The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-17
FOOTBALL Wins A VICTORY
The Barksdale Bill Received a Defeat
in the Senate.
4 SPICY DEBATE ON The MEASURE.
The Halifax Senator Told About Drunken
Student. who Came to the Thankssiv-
ing Game--A Mid Criticism OF La
dies for Encouraging the sport

Football will continue TO be played in
Virginia.
me Barksdale bill, which was designed
To prohibit the sport in this State, WAS
defeated in the Senate by vote Of Il 10
u yesterday
There was a lively debate lasting nearly
,oyo bours Every available space in Nthe
gallery and on the floor was occupied.
MANY ladies' were present. and while
some cheered the speeches made by
friends of the bill, others applauded the
sentiments uttered by the other side
The bill came up as the special order at
124j O'Clock.
Senator BarksdaIe. Of Halifax. who is
the champion OF the bill opened the de-
bate. Il suppose" he said in beginning,
1T is incumbent on ne as the author Of
this bill 10 advocate the measure reported
by majority Of the committee.
l want to say l|~. that per-
sonally, I have no interest what
ever in this bill. but 10 repeat and reite-
| rate my statement before the committee.
| that / offered it in good faith. and that
the virginia Senate and House of Dele
| gates ought TO pass II and make II
| law. ] would state that my position has
been criticised. 1 have been accused OF
| seeking notoriety. If that IS my object
| 1 have" And here he paused a moment,
| and during this pause a brother Senator
came to his rescue in these words. "Been
sufficiently amused" Adopting the sug-
gostion the Senator from Halifax added:
"Yes sufficiently amused" Oaughter).
SAYS THE SPORT is BRUTAL.
Warming up 10 his subject he added:
mo prize fight can exceed il in brutality
Prize fighting is eminenuy more fair and
not as barbarious." Abiding to game
he saw the other day. Senator Barksdale
said: Il saw man 60 down ia that
game. and / thought he was dead. 1 said
there is dead man. and exclaimed my
bin Will be "a law certain" Oaughter)
Continuing he said: The most disgrace
ful part Of the thing is that the fair la
dies of our Commonwealth are seen IN
the erand-stand and on the bleacheries
cheering the foot ball players on TO
greater brutality
II have been called hayseed. Genew-
ed laughteD / now Mr.. President, have
in my hand Ohe Senators need not be un-
duly alarmed at this big petition. / am
not going 10 read II alD a petition from
all over the State Of Nirginia advocating
the passage Of this measure From the
city Of Lynchburg. which is not hay
seed place: from the city OF Stanton and
from the city Of Richmond. which GER
tainly cannot come under the influence
OF hayseeders petitions have been sent
TO me protesting against this game.
lie then read Il letter from Rev. Dr.
w. r. L Smith p,fstor Of the Second
Baptist church Of Richmond. expressing
his disapprobation of the game. Continu-
ing ne said: - will state that / want
TO meet briefly the objections tnat have
been urged against this bill 10 is the
same old objection, when you come TO
assault this sO-called sport they give the
same objections they give when you as
sault race track gambling
LETTER FROM PROFESSOR DAVIS.
Mir Barksdale read the following letter
from a professor at the University:
university Of Virginia,
Academic Department
Charlottesville. Va. Dec. lS, 1897.
| Hon W. =. Barksdale, Virginia Senate:
Dear Sir.-YOurs Of the 1lth instant
reached me this morning. / reply at the
earliest practicable moment.
II the prize ring be "a proper matter
! for legislative prohibition. then surely is
the game Of football The latter is at
tended by more permanent injuries and IA
| talities than the former. in proportion 70
| the numbers engaged. also by betting and
| like forms OF gambling. and is equally
strength and skill and moreover. Is
practiced by our youth. Of whom We
would fain make gentlemen, I'm public
show. for money
! The statistics which propose 20 prove
that other sports. as swimming. are
| equally or more fatal than football are
unfair since they do not and cannot
take into account the relative numbers
who engage in these sports. | doubt not
| that. in their respect seasons, 100 boys
go in swimming TO one playing football.
As the faculties Of our schools seem
| too weak or too timid or too careless %
! abate this evil. it seems 10 me fitting that
! the LEGISLATURE should prohibit it. az least
| I'm the state schools. In my opinion. the
1 University has suffered and Is suffering
| great damage. as public interest from
the practice. The college hero is no long
or the bright scholar but the coarse
! football man.
l earnestly hope your effort may be
successful lf Il should fail TO secure
| enactment. It will. nevertheless. 90 FAR
TO educate public opinion. and thisi Will
/ be a great gain.
enclose some newspaper clippings
which ! think will De of service.
Very respectfully yours.
NOAH X. DAVIS.
RECEIVED MUCH APPLAUSE.
Mr.. Barksdale spoke at considerable
length. and made an excellent presenta-
ton Of the case from his standpoint. He
was roundly applauded when ne took his
seat. and many senators went up to con-
/ gratulate him.
Senator Morris. OF Albcmarle, followed
/ Senator Barksdale and made d splendid
address In opposition to the bill. In the
opening OF his remarks he said that Prof
! Noah X. Davis. who had been quoted as
opposed to foot ball. was "A most excellent
gentleman: a fine scholar but on tn.
subject of foot bail he was like the Sena
| tor from Halifax, an absolute ignOramus
| when such men as Professors Nenable
/ Peters. and others did not object 70 foo
ban il was quite evident that the game
| was not harmful TO the interests OF the
| University Of Virginia
A COURAGEOUS MAN.
! Senator Morris said he did not intend
! 10 hold the Senator from Halifax up tC
| ridicule. In fuct he was convinced thai
| Senator Rarksdale was a man Of sublime
| courage for he had dared TO criticse the
| conduct Of the fair S&Sng ladies of Rich
| mond in their very presence tgreat ap
! plause)
II was quite remarkable, Senator Nor
| ris said that the Senators from Albe
marie and Rockbrdgs. where foot bal
is best known. and the people Of Rich
| mond generally were opposed TO the bill
! while its advocates were, as a rule. peo
| pie residing In the country where th'
game is not played
Senator Morris then went on 10 rea,
-. = L.