Perhaps there is no reproach which has been more constantly cast in the teeth of Harvard men than that of favoritism in the selection of athletic teams. Newspapers are eager for sensation, unsuccessful candidates are apt to blame anything but themselves; and people seem somehow to forget that a coach's or a captain's reputation depends on his using the best men available.

The football squad this year has been rather open to attack in this quarter, because the eleven was picked at the beginning of the season. The avowed policy has been to put the most experienced men in, and keep them there until their inferiority was clearly demontrated. Of course the old complaint came, and we regret to notice that it has been a little more obtrusive than usual. Yet one has only to think of the state of the squad today, with two or three candidates being played alternately in each position, and several old players in danger of being ousted by new men, to see the absurdity of the charges. No one with the least knowledge of the facts can doubt for an instant that the best men, and no others will appear in the line-up on Nov. 13.

Now we do not mention these things with the purpose of defending the management in the College itself. It needs no such defense. What we do wish, is to urge upon every man in College to do his share to cut short all talk about favoritism, because it does harm outside. It is very easy and apparently harmless to criticise-to growl about this man or that man who ought or ought not to be on the team.

But the trouble is that the stories grow with repetition. There are always some who will believe them, and in the end the reputation of the institution suffers.

Here then is a matter in which all can help. If everybody will keep quiet until he knows what he is talking about, and will call to account any unwarrantable statements made in his presence, ninetenths of this clap trap can be stopped. It is an insult to the coach, the captain, the players, and the whole University, and has been too long endured.