Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-29
Williams STILL OUT
Captain Of the Varsity Team
Will Be Barred From Ath.
letics for Present.
Board Of Control Of the Athletic
Union May Appeal to
Conference.
Williams Violation Of the Rules
Was Purely Of Technical
Character.

Iowa City, Oct 29.-The athletic board
OF control of the University of Iowa held
4 meeting behind closed doors last night,
and for several hours discussed the case
CT Captain Williams. At the conclusion
OF the session Secretary Smith an
rounced that the board had endorsed the
action of the eligibility committee in
withdrawing Williams at Minneapolis.
AS to what the board did in reference to
the further disbarment of the quarter
lack. and as to the action in the matter
Of an appeal to the big nine" confer
ence. the officials positively declined to
make any statement.
Captain Williams is charged with
playing professional base ball. and doing
It under an assumed name He admits
that he played base ball under the name
of Wylie at Larimore, N. D., where he
was working In hardware store, last
summer. He denies. however. that he
received pay for his services. He played.
he alleges, for the fun of the thing"
merely, and used the assumed name in
order that his mother, who worried
about his playing, might not be dis
tressed by learning that he was on the
diamond again. The name Wylie was
the sobriquet by which he was generally
known at the varsity and in Iowa City.
The board of control of the athletic
union at the University of Iowa investi-
gated the mater as thoroughly as posi-
BILE last week. after receiving commu-
nication from Minnesota, embodying the
charges against the captain.
The board was satisfied that Williams,
violation OF the "big mines" ordinances
was technical, and in the letter, rather
than In the spirit. Nevertheless, in view
of Minnesota's vigorous protest, the
Iowa authorities, who have been stick
5lers for the observance Of the most rigid
provisions of the conference, believed
that 1t were better to make sacrifice
OF the captain, and possibly Of the game,
itself, rather than to sanction apps rent
violations OF the conference rules.
The conference rules and regulations
strictly prohibit playing under an as
sumed name, and. on the face of the re-
turns, Captain Williams is in a bad
box" Nevertheless. he has clean rec
ord at Iowa City, and he is here consId-
cred one Of the cleanest athletes and
most gentlemanly amateurs in the
ranks Of the gridiron and diamond stars.
Iowa City enthusiasts are bitterly dis
appointed over the fact that he was re-
fused permission to play Saturday. ana
it is believed here, on the testimony of
those who witnessed the game, that his
absence had much to do with the loss of
the battle with Minnesota. The boards
action. while severely condemned by the
fans" is endorsed by the
as an act of wisdom and good Judgment,
tho no one believes that Williams re-
moval from the team was intended as
1t is thought. on the con-
trary, that the board simply proposes to
keep the name of Iowa pure in amateur
ism, even at the sacrifice of first-class
player on pure technicality.
1t is thought in local athletic circles
that Minnesota herself will make
strenuous effort to induce the conference
powers that be" to remove the ban
from Williams, when the full extent of
his slip shall be determined, and it is
hoped that the captains disbarment is
rot to be permanent.
In the meantime, pending the confer
ence ruling. Williams can not play, and,
1t is said. an effort will be made to Sc
cure immediate action on the part Of the
highest authorities, in order that the
star quarter backs status may be de-
termined before the next two games
with Knox, Nov. g. and Illinois, Nov. 8.