The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-19

Above is the text of a. telegram sent
yesterday by Dr.. H. J.. Williams OF. the
University Of Minnesota, to Athletic Di-
rector Baird of Michigan,5 setting forth
Minnesota's attitude UPON the transfer, OF
the Michigan Minnesota football game to
Ann ArbOr. go. = - E<E'2! E--t9
In an interview with T h j o ur ma !;
this morning DIR. Williams said: .sa@.s
although the contract for the Michi-
gan Minnesota, game gives an alternative
between Detroit and Ann Arbor, Baird
personally agreed with me that Detroit
should be the place, provided Bennett
park could be secured. That condition is
fulfilled, and Bennett park. was secured
by contract for Thanksgiving Day. :Michi-
gan cannot change without Minnesota
consent - = '.." - '.'@'"' :" %-,','-'. =
Arguments for Detroit, -.
"There are several reasons why the.
game should be played In Detroit In the
first place, 1t is the western champion,
ship game, and 1t is only right that 1t
should be played on neutral grounds. In.
the second place, Detroit is more acces-
sible, and rooters from Minnesota, as well
as those from Chicago and other points,
can get to Detroit more easily and at less
expense. In the third place, the gate re-
ceipts at Detroit will be larger, and while
this condition ought not to count against
the good Of the sport, yet when all other
reasons point to the same choice, the
financial element adds weight to the argu-
ment. In the fourth place, Michigan
agreed to play at Detroit, and she must
stick to her agreement. In the fifth place.
the restaurants and hotels at Detroit can
better handle big crowd than those at
Ann Arbor. 80" -:
ITO me, all this business looks like
big bluff on the part of Michigan. They
waited until we had beaten Wisconsin.
and then at the last moment they tried
to make us play on their home grounds.
The whole matter in a nutshell Is this:
Michigan wants to beat Minnesota They
would rather lose $1,000 than run the
chance of losing the game. SO they want
the advantage of pla wing on their own
grounds. @+s ...--E 2s--=~G Z, - 49,
. Michigan Cannot Dictate.
T Il Now. Michigan cannot dictateete Min
1lesota in this matter. Aside from Baird's
personal agreement with me, the contract
names two alternative places, and Michi-
gan cannot choose either one without
Minnesota's consent. -. Manager Luby had
no authority to make a change, and I
wired Baird yesterday to this effect. add
ing that the game must be played in De-
troit or not at ALL, :, -, -. :a
1.-THE story from Detroit that all this
dispute, including my protest. is a bluff,
with the ultimate intention Of having the
game played in Chicago, is absolutely
false. Minnesota does not want Chicago,
but does want Detroit
This matter will be laid before tho
Minnesota board of athletic control at tho
earliest possible moment. I am satisfied
in advance however, that the majority Of
the members OF the board are very much
opposed to playing the game in Ann Ar
Dor. The board is the final authority in
this matter. With regard to the state
ment Of Manager Baird, that I have no
authority in making arrangements for the
place of holding the game, I want to say
that I am athletic director at Minnesota.
and Baird is athletic director at Ann Ar
bor and I have just as much authority in
the matter as he has
Opposition In Detroit.
The opposition to the transfer is just
as strong at Detroit as 1t is among the
athletic authorities at the university Of
Minnesota. Last night more than q hun
dred Detroit alumni of the university Of
Michigan gathered at sthe Russell house in
Detroit, to protest against changing the
game to Ann Arbor Many of the alumni
took the attitude that Baird's action was
a direct slap at the mon who have been
working for years to develop university
sentiment in Detroit. A committee OF
three was appointed to draw up and pre-
sent to the board Of control resolutions
setting forth the sentiment of the meet
ing. but little hope is entertained at. De-
troit of retaining the game in that city.
Professor Victor M. Lane made a sta te-
ment to the meeting in behalf of the ath-
letic board. He said it was not a aues-
ton Of gate receipts. but Of taking care
of the crowds properly. His explanation
however fell upon unsympa thetic ears.
The Michigan board Of athletics met
yesterday at Ann Arbor and decided unan-
inousy in favor of playing the game in
that city. The protest from DIR. Williams
was disregarded. as we'll as those from
Detroit. IL - -, g.. Z
Luby Stands Pat. -
Manager, Luby Of Minnesota said yes
terday in. an interview at Detroit:
1T have received protests from DR..