New-York tribune., 1903-03-07
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SAYS GLASS SHOULD BE REINsTATED.

To the Editor Of The Tribul
Sir: Your clear and comprehensive recapituiauon
Of the case Of young Mr.. Glass the noted rootnali
player, published in your issue of Monday. Feb
ruary g. has undoubtedly been read with great
interest by the many readers OF your ably con"
Quoted daily. This case. as the writer learns mas
created such intense interest In college circles
that even the professors Of Jurisprudence nave
taken the subject under their consideration, ana
from the data and facts presented and rules formu-
lated governing the. status Of eligibility at Xale
have rendered decisions, and as far as can DC
ascertained, the athletic authorities at Yale nave
been sustained In their judgment Of retiring their
brilliant guard. Although admitting the correctness
OF the strict and literal Interpretation of the de-
cision, It must be allowed that there Is yet justice
from moral standpoint due Mr.. Glass. through
the Yale authorities being in great error IN per-
mftting him to play in 1861 in the minor contests
which practically college player holds as OF no
Importance in comparison with the two great
championship games and then withdrawing MIN
from those OF Princeton and Harvard.
Yale should not have allowed Mr.. Glass 10
appear on the gridiron at all in 1901, and then
Harvard could not have taken the imperative posi-
Sion she has assumed in this controversy. Yale
as yet has not squared herself this point, ana
probably does not feel under any obligation to DO
so. Admitting no obligation to recede from her
decision STILL Is not Yale under Indebtedness
to those who give her their financial support, and
by their presence and encouragement, stimulate
high standard of football DEVELOPMENT? Has the
great host who follow and admire this strenuous
game no rights which the college authorities are
bound to consider? Here ,s an athlete whose brill
liant playing has been a marvel and revelation to
old football men and delight to the thousands
who have witnessed Mr. GIass's vork-a young
man whose like player will not, judging from
the past, appear on the field in years; player
whose thorough headwork and strength, combined
with rare skill, developed briIliancy Of form and
speed that have made this. the grandest game
that heavens bright sun ever shone on an excep-
uonaI pleasure to watch. We all know how the
opponents OF the Blue and its host of supporters
applauded the strategic and skilfuI variations of
play young Glass introduced when ir the game,
and yet all this, that is most fascinating to the
lovers Of this sport, must be put aside account
or an autocratic and vigorously nice Interpretation
OF an athletic statute. There is such thing as
being so right that wrong. Is it not so
here? Has not Yale been so careful and correct in
the dotting of her 'fs" and crossing of her rs
TO football Its vigorous life and. development? A
100 literal Interpretation of rule law often de-
Teats the end for which it created.
Glass has been retired technically, but not IN a
liberal consideration of right yet due him or that
regard due to the thousands who watch the game
We old football greatly desire Mr.
Glass reinstated when the Yale team is reorganized
the coming fall feel thai much
part OF the game as the players themselves and
IS any way for reconsideration of this question
say, by a courteous condescension the part of
the Crimson in Acknowledgement of the great
courtesy which the Blue has shown Harvard, to
state that protest will be made to Mr.. Glass If
Yale desires to play hfm-I much warm
er and truer bond of college affinity would be ap-
moro. the thousands who follow this sport for true
sports sake would have the satisfaction of know
ing that good football is to be played, and played
by great players. AIUMNUS.
New-York, Feb. %. 1903.