The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-14
ILLINOIS HAS REPLIED
TO BADGERS CLAIM
Board of Control Give Reasons
Why Athletic Relations
Were Severed.
OUTCOME OF BALL GAME
Wisconsin Team Left the Field in
the Third Inning and Re-
fused to Continue.
OUTCOME OF BALL GAME

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
URBANA, Ill, Jan. 13.-The board of ath-
letic control of the University of Illinois has
taken formal cognizance of the recent out
burst from the University of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is sore at Illinois because of al
legged mistreatment received at the hands of
the blue and orange when last April the
baseball teams of the two universities came
together on Illinois Field. The Wisconsin
team became indignant at a decision of the
umpire and quit the game in the third in
ming. AS a result of this action Manager
HUFF, of Illinois. refused the visitors their
share of the gate receipts. For this offense
on the part of Illinois, Wisconsin has pub
licly announced that she has severed athletic
relations with Illinois, and to this announce
ment Prof. ]. Herbert Barton, of the ath-
letic board of control, has made the follow
ing statement:
'In view of the recent action of Wisconsin
athletic authorities in publicly announcing
that they had broker off athletic relations
with Illinois, 1t may be well publicly to state
the position OF our board of control.
Two questions may be considered con-
corning the matter In dispute: First, Is, Hi
nois under legal obligations to pay Wiscon-
sin one-half of the gate receipts; second,
should Illinois pay the same for the sake of
peace and good will. As to the first, the
board holds that Illinois is clearly not le-
gally held for the sum in dispute. A con-
tract was duly entered into for a purpose
duly specified and for a consideration ex-
pressly stated. The contract was not per-
formed. There is clearly no legal liability
The fact that the gate receipts were not re-
turned to the patrons is purely a question
between Illinois and no one else. As TO the
second question, the board holds that it is
Of paramount Importance that the principle
be clearly established that a team that has
begun n game, after an official or officials
have been duly agreed upon, must finish the
same, or, failing to do so, shall receive no
compensation. Unless the principle is clear
ly recognized we are at any moment liable
to be exposed to such an exhibition as the
Wisconsin team made on our grounds on the
the last ten years that a team has left our
field without finishing the game II has con-
tracted TO play. The board is clearly of the
opinion that IL can in no way so well con-
serve the cause of ~cleanneSS and decency in
athletic sport as by having it clearly under
conduct in a visiting team and then pay
them for the exhibition Of lack Of self-cOn-
troll, and while the board deeply regrets the
action of Wisconsin, for whose students and
athletic board it has a high regard, yet it is
confident that in the end it will be recog-
niZed by all engaged in the management of
athletic interest in educational institutions
hat the position assumed by the Illinois
board is the only one under which intercol-
legiate athletics can be honorably or safely
conducted.
so, while willing to go to any reasonable
lengths in securing harmony will rival in
situations, and while aware that this action
may be interpreted as an endeavor to punish
the team Of a competitor. still the board be-
lieves that il is clearly its duty TO maintain
the principle that contracts between athletic
teams must be performed"