The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-10
SPORTING NEWS.
Nebraska and Kansas May Not
Have Contest.
Lawrence Management Makes
Serious Charges.
TWO PROFESSIONALS.
X. U. Athletic Board Say BEN
der and Wilson Are Paid.
Nebraska Denies Indignantly
All of the Allegations.
Say Kansas Has HaggIed and
Acted Suspiciously Slow.

Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 10.-A storm of
protest was stirred I'D at Nebraska uni
versity by the newspaper dispatches
from Lawrence announcing that Kansas
university had entered a protest against
the participation of two of Booths
Cornhuskers, Captain Bender and Will
son, in next Saturdays annual football
struggle between the two universities
The members of the athletic board met
for a brief consultation, after which Dr.
Condra, chairman of the board. gave
utterance to the following statement as
representing Nebraska's position con-
corning the protest. He said
Nebraska intends to play Bender and
Wilson against Kansas or there will be
no game. The first intimation from
Kansas concerning the players in ques-
ton reached the board at Nebraska a
week or ten days ago, and it has been
supplemented by two or three other let
tiers to various members of the board.
The complaint gainSt thesInen was That
they had played professional baseball
for stipulated salary. The charges
were investigated al the time, with the
result that we became convinced thaG
they were not well founded. Both play
ers presented evidence that seemed. N
controvertible that they had not received
any compensation, although there IS no
question that they have played baseoali
during the summer vacations Tor SeNefal
years, as have most OF the tootp s'Ll
players on every college team i'll the
country.
I'm Justice TO Bender and Wilson.
will state that they both have docu-
mentary evidence to substantiate their
denial of having received any salary
The board, however. felt that the mat
ter deserved serious consideration, ana
accordingly notified both men that
they were expected to appear before
formal meeting of the board, which
will be held today. to disprove the
charges made by Kansas. Having
personally investigated the matter,
feel sure that they will be able to
prove their case before the board. /
made a grave mistake in permitting
the fact that there had been protest
becoming public matter. for an accu-
sation, even if diSDroyen, almost inVa-
riably carries a stigma that cannot be
overcome. If the part Kansas has
played in the matter was not unsports-
manlike. it was at least gross dis
courtesy and in this I am confident
that I am voicing the sentiments of
every man of Nebraska's board. last
spring the Nebraska baseball team was
mobbed by crowd of hoodlum stu
dents at Kansas and for the offanse
| the Kansas board rendered a written
apology. The board at Nebraska was
solicited by the newspapers to make
public the apology. but we refused,
and this is the way in which we are
repaid. Kansas has shown question
able spirit in all of the negotiations
! for the game. First they refused to
consent to a transfer to Kansas City,
when it meant a fattering profit to
both arrangements. In this, I believe.
they were largely prompted by a de-
sire to force Nebraska to lose money
on the game. for Kansas has a con-
tract calling for the game at Law
renee. and which gives Nebraska only
$500 as it's share. Next. Kansas hag-
gled over the choice of officials. OBJ
jecting Dersistently to almost every
man that Nebraska proposed and at
! the same time contending for officials
with which Nebraska had no acquaint-
ance as to their ability. Unless Kan
sas faces about in short order I feel
confident that the board at Nebraska
| will call the game OF. -
| Manager Buckner has wired Kansas
authorities that Nebraska's guarantee
of $500 must be in Lincoln by Thurs
! day night or the Cornhuslzers would
not leave for Lawrence under any con-
| si6a-atio