The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-07
no ELIMINATE MASS PLAYS.
PETITION TO INTERCOLLEGIATE
RULES COMMITTEE.

signed by More Than seventy Head
matters of schools, Representing
Many states-HiIihouse High sehool
csuded-speedy Action Asked for t.,e
AboIishment of the Dangerous Fea-
tures of the Game.
New York. Feb. Ga petition signed
by more than seventy headmasters of
schools, representing many states. look
ing to the modification of the present
sented TO the Intercollegiate Football
Rules committee. The petition is one
phase of the movement for the abolish
ment of mass plays and had its incep-
tion at conference held in Connecticut
with the meeting Of the Headmasters
association in Boston in December last
A committee was appointed which drew
UP the following circular letter:
The Intercollegiate Committee on Foot
ball Rules:
Gentlemen: The undersigned, head
masters of schools in which football is
played. take this method of urging up
on your committee the desirability of so
modifying the present rules as to elm
mate as far as is possible without sac
rificing the game, the Objectionable and
dangerous features that exist at the
present time. The objections to these
features have already been publicly
made, and we are bringing forward no
new proposition. We, however, pos
sess peculiar opportunities for observing
in detail the effects of the game on
those who play 1t, and our experience
with football teams made up Of boys
below the college age shows us, in their
extreme form, the evil results of the
game as at present played. We also
feel, In view of the fact that the large
majority of college players learn the
game and secure their preliminary
training on our school teams, and in
view of the consequent Importance to
college football of having the game fully
developed in the secondary schools, that
our testimony as to the points in ques-
tion is at least entitled to careful con-
sideration.
I'VE wish to express in emphatic
terms our Judgment, based on exper-
ience, that football as at present played
is too severe and too dangerous, and
our belief that 1t is possible by modifi-
cation of the rules to develop a style of
football that viii retain the unique and
characteristic advantages of the pres
ent game without it's most serious at
tendant evils. We present no argu-
ments on the subject as these are al
ready familiar to you. e make no spe-
cific suggestions, for you are the most
competent side to decide how the desir-
ed result can be reached. We simply
present our testimony, and urge you, in
the intercollegiate and school athletics
to take speedily action for the elimina-
tion of the present Objectionable and
dangerous features of football"
The petition was signed by almost
every headmaster to whom it was sent,
and the signatures represent all the
leading football schools of the east, as
well as the champion schools of the
west
In the list of the schools are the fol-
lowing:
Phillips Exeter academy, Exeter, N.
H; Vermont academy, saxtons Rivers,
VT; University school, Providence, r..
l.; Brighton High school, Boston, Mass;
Hillhouse High school, New Haven,
Conn: Roxbury Latin school, Roxbury,
Mass; Public High school, New Brit
ain, Conn; King school, Stamford,
Conn; Thayer Academy, South Brain
tree, Mass; Newton High school, New
ton, Mass; Public Latin school, Boston,
Mass; Worcester academy, Worcester,
Mass; Classical High school, Provi-
dence r. T.; Pomfret school, Pomfret,
Conn.,; Phillips academy, ,Andover. Mass. !;
Belts academy, Stamford Conn; st.
Pauls school, Concord, N. H; B. M. C..
Durfee High school, Fall River. Mass. !;
st. Austtn's school, Salisbury, Conn.
and ST. Johns academy st. Johnsbury
VT.