The sun., 1899-01-20
KEY TO ROWING PROBLEM.
OLD PENN SMILES At THE sue
GESTIoN THAT SHE HOLDS 1T.

| Race at New LondOn--woulu Not Refuse
| Request from Cornell-ward's 3 Criticism,
of the Courses-Yale In Friendly Mood.
| PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 10.-The statement pub
| lished In New York papers to-day that the
universities OF Pennsylvania and Columbia held
the key to the rowing situation and that II they
| would consent to row Cornell at New London a
Cornell-Yale Harvard race would be possible.
caused a smile among those who are In control
of the rowing affairs at old Penn. Chairman
Thomas NJ. Reatt of the Rowing Committee
said:
I'VE entertain precisely the same views as to
rowing at New London that Cornell does.
which are that the course IL unit for three
crews with fairness to all. There is absolutely
nothing In the intimaton in New York
papers that the champion Quakers hold the
key to the situation. and that 1t is their refusal
to row at New London that renders a Cornell
Yale Harvard race impossible this year. We
have not refused to row there because we
have not been asked. We're Cornell to ask
II | should favor. out Of courtesy to our old
friend. transferring the race to the Thames.
although we are well aware Of the unfairness
of the course for three crews, and this too. in
face OF the fact that our race s the annual
aquatic meet OF tho intercollegiate Rowing
Association. an event that is open to all ANA
teur college crews. We had four crews In our
race last year. and there are rumors that we
may have an additional crew. one from Canada.
in this year Now, how in any reason could
four or five crews row a race at New London2
No. Cornell has not asked us to row there.
nor did she last year. although We told her we
would row at New London II she so desired
although last year Yale and Harvard dictated
to Cornell their conqueror. where the race
should be rowed. From correspondence had
had with the lthacans l was not at all sur
prsed that Cornell bowed to the dictation.
for she was very eager for the race. but
from the same sources this year ! get
the impression that she is not nearly as
eager. and / firmly believe there will be
no Cornell Yale Harvard race at New London.
Cornell has proved her supremacy over Yale
and Harvard concusivey for the past two
years. and, being thus satisfied, feels less eager
70 get race at any terms. Ii seems to me that
and Harvard. Yale and Harvard have never
been strong enough to beat Cornell while old
Penn and Columbia have both succeeded"
- Another authority high in rowing at the
II hardly can blame Yale and Harvard for
wanting to row at New London. 1t is easily ac-
ccssi6le from New Haven and Boston. is sur
rounded with old college traditions. is frequent
cd by very agreeable class Of people. and there
Is no river traffic TO interfere with practice and
the race. Old Penn has not been asked to row
there. but "a she Is always eager to accom-
mediate in reason those with whom she con
London Il Cornell pushes the point"
Coach Ellis Ward was much amused when
spoken t6on the subject lie said:
The Thames course could not he made
available for four crews unless it was dredged
and the banks cut away for fourmiIes. and that
would cost million dollars. The only way in
which four crews could row at all now would
be up stream at flood tide and the boats would
was full food. The slightest delay would Put
the outside crews at disadvantage. as the
tide begins toiebb quicker along the shores
Even should the plEntS yet time.
the tide would begin to cbh along the shore
comrse Is f moi s sntoe TaS r6 ne tw
and cannot be made So
As for fogs. New London. being near the
Sound. is far worse than PouEhkeopsic In
the two years we rowed At Poughkcepsie we
never once encountered Il fog dense enough TO
two weeks we were at New london in 1897 III,
fog was so heavy on, half dozen mornings
ahead OF, him For "a river course. tho Hudson
at Poughkeepse is the best in America. al
though in in my opinion the only course that is
where you have stiiI water" n.-,- n-..,,--,
Of the Yale navy. tonight gave the following
statement of iale's position to THE Sun cor
: Judging from the emphatic refusal Of Cor
nell to accept our invitation. it would seem as
though the vn%gotiati9p1s m were at an end, and
fsoy e far tsrany a 1 ""4 srd We hare SGsnGsd
Ssr SS% Vi VI Ps IT,, NV London; and d. sGSs. has
reconsider her decision / suppose there will be
no ttriangnar race Sej Certainty there is no
There will be No recession from, our. position
not TO row at Ponghk kecpsie. The Ya !e-Har-
on June %. and II Cornell makes up her mind
that she would like 70 meet us at that. time she
will rcceiv" cordial welcome The invitation
we have extended twice is still open, if she
cares to accept. Meanwhile Yale and Harvard
will proceed with thcirarranGemcnts as though
. / wish to state however that there is no
bitterness or unfriendIiness felt at Yale against
Cornell. We realize that she is in a very deli
cate position and are not sure that she could
have acted any differently than she has done
engagcmens Which Of course she cannot c9n1
eel. If Yale had agreed to row. Pennsylvania
at P9uGhkeepsr. as Cornell has done, she
blame Cornell for doing So Furthermore. ws
do not believe that Cornell has acted as
had not been tied | am confident that
she would prefer to row at New London. from
was not nt course to row race, We are also
convinced that Yale has done the only thing
p6ssby Tpde ne tn Ms a
reasons that are already understood. The
present situation. we believe is the result Of
blame. We sincerely regret that we are not to |
meet Cornell, She is splendid university. q |
brought about
Capt Higgfnson Of Harvard was received here |
this afternoon. and was the sole topic Of uni |
versity discourse afterward. This evening |
Capt Higginson assembled the leading men Of |
the senior class and all the varsity captains, |
with the execution of Roche Of the track team
who was. at Springfield, The meeting was an
entirely informal affair and had no official sig
AT its conclusion Capt, Hgginson |
and Manager Mann dictated tho following
We are extremely sorry that Cornell finds
it impossible for her to Join us at New London"
., More the CAPTAIN or manager would not say.
The general feeling here Is that Cornell has
time during the, whole negotiations has Cornell
taken an attitude that offered any chance for
compromise or arbitration. One point in
the correspondence she. knowingly y or
otherwise. entirely overlooked Capt. Fish
er's letter in reply, to Higginson first
was received as a final negative answer
to a general preliminary propoSition to arrange
a race. After this Harvard and Yale addressed
the second letter TO Cornell. asking herto enter
the race at any time during the spring that
she found herself in position to do SO, Why
the Cornell men thought it necessary to send
10 Capt. HigginSon the sharp telegram which
came to his hand to- day is not clear. Certainly
the letter Of Jan. lG did not demand any
such reply and none was expected here. The
rumor had been bruited about that Cornell was