The announcement that the Athletic Committee has not confirmed the reelection of Mr. Waters as captain of the eleven will probably not cause much surprise, considering the fact that the committee put itself on record a few weeks ago as against the principle of graduate captains. It was stated in the plainest way, when this announcement was made, that in the opinion of the committee, the best interests of Harvard athletics demanded that the captaincy of the teams be confined to undergraduates. An exception was made in the case of baseball for the perfectly obvious reason that there was no undergraduate for the place. As a matter of principle, and not in any way on personal grounds, the committee has chosen this, its only consistent course. Just at this time it is most important that no step be taken in Harvard athletics which shall make a bad precedent, for the eyes of the colleges and of the public are turned toward the University to set the pace in athletic legislation. The rules which went into effect on January first are meeting with very general approval and are being adopted in spirit if not in letter by many colleges. With all eyes thus turned this way a mistake in principle or any departure from principle would be most unfortunate. The case in point gives a decided confirmation of an important principle and even if it means the rejection of an excellent candidate, it is yet manly, straightforward action, worthy of the respect and the hearty support of the University.