M

March 24, 1943

Mr. Arthur F. Hughes,
St. Joseph News-Press
St. Joseph, Missouri

§

Dear Art:

i

Thanks for sending me the clipp in the Gene Sullivan's Wise Owl
colum, I appreciate all the nice things Gene had to say about me, bit this
is once where he is as substantially correct as a fellow I heard about in
describing to his friend the fact that John Doe, his friend, madea hundred
thousand dollars in one year in a shirtwaist factory in Baltimore, Maryland,

He said, "Isn't that right, Bill?" "Well, “ Bill said, "That is sub-
stantially correct. Instead of Bal re, Maryland, It was Kansas City, and
instead of q shirtwaist factory it was \an overall factory, and instead of making
a hundred thousand dollars the first year he lost a hundred thousand dollars
the first year." : Ae |

I can just tell you on the record and off the record that I never have
been as happy as during the past seven years when I have had nothing to do with
the administration of athletics here at the University of Kansas.

You have heard about the @ellow that met Bill Jones going down town, and
he said, "I think I should tell you, Bill, that I just came through your
neighborhood and I saw a big, striped, Bengal tiger jump in the kitchen
window of your house. I thought maybe you would want to hurry out there
and protect your wife.” |

Bill said, "Now, listen. That tiger got in there and he can just get
out the best way he can."

That is the way with me. I got in there once and I am out, and I am
not getting back. Some people really feel that a fellow would jump into a
job like that if it were offered him. Well, I am not one of those fellows
that cares for as much grief as that type of job can muster.

In the fall of 1920 I coached the football team with not one penny of
additional salary. In December, 19]9, I took over basketball with no increase
in salary. In 1921 I started the building of the stadium, and in 1923 I founded
the Kansas Relays. My basketball teams have been fairly successful, yet when
I was endeavoring to build up a football team because the basketball team was
winning many of my pseudo-friends were declaring that I cared nothing for
football. Well, after having done all those things I have arrived at an age
that convinces me it isn't worth a candle and I wouldii't take the gob at
twice the salary °

You are dealing with an emotional, slap-happy, crackpot bunch of fa-
naties who know all about winning football games. So not for my peace of
mind or any money that enyone might gather up in an endeavor to tempt me.
It just wouldn't work.

So thank Gene for his kind words, but these are not idle statements.
They are facts. Very cordially yours,