The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-06
is FOOT BALL BRUTAL?
New York Legislators VIII Discuss the
Question.

S&ostAuHs
New York, December A Cananda-
qua special to the Herald says:
When Yale and Princeton took their
annual football game away from New
York city they thought at some day they
could return to battle on the gridiron
of Manhattan Field if they so desired,
but when next season comes around the
legislature of the State of New York may
perhaps have passed measure prohibl-
ting the game throughout the state; at
any rate, by that Bine such measure
will have been introduced into that body
and acted upon.
The publicity given to the accidents
and deaths occurring in football during
the season just past by the Herald is per-
haps responsiblesfor the introduction into
the legislature this year of bill that. if
it does not prohibit the playing Of the
game throughout the state, will at least
compel the modification of the rules of
game as it is played at present.
There will be introduced into the leg
islature of New York soon after 1t con-
venes a bill against the great college
game, and the Empire State will then
have followed in the footsteps of the
ties throughout the United States.
Jean l.. Burnett is deputy clerk of the
assent bly,, and has charge CT the revision
of bills. Mr.. Burnett admitted that he
Is preparing an anti-footbaIl bill for in
PRODUCTION at the approaching session of
the legislature. He said he had written
Governor Atkinson of Georgia for a
copy of the measure recently considered
by the legislature of that state, but de.
ciined to state for whom he is interesting
himself in the matter.
"Some time ago. said he, "a we'll
known legislator asked me If I would
draw up bill prohibiting the playing of
football In this state, saying that he was
considering the advisability of present.
ing such measure.
II agreed to do so, at the same time
venturlng the suggestion that the intro
Queer of bill of this kind, while he
might gain some notoriety, would un-
doubtedly make himself unpopular, as l
did not believe there was really as much
opposition to football as represented by
the press. This gentleman said that he
realized that fact. but was sincere in
his belief that the game was brutal and
should be abolished by statute, and add
ed that If he decided to father bill for
the accomplishment Of that object he
would certainly advocate its enactmaus
vigorously, and had reason to believe that
he would be supported by many promiss
nent legislators.
II called his attention to the fact
continued Mr.. Burnett, THAT such In
f1uential athletic authorities az Walter
Camp, Casper Whitney and Brooks were
OF the rules might be desirable, and
suggested that in that event there would
be no occasion for legislative prohibition.
He replied that he had studied the sub
ject considerably and was Of the opinion
that any alteration of the present rules
would have to be extremely sweeping in
order to eradicate Objectionable feat
ures.
''He said that he regarded the system
of interference and the mass plays,
in which men are piled upon each other
and necessarily imperilled, as simply
barbaroIs and considered the use of chest
er requisite Farmor' 81 the present game
more suited to prize fighting than to
gentlemanly sport; by which I judged
he was opposed to all the rough elements
of the game which, of course, make foot
ball football and mot golf or tennis.
yse IL may be scientific enough, he said
TO me, but it is degrading and dangerous,
too, and there's noldisputing that" He
had statistics in the form of newspaper
clippings relating 10 injuries and fatali-
ties caused by football. "There were
no such results as these back in the
eighties, said the intended father of the
foot ball bill. +" continued Mr.. Burnett,
land the game WAS just as popular and
interesting. There was then more open
play, longer and more brilliant runs, the
kicking was more frequent and effective,
and the long pass was a feature of the
game.
'The game now is muscular combat
from start to finish, and far less artistic
and skilful. Rugby football would be
far more preferable to the game Of today.
1t is faster, freer and more exciting,
and is attended with comparatively little
danger to life and limb.
The American game of football is
criminal and if the rules are not changed
materially, it should be. and think will
be, done away with"
When urged to mention the name of tho
legislator to whom he referred, MIR. Bur
nett refused. saying that it was matter
of confidence, but added, however, that
he would say that it was neither Sena-
tor Raines nor Assem- blyman-elect Sim
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