ARMY, NAVY, AND MR. CAGLE

Concerning the resignation of Cadet Cagle from West Point much has already been said. The moral issues involved have been discussed and Cagle has been denounced for violating army integrity and praised for being a rampant fighter and gambler who could not be held in. It probably all rolls off Cagle's shoulders. Did he ever intend to go in the army?

Whether or not the delinquent cadet hurt either his own or the Academy's reputation will be long discussed, but on one point Cagle certainly committed a faux pas and played right into the hands of the Army's rival, the Naval Academy. These two institutions severed athletic relationships several years ago on an issue in which men like Cagle were the points of controversy. College athletes, after having played three years at their respective universities, went to either of the academies and played there for four more years Harry Wilson, who had previously played at Pennsylvania, had just completed four years at West Point, and Sloane. Drake star, was enrolled at Annapolis when the two academics began discussing eligibility rules. The Navy, of its own free will, advocated a policy of ineligibility for all college players who came to the respective institutions, while Army would go only so far as to adopt the three-year rule, that is, not allowing the men to play on the academy team during their plebe year. The warring factions could not agree and the break came, both sides adopting their respective policies.

The Navy based its contentions on the arguments that the football stars of the universities came to either of the academies just to play football and not to enter either the Army or the Navy, and that it was unfair to their respective collegiate opponents to play former college stars against them. The Army doubted the truth of the first of these statements and resented any remarks about the proselyting of college athletes. Now the greatest star in the Army firmament proves the truth of the Navy axiom. First, by his attempted honorary resignation, and then by his requested one, Cagle has shown that he never wanted to enter the Army. He wanted to play football. The Navy can now congratulate itself on its stand for it has been proved by the enemy.

The whole case should lead the Army to reopen peace and eligibility negotiations with Annapolis which, if they do, should lead to the healing of a big breach. It will bring the two institutions together faster than government intervention for it gets at the bottom of the break and abolishes a false athletic principle.