August 16, 1938

Mr. Al Gebert
Wichita University
Wichita, Kensas

Dear Al,

I have tried all day to get you over the telephone but have

been unsuccessful so will resort to this letter by way of
explaining my conversation with out good friend George Haun.

When George called me yesterday he first asked if we could

find any employment in our plant for members of the Wichita
University Football Team. I told him I thot we had on pre=

vious occasions explained our position with respect to employing
these boys in our plant. It is a complicated situation invol-
ving Government inspectors and Government auditors. Our plant

is devoted entirely to Government contract work. We can do
nothing that would appear to inflate or increase Government costs.
These boys would, therefore, definitely have to make their own —
way and justify their position on the payroll. They would have
to work a customary 44 hour week schedule. Our position is further
complicated by current labor requirements and conditions that are
prompted by Federal legislation that is peculiarly adaptable to a
plant of this kind. 7

After giving George the foregoing explanation in brief, he then
asked if the company could make a donation and it was to this that

I gook exception for that to my mind implies subsidizing athletics
with which I have no quarrel if it is done openly. I tried to make
George see my point of view and am afraid I went too far and possib-
ly strained one of the most cherished firendships that I have ever
had. To my way of thinking we make a serious mistake if we in any
wise use these youngsters as pawns in our enthusiasm to obtain a good
football team and ballyhoo our University. George knows me well
enough to appreciate the fact that I am keen on athletics. As I have
previously said, I am not altogether ageinst subsidizing athletics.
‘By this I mean an open and above board payment for athletic ability
in place of “shadow jobs" and other devious methods of compensation.
It seems to me that college is a poor place to begin teaching our
youngsters some of the sharp methods that have put the business world
into its present distrusted position. Don't think I don't know what
I em talking about because I do and I only gave vent to my feelings —
to George yesterday because I felt we were close enough to each other
that I could speak my mind. |

No one could be as close to labor problems as we are or as close to
the political situation as we are without feeling that there is much
to be accomplished in getting back to fundementals. Certainly one of
the fundamentals is calling a spade a spafe and putting our cards