Graves Of Morton Objects To Playing Basket Ball Tourney Here.

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DECISION MADE AT MANKATO MEETING

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Supt. Andreen Explained Rental Of Floor But It Met Approval.

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Superintendent Graves of the Morton high school has entered a protest against the basket ball district tournament being played in New Ulm during the first week in March. E. T. Lewis superintendent of the Sleepy Eye schools is chairman of the District Athletic Committee of the high schools in the 20th district of the 6th region, and received the protest from Mr. Graves. Just what action will be taken is not known at this time. All plans have been completed for the tournament according to instructions given Mr. Andreen of the local schools by Mr. Lewis.

Plan Explained At Fall Meeting

When the meeting was held in Mankato last fall, Superintendent Andreen told representatives who were present that the New Ulm high school was making arrangements to play their home games on the Armory floor in this city because of an attempt to swell the gate receipts. The high school gymnasium is not large enough to accommodate the crowds who would attend the games. Mr. Andreen also explained that the local team would use the floor one night a week for practice and with this knowledge of the situation it is now wondered why Mr. Graves should voice an objection at this time, as he was present at the Mankato session and had an opportunity to speak at that time.

Other Similar Instances

There is nothing unusual about the New Ulm team playing on the Armory the districts of the state shows that in most instances the high school team representing the city where the tournament is held have been playing games on the floor used for the tournament. An endeavor is always made to find a neutral floor, that is true, but where one could be found in this district is a question. The towns in the district are not able to offer the accommodations that New Ulm can. In former years the tourney had been played on the Armory floor here and the invitation was extended to the entrants in the district to come here again for the 1926 tournament. If other schools in this district object and want to make other arrangements, New Ulm will gladly concede to them, as the local school wishes to do whatever the contending teams think is fair. With the central location of New Ulm and the favorable railroad accommodations, the large floor and seating capacity for the games, it is likely that other schools will not voice any objection at this late date. The schools who are sending teams to the tournament want to be assured of their expenses and unless the tournament games are played in a hall which will accommodate the crowds, there will be a deficit for some one to bear as much as the school superintendents in the district had full knowledge of the arrangements made by the local school authorities regarding the basket ball games of this season, and then chose the New Ulm Armory as the place for holding the tournament, and in view of the fact that the arrangements are all completed, it hardly seems right at this time to make a change. Any decision of the committee in charge will meet with the approval of the local team and their coach, as well as school authorities.

Contending Teams

Schools sending teams to the district tournament are those of New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Winthrop, Gaylord, Fairfax, Morton, Redwood Falls, and Lamberton. Springfield is also in this district but does not have a basket ball team.

New Ulm Review,

Jan. 27, 1926

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