the A.A.A. annual $400,000 budget seems pitifully remote. Mean-while Harvard is at the mercy of other colleges whose standards may vary with the wind.

Mr. Bingham's cry to college presidents is a voice in the wilderness, and it is to be hoped that some few will give heed to the warning. For if the present trend goes on, Harvard will soon find itself the only believer in the creed that football should be played for the love of the sport and not for the love of money.