New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-27
THE UNIVERSITY RACE.

TIE REFEREE SEEMS To HAVE IGNORED TIE RULES
OF THE RACE-HR WAS BOUND BY THEM TO
ORDER THE RACE TO DE RowED AGAIN.
To ne EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: Attention has not hitherto been called,
believe TO fact that the decision OF the referee ID
the College Regatta just passed IN direct violation
of Rule rules under which the race was rowed
The rule I'm question is "a follows;
- IN which m;Ts ta,n two SG star, Ga
aEes qiscr am th DoAt aJ---el ' az brts
cone in but Il the in art If toe reree -
cane IN dr,i cad al tie moment Of The foa to warrant
it, having The race assigned t. IT.
There is 10 doubt that foul between Harvard ana
Yale occurred II is also question whether Coumbla'
the winner the AT the time the foul occurred
had any lead at ALL and it is beyond question that her
lead IL any was OF more than few feet, and
that only in the middle OF the The facts brought
the case clearly within the latter clause OF the rule
above quoted and under the rule the referee was
bound 70 decide that the race should De ro"ed over
again Yet the referee does not alude to the rule IN MS
decision and his decision not governed By IT. what
right had the referee refuse 10 apply the ruef He
cannot 90 outside OF the rules under which is agreed
beforehand that the race shall be rowed His powers
are not absolute and unlimited They are such iony as
the rules confer upon him. He Is bound to conform MS
decision rules, aud 70 apply them whichever they
heroine applicable Else what IS the use OF any rules az
ann If the referee has right to ignore one, he has
for the application the rule requiring the race 10 be
rowed over again. the referee bound 10 decide that
the race should be rOwed over again.
Il NAV be said that 1t would have been inezpedent
and unwise 10 repeat the race and proract the contest
and that the decson the referee was on me "hoe'
the vses, and sensible But what does that sho"
Only that the rule may be unwlse one But the
,eteree is not the Judge OF wisdom. As long as II
stands IN the set OF rules the referee is bound TO con-
form his decision 70 It. The remedy IS not TOT MN 10
ignore the rule the Association 10 repeal H. tAey
wish 20 The referee presumed altogether beyond MS
mowers when he assumed 10 discard the rule. AS 10
what were the referees motives IN acting thus am
,norant or whether he at all aware either OF the
rule or the applicability OF it, But the practical result
"a that Harvard and Yale arc both deDarred fron an
onportuny TO win the first place in the race and that
directly in contravention OF the rues under when me
was ro"ed'
,roner anal acatons OF referee In the first place he
O. iuice He must be something more than al expert.
must know something more than how TO row, ana must
have had some further experience than IN BOAT
ing merely An expert may be a good witness. But
something additional j. requisite fJr Judge 4shorhh
men are often referees who know nothing except now
20 row This may DO III professional races where II ls
R1t in college races better he found 70 occupy
the position. and better men ought 70 De pat hto H.
written rules when the laws OF the race and the
referee Judge not Only OF tse taet or 49, ~ MIN ~
aa,ber He ought therefore be "a Who u familiar
with tho Interpretation and construction o laws, aHd
Who rs accustomed TO apply laws to gwen
stafe of facts. The Association spent much
time and trouble IN agreeing upon tle rules
snd IL ia OF the highest impOri ance 10 the crews
fnat thew should be strictly observed DY the referee IN
rendering HE decision. and correctly interpreted anu
anniIrd The referee. short. should have d JUDICIAL
,-,,J A trained by experience % dI-
v NV 10 facts correctly. mere trainer, or any per
so1 of his like cannot be expected 10 perform sucI a
duty Moreover referee Is sole ana hDa4 Jnuge ne
j. the court OF last resort ana ne ss alone. ne sAoud
only therefore, he man VINO pJtScr>cS hui Gun
hines all the foregoing qualities III al eluent ueE4ee
a., ,e shouid aso be- a man Of conspicuous hOnOr IN
,,rv and fairness In q word, the referee ms hitherto
been selected rather for his knowledge OF DoathH na
for mis- mental moral qualities III may % toou
,6ing have been OOailhg lnin Out
me irst auestion should be, l. ne iaI IhteHseH'
canahle- aud ex perienced judge .,---.--
vvr1te tul- gIndglng spirit tOWaTI 'oluinuIh
~, ,ned a very nue. aud plucky race, 10 the adnlrd-
nv - , connos-eurs In boating. But the important
nnnt would ike bring into notice IS the necessity OF
eert ny A proper man for referee-hOt lIhIber' nu'
~ seublAnce OF trainer Dnt fdlr, leirless' HIc
r,chable intelligent, and educated gehlelhau' WIN
~ MENTAL ability and mental training enough Ia
"nar correct decision. under the rules, On suoh M
80 +" Regatta Committee" consisting OF one Hah
I'm, ZACH college belonging 70 the Association y Gun
rred hv the ;ltutiOn Of the Association 10
P''nt,ahle Dersou" referee IL Is 10 De hOpeu tnst
at'sr ms Committee will select as suIt',De per
m Kno mas mental and moral Illness Tor his posi-
49, a. rall a. a knowledge or ROWING IN Tue Pi"sont
tloh Or reere.'s decision has been made, aud tat
declsiOn IA 1nal put u may 's"NA '' Ire
nan OF a referee hereafter
Eev I0rk, July y, lS'S