The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-12

/ Herald from New Haven, Conn.,, says:
There is trouble in Yale because of the
letter which 13 luckless undergraduates
sent to Mr.. James J. Corbett, wishing
him success in his coming contest with
Robert Fitzsimmons. When the news was
first published that the letter and a Yale
flag had been sent to the fighter. there
came many kilograms from graduates,
each asking the particular young man in
whom he was interested, whose name
was signed to the letter, to deny the au-
thenticity of the signature.
Then came the announcement that the
letter was genuine. and the faculty has
been holding Indignation meetings and
thinking of things to do to extract Yale
from her position. The senders of the
letter were called before the faculty and
told that they must not only assume re-
SDonsib.lity for the letter, but retract
over their signatures that the students of
Yale had anything to do with its being
sent. Accordingly the students made the
following statement:
The members of the Junior class who
wrote the letter that appeared in the
New York papers wish to state that they
willingly retract all phrases in it which
pretend to represent the sentiments of
the university.
TOO MUCH WINE.
The original letter, which was inspired
by birthday party, is as follows:
Yale University, March 2, 1897.
James ]. Corbett, Champion of the
World:
Dear Strive of the junior class of
Yale university desire to express to
you our heartiest wishes for your sue
cess in the battle on st. Patrick's day.
Ever since your first visit to New
Haven last fall, and your appearance
on our football field. the college at
large has felt the deepest interest and
hopes for your triumph. Here at Yale
we realize how much brain and sci
ence count in all athletic contests. We
regard you as the highest exponent of
the brainy boxer, and have implicit
faith in the outcome of the battle.
I'VE learn CT your splendid physical
condition, and can see only one finish
for the fight. Now, Jim, we hope that
you will hang this Yale flag in your
training quarters and in your corner
at the ring-side. and remember that it
waves to you message of Yale luck
the hearts of all true Yale men.
(Signed) ]. II. Wadsworth, jr., Wash
ington; Bruce Clark; Chicago: ]. c.
M&Lsgghn Glsyela4 and F0rsythe
New York: Robert ]. Turnbull, jr-
Morristown, n. J.; Paine Whitney,
New York; John S. Roberts. New
York: Dallas B. Byers. Pittsburg;
New York: F. W. Sheehan, New
Haven; F. H. Simmons. Brooklyn"
Among the Signers of the letter are the 4
sons of the former secretary of war,
Whitney, and the late Governor Morris. /
Corbett telegraphed back that he would .
put the flag in his corner on the day of 1
the fight.
The students declare they will call /
mass meeting and denounce the men who /
sent the letter and this has only been |
averted by the prominence !
and popularity of those who signed their |
names to the letter.
The Yale flag referred to was silken
banner of the university colors. 1t is "a /
inches long. is inches wide and bears the |
word Yale in letters four inches high. Z
The Yale News, the official publica-
ton of the university, in an editorial
says:
THE letter written and signed by the
few men in the junior class is utterly
1isowned and repudiated by Yale I'M
iergraduates. Its senders doubtless
the document with the idea
that it would be a good joke, but where
this comes in, it is hard to See, even
FOR men in college, while outsiders and
graduates will certainly consider it I
most serious thing.
The very fact that it purported te
the opinion of the university
IN an event that should be of no inter-
est here absolutely prevents its being
considered as joke, nor are the harm it
mas done Yale and the strong condem-
nation of 1t by the many communlca-
ions sent to the News very funny
things.
BY pretending to give college SEN
.iment or even implying college senti-
nents on such subject the letter is
direct insult to every Yale man.
Then, too, the disgrace TO the uni
7ersity in having its flag appear in
)rize fighting ring. cannot be measured
II perhaps appreciated at once. No
me here will be able to deny truthfully
hat the banner was sent by Yale men
to give Yales feelings, but
he first step toward creating an un-
of the real worth of this
happening has been taken by the men
Who are TO blame for it.
1T seems too bad that Yale men
should be the first to throw mud at
Yale, but it is certainly so in this case,
md all that the guilty ones can do is
o beg pardon for you"