EDITORS HARVARD HERALD : The Yale News entirely misunderstands Harvard's position on the subject of playing with professional ball nines. It says editorially : "The discussion of the whole question of college athletics, which the action of Princeton-Harvard has raised, has proved too clearly the fatuity of any regulations which tend to suppress them to permit such regulations to be long in operation." It is not a fact that the Harvard or Princeton faculties have endeavored to suppress athletics at their respective colleges. What they did try to do was to endeavor to draw a line between gentlemen who play base-ball for sport and professionals who make the game a means of earning their livelihood. Their object was to prevent as far as possible the entrance of any of the many objectionable features of professionalism into college sports. Their purpose was a laudable one and they would have succeeded had it not been for the unfortunate action of the Yale faculty, in refusing, as they did, to have anything to do with the proposed reform. Yale seems to have been so short-sighted that she could not see that the proposed changes were entirely for the good of college athletics, and that they were absolutely necessary for their continued existence. The moment the impression gets abroad that professionalism, in any of its features, enters into our inter-collegiate contests, from that moment college athletics are doomed. Yale has done much to give this impression to the world by refusing to take a positive stand against professionalism.

Harvard's position at present can be stated in a few words. She objects to professionalism and wishes to have it excluded from our athletics. She is willing to make a sacrifice as long as she sees any thing can be gained by it. If Harvard in her endeavors were supported by Princeton and Yale, she would undoubtedly succeed. Even if Princeton alone supported her, public opinion would soon force Yale to give up her opposition. As long, therefore, as Princeton keeps to her purpose of not allowing the nine to play with professionals, Harvard should do the same. But, if Princeton yields and Harvard is left alone, it is evident that she is making a martyr of herself to no purpose.

No one college can cause the general adoption of the measure, and as soon as we see that we are not to be helped by the other colleges, we want to be placed on equal terms with them. We have uttered our protest against professionalism, but it seems that we are ahead of our times. We do not believe, however, that the regulation of the faculty should be rescinded, even should Princeton withdraw from her position.

We do not believe that the nine should be allowed to make extended trips about the country, simply for the purpose of playing professionals. But we think that the faculty committee on athletics might be allowed full powers to use their own discretion in the case of any proposed game. We can see no especial objection to the nine playing with the Boston Club, as in such games the audience is almost entirely composed of college men, and the professional element is almost entirely kept out. As long as it is understood that the games are merely for practice, and not intended as contests of any great importance, professionals will let them alone. But we do disapprove of our nine playing a series of games with a professional nine for a flag or some trophy.

But if our nine were allowed to play practice games with the Bostons, allowing whatever money that is made over actual expenses to go to that club as pay for their services, we think we could retain our position against professionalism, and at the same time receive the benefit of the games.

D.