Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-29
REPRESENTED al New York
Football Conference.
Committee Appointed to Confer
With the big Seven"
In Regard 10 Change in Rules and Methods
of Enforcing the Same.

New York, Dee. ga concerted
| movement toward reforming the game
of football in the colleges and unlVer-
stiles of America, including Colby and
the University of Maine, was begun
here today when the representatives of
6S institutions agreed to act together
in securing the adoption of rules and
enforcement of them which will mate
rally lessen the danger to players, will
do away with mass formations and
Sc cure permanent officials for inter-
collegiate contests.
The conference perfected a perma-
nent organization and appointed a
rules committee of seven which will
communicate with the representatives
of Yale, Princeton, Harvard. Pennsyl-
vania. Cornell, Annapolis and Chicago
University, constituting the existing
committee OH rules, asking for an
amalgamation with that body. None
Of the above mentioned universities
was represented at today's conference.
If they refuse to join With the commit
tee appointed today the latter will act
independently and formulate dulles for
the guidance of the Institutions ratify-
ing today'S action.
They committee on rules named by
the conference is as follows:
f. *. Hull, Dartmouth; Lieut.. Daily,
West Point; j. A. Rabbit, Haverford
College; Dr. NJ. d. Williams. University
OF Minnesota; G. w. Savage, Oberlin
College; James l.. Lees, University OF
Nebraska, and f. NJ. Curtis, University
of Texas. The committee will go to
PhilatclI hia tomorrow to present its
credentials to the existing football
rules committee.
The following permanent officials
We're elected: President. Capt. Palmer
f. Pierce, West Point; vice president,
Dean w. d. Wild of Williams College;
secretary, Louis Bevier, Jr., Rutgers
College.
An executive committee was elected
and consists of the president, repre-
seliting the New York section, the vice
president, representing New England,
the secretary. representing the Middle
states, and the following other men,
berS:
Chancellor Frank Strong, University OF
Kansas, representing the far West; Pres
ident WEIGH, Ohio-Weslevan, represent
ing Ohio; w. L. Dudly. Vanderbilt Uni
versty representing the South.
The member to represent tho middle
West was not chosen but will be elected
later.
The conference. which was the result
of call issued by Chancellor MacCrack-
Ell of New York University. finally adj
iourned tonight subject to the call of the
president
The debate during the day was spirited
at times The appointment of 4 rules
committee to act with the existing foot
ball committee was the result of the stand
taken by West Point in favor of such
action as the most rational course for the
conference 10 pursue. West Point suE-
gested that the committee he limited to
five members. but finally consented to it,
enlargement to seven.
The instructions to the new rules com
mittee We're those recommended by west
Point. Capt. Pierce. representing Tho
Military Academy, declared that the acad-
envy authorities did not want all the
roughness taken out of the game. some
knocks and bruises were necessary to the
sport he said. He believed the present
rules, slightly modified and thoroughly
enforced. would bring about the desired
change in the game. Among the many
resolutions introduced the following were
adopted:
Whereas. the game of football as prac
ticed under existing rules by the students
of the educational institutions in the
United States has developed undesirable
features, the regularly accredited repre-
sentatives Of the faculties of the educa-
tional institutions from al sections or
the country, in convention assembled ut
the Murray Hill hotel in New York city
Dec. %, 1905, in an effort to remove this
Objectionable phase of the sport hereby
Resolved, that this conference recon-
mends that the academic authorities OF
this country hold themselves as ultimate
" responsible for the conduct Of athletics
within their respective institutions.
'Resolvcd. that it is recommended that
the executive committee of the perma
nent organization take cOgniZance among
other things Of the vital questions of eligi
bilty of students who take part in ath-
lctic games and sports, and report mt as
early n time rs practicable to themselveS
on rules and accommodations for the gen
eral conduct Of all such matters.
Resolved, that the actions taken al
this conference on football shall be sub
mitted to all colleges actually engaged In
the game with the request that the same
be ratified and shall be binding on any
institution only upon ratification by that
institution