EDITORIAL ROOMS

THE SATURDAY
EVENING

POST

BEN HIBBS : FOUNDED BY THE CURTIS

EDITOR Pe PUBLISHING COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA 5

October 25, 1944

Dr. Forrest Allen
Kansas University
Lawrence, Kansas

Dear Dr. Allen:

As an ex-basketball-player of more enthusiasm than ability,
and as a current spectator, I have been very much interested in the
ruckus you stirred up by your charges that the gamblers have moved in
on basketball. My own observation, after seeing a good many of last
winter's games, both in Philadelphia's Convention Hall and in the Garden,
is that, if anything, you have understated the case. I doubt that I
could make my beliefs stand up in court but I am personally convinced,
nevertheless, that there were a lot of strange doings on the big-time
basketball circuit last winter.

After reading the papers here, I suspect that your colleagues,
including Ned Irish, are going to sugar over your statement in the hope
that the public will forget the whole thing before the season begins. I
feel, as you do, that it would be a mistake to pretend that gamblers
haven't gotten next to some of the boys, and I am wondering if there isn't
something the Post can do to keep the issue alive.

Obviously, we can't print an article on the subject because
such a piece would have to be libel=proof and, aside from the specific
case you've mentioned, I doubt that we could get together: enough evidence
to make an article stick. On the other hand, I am wondering what you
would think of our doing a brief editorial on the subject for publica-
tion around Christmas time? The season will then be in full swing and
the editorial might, at least, let the boys know that the issue is by no
means dead.

If you think well of this notion, I'd appreciate any tidbits of
new information you can give me. I have a little ammunition of my own,
but not enough to do the job I have in mind.

Sincerely,

Robert Fuoss
RF*gm Managing Editor

PeS.- Ben Hibbs sends his regards.