New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-24
FOR FOOTBALL REFORM.
SUGGESTING MANY CHANGES IN THE GAME.
REVIVED INTEREST IN BILLIARD TOURNAMENTS

REVIVED INTEREST IN BILLIARD TOURNAMENTS |
A LIVELY ATHLETIC CLUB CANVASS.
The suggestions advanced by The Tribune in the |
heart OF the football battles of the last season have
borne excellent fruit and the features which have
been discouragng in the football matches OF |
the last few years are likely to be eliminated The
thinking members of University Athletic Club have
been quick to recognize the force of those sug- |
gestions and the club has already taken the first |
step toward bringing about the needed reform |
few days ago the Athletic Committee OF the |
University Athletic Club held little dinner at the |
clubhouse in West Twenty-sxth-st.. and football |
was the chief topic of conversation 1t was decided
to ask Walter Camp, of Yale; Alexander Monat |
of Princeton. and DR.. w. A. Brooks. of Harvard
to serve as a special committee to bring about the
desired reform The first meeting OF this committee
was held at the club Thursday night, and the
good work can be said TO be fairly under
way Much work has to be done, and 1t Is
doubtful If any definite changes in the rules Will
be officially decided upon for week or two, ana
probably not
Harvard Yale and Princeton will unquestionably
aid the committee in its work, as will also many
OF the lesser colleges for the rough play of last
season, If repeated in 1891. would unquestionably
drive football outside the list of college sports
The University of Pennsylvania is the only college
which will object to the University Athletic Club
handling the reform. The Quakers. however, have
been left in the cold and their objections are
not likely to amount TO much. In the cry for re-
form the committee should not be entirely carried
away and mistake aggresslveness for brutality
Football IS vigorous game, far removed from
the parlor effemlnacy. The brutal features should
be removed as far possible, but enough of
activity and vigor should be left to make an ex-
citing contest.
SOME PROBABLE CHANGES.
The first effort Of the reformers should be d.
rected toward the formulation of rule preventing
smuggling and kicking and biting. player guilty
of such conduct should be sent from the neio IN
disgrace, and he should not be allowed to play IN
another game during the season. Notnmg VIII
keep young in the straight path more surely
than a knowledge that punishment will be meted
ont to him for his first offence. With such a PEN
atty before him a rough player would have watch
full eyes constantly upon him, and he would scarcely
dare break the rules, matter what his instincts
might prompt him to do.
Only a few weeks ago the loyal supporters OF the
game were maintaining that the rules were all
right, yet the reform movement 10 fair-
ly under way thousand changes are suggested.
After going all these suggestions one cannot
help thinking what a horrible game football mas
been Of late years. The first effort OF the COM
mittee will be directed against the rougner and
more objectionable features OF the game. Mass
PLAYS are TO be shattered and the interference d.
rected toward end plays. The ball will be down as
soon as il touches the ground, and there is some
talk of forcing q kick on the third down. 1t 10
also suggested that the line remain motionless
rbe Committee has been wisely selected, and IL
too many suggestions not forced upon II much
gooa 9usnI naepsand the game and It's renements
and the other members or the committee are aoout
well Informed
SOME CHAT ABOUT BILLIARDS.
The chances for an international billiard match
are not Of the brightest unless schaefer should de-
thara aldo NQuanY French
expert Is beginning feel his years. and he says
that he will not again visit this country Another
match between Schaefer Slosson and Ives would
be interesting In spite of the fact tnat the pest
of FEELING does not exist between them. Schaefer
Is much put out at the suggestion that tne ancnor
nurse be done away with, and he says that he VIII
the champion. whose phenomenal run Of 666 Is
stlll the talk OF the billiard world says In his quiet
v,av Ina, If his rivals want a handicap they
should say 50. and he would consider the subject:
me accident to Schaefer in Chicago. when ne broke
his wrist. has illustrated a peculiar point IN sne
Wizards" style Of play. Everybody thougnt tnae
In speaking to the writer he said That Idea -
erroneous one as you can see you WIN Nnd r.
IMPOSSIBLE to turn my wrist IN one direction. My
stroke has always been iroil the snouioer anu
elbow just as 1t Is to-day.
THE WINGED FOOT TROUBLES
The coming election in the New-York Athletic
club will be the liveest one in the history OF the
club IL the one OF 1885 is excepted In that year the
fight was over the vice-presidency. A. Fl. Curtis
and \. V. De Goicouria were the leaders Oh inc
two factions. and the fight was a bitter one, ne
(;oicoura finally winning. Had August BemonI
consented TO denomination as president ne wO QUIZ
have been reelected. and the kickers wouio nay
directed their attack TO the lesser OFFICIALS OIL Tic
ticket -, . -, - r,uarv
ana il can be predicted that OF the largest votes
ever east in the club Will be polled. " tne 1,fW
voting members last year only 800 cast their paliotS
and it is predicted that at least LAW Will Vots
Barrow 3 Weeks the present ycspresidsnt viii ill
head the regular ticket, which VIII be supper ECU ny
the strongest element. in financial and social sense,
In the club Walter q. Schuyler VIII lead tne
opposition forces with Frank A Dugro and ); x.
TO be forcibe opposition to Hugh Baxter, the canui-
date for captain on the regular ticket
that the conditions vastly different from those
in 1890 when Schuyler won from Jennings , ,; Cox
who had the wall Street vote in his pocket as well as
that of the 7th Regiment element This year Williams
and his Wall Street friends will support the reg
ular ticket. There are few more popular men IN the
club than Benny" Williams
MR. BELMONT PUTS ON THE GLOVES.
4 close friend of August Belmont tells an inter-
esting story about the retiring president or the
New-york Athletic Club. who takes the lveliest
interest in athletics well in his horses dogs
and Yachts one dav Mike Donovan, the boxing
instructor Of the club giving an ambitious pupil
his sparrlng lessons in the gymnasium OF the CLUB,
when Mr. Belmont and party OF friends came IN.
This yOungstef reminds me very much or a young
brother OF yours" said Donovan speaking to Mr.;
belmont. He came up here one day and wanted
10 nut on the gloves with me. | accommodated
him and he gave one of the liveiiest Tits ever
haa IN my nh IRE was o ad when Your brother took
off his gloves and said that that would be enough
for few days ~,
puzzled looks for they knew that he had no brother
in the club. II August Belmont himself with
whom Mike Donovan had had that lively en-