The record-union., 1896-12-14
THE WAR AGAINST A GAME.

on Thanksgiving Day, a synopsis of
which the Record Union printed, the
Chicago Tribune" points out that the
one killed and forty-fiv injured seri-
ously in the thirty games, do not nearly
represent all the injured, because a
great many are so strained in these
games that they grow prematurely old,
and when the time comes for call
upon their physical energies in active
life they fail and break down.
Those who have read the novel Man
and Wife, will recall the boat-racing
college athlete who was the hero of that
fiction, and how his vigor departed
from him and ''all at once" because Of
the over-training and over-exertion due
to the sport of which he was the cham
pion. The Tribune which appears to
have made close and exact study Of
the game and it's players, says of it:
1t is more atrocious than gladiato-
rial encounter. 1t is more brutal than
a bull-fght. 1t is patronized by society
which just now seems to be In a frenzy
for what is risky in morals, in manners
and in practice. 1t is patroniZed by
parents who have singular ideas of
duty to sons. 1t is patronized and en-
couraged by faculties and college Off
GERS, who have still more singular ideas
of what constitutes a curriculum. APP
parently the curriculum from their
standpoint is synonymous with the Cir
Gus Maximus, and sheepskin means pig
skin, and alumnuS degenerate. They
appear bent upon trying to undo all
that civilization and Christianity have
been trying to do toward the eradica-
ton Of the brutal In human nature.
This is an inelegant, but vigorous in
dictment, to be sure, and probably con-
tains exaggeration that may be attrib-
uted to the sincere belief of the 'Trib-
une" that the game is inimical to the
best development of young manhood.
Believing that there is no hope of hu-
manizing the game from within, the
Chicago paper goes to the other ex-
trene and contends that it should be
forbidden by law. It would place it in
the same penal category with cock
fighting, bull batting, prize-fighting and
the like.
There is added by the New York
Post this testimony from an impair
tial report of one game in support of
the plea for legislation by Brooklyn
youth:
He had been a very successful and
daring player, but was knocked down
in a scrimmage in recent game, lay
unconscious for several hours, was
taken home in a dazed condition, has
had repeated hemorrhages, and is for
hidden by his physician any more of
those personal encounters which an en-
inent university professor has pro-
nounced absolutely necessary to the
education of young men, especially men
of the strongest character" He says:
Yes. / rather think it should be
| stopped by law, because a fellow don't
| like to think he is afraid of hurting
himself in any game, and he takes big
| risks
But we doubt very much If the leg
| islation is needed. We are on the con-
trary quite convinced that such legisla-
ton as is asked for would prove a dead
letter Until public sentiment is averse
to the game such legal prohibition of
it would amount to very little, and
when public sentiment opposes the
game legislation will not be needed.
| The fewer restraints of the legislative
order we put upon personal liberty the
| better. Men are hurt in playing base
ball and boys are injured in ordinary
school romps, but these have never
called for legislation. In the case of
| cock fighting, dog-fighting and bull
batting, helpless animals are involved
| and a brutalizing and cruel exhibition
| is given by men who take no personal
| risks. In prize-fighting the associations
| have not been elevating or other than
| debasing 1t has in later times been
| lifted to something Of better level by
reason Of the recognition it has re-
| ceived by so many. rize-fighting,
which we are by no means defending,
| has also been a good deal modified by
! time and other limitations. and by the
| introduction of gloved contests, which
are somewhat less dangerous, though
| still involving the chance of serious per-
sonal injury and trickery, cheating and
| defrauding.
| Football which we wish to see
dropped from the list of college sports,
and from that of athletics outside of coll
| leges and schools, has not yet, to any
/ great extent the gaming quality Of the
prize ring, nor is it SO subject to the
deceit, trickery and cheating of the
ring Rough and brutal as it is, it at
| least is decided as to winners, as rule
upon other than wilim or chicane of a
referee. Its suppression, which must
come, will be brought about by public
sentiment and the action Of college
authorities, and the latter will be moved
upon by the better thought of parents
| But meanwhile let all who wish the
lives and limbs of their sons imperiled
and their manhood wrecked in football
| have all the rope they desire The
/ game will furnish its own corrective
and demonstrate the necessity as the
/ law never can. Legislation against the
game viii simply put it at the martyrs
stake. and we will have teams running
about the land seeking places where it
will not be prohibited. Its state then
will be worse than it is now. Give 1T full
play and we believe it will play itself