The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-26
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.

WRITTEN FOR TIE 81 SDAY REPUBLIC.
Although no steps have yet been taken %
the end. 1T appears il the Natior1i root
bail Rules Committee was going TO take
some action when viii result in more oGen
play on tile 2ridiron the coming fall Inc
matter has already been thrashed over In
detail ard several plans haze been sug-
sested.
1t will be recalled that Coach Caldwell.
who handled the Narion-Sius team last
yea. suggested the institution " a rule
limiting the number Of downs to one. He
believed that the side hoidin. the ball
should then be forced to kick. This. he
thought would be 4 step in the right dtrec-
ton.
Sentiment throughout the country against
mass p!ays has aroused the present desire
for change. The numerous accidents and
deaths resulting from tie game last year
stirred w enough turmoil to reach the
Rules Committee. Speaking on the views
given the situation. Walter Camp, chat
man Of tine committee, cxpres5e>! himself a
follows in New York last weah:
Before the committee first met this year
It sent out a request to those directly in
terestcd in the sport Of football and to those
connected with the boards Of control Of
athletics in various colleges and schools
that they offer suggestions concerning the
future development OF the game and op.fI-
ions concerning notifications OF the style
Of play and the revision of the RULES.
"A widespread public sentiment was adj
vanced. in favor Of such change in the
rules as may bring about more open play.
and ii was further felt by the committee
and their advisers that the rules should be
so modified and the powers of the officials
so increased as to eliminate to the greatest
possible extent unsportsmanlike tactics. and
with these ends in view the committee de-
cided upon the incorporation OF two i'm
portant changes. The first OF these was
the adoption of such a formation In mid
field between the wenty-fve-yard lines as
would perhaps lead to the development Of
that open style of play desired by SO many
The enforced alteration OF the style OF
play for different parts of the field should
lessen the liability to injury sometimes
charged to the steady pounding OF one
style only.
THE second general change has been the
Incorporation of rules that in soTe cases
greatly increase the penalty for unfair
tactics at the same time providing for less
offensive armament. as. for instance. in the
case of the headgear.
The duties of the linesman have been
enlarged and he has been made practically
an assistant to the umpire, and has been
given absolute power to deal with certain
classes Of fouls
A dispatch from the University OF the
stitution is likely TO be included on Wash
ington Unversitys list of gridiron oppo-
nents this year reads:
The first step looking to the organiza-
ton of football team has been taken.
During the latter part of last week Lieu
tenant Stuart L. S. A. who is t.ummering
with his family here, made short speech
to the candidates. or rather. some few of
them, on the subject of football in general.
He was a player of some ability at West
Point and is we'll fitted to make the re-
marks he did. He emphasized the fact that
spirit was the first essential and then the
material. After few minutes talk Lieu
tenant Stuart illustrated several minor
points in the game.
.'-is announced several months ago Man
ager Upper has secured the services of
Mr.. Whitney of Cornell. who has coached
several teams successfully. and it is rea-
sonahe to suppose that with the excellent
material he has at his disposal he will de-
velop Il winning team in Sewanec.
1.-The management is not willing as yet
to give out az official the schedule. it being
subject to change and alteration. Games
are probable with Vanderbilt. Auburn. Ten
nessee, Nashville. Georgia, Clemson and
Kentucky Among the men of last years
team WHO are in the university again this
year are: Phillips. Coimore. kiroy-Smith
captain. Wheels. Smith. Sneed. Watkins
and Stuart. There is excellent material
among the new men. and it 10 likely that
it will be hard for the old men TO retain
their DlaceS'