Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-29
NEW CONTROL OF FOOT BALL
Ov. to Place Supervision Of Game in
Control of University fsculti"
slxrY.tleA1 SCHOOLS IN CONFERENCE
wiz Consult Rules Com
mittee and Take Independent
Action Unless Reforms
Are secured.

hall in the colleges and universities of
America was begun here today. when the
representatives Of sixty-eight institutions
of learning agreed to act together in secur-
ing the adoption Of rules and an enforce
ment of them that are expected to lessen
tho danger to players. do away with mass
formations and secure permanent officials
for intercollegiate contests.
The conference perfected a permanent
organization and appointed the rules COM
mttee of seven which will communicate
with the representatives OF Yale, Prince
ton Harvard, Pennsylvania. Cornell, Ann
apolis and Chicago university, constituting
the existing committee on rules. asking for
an amalgamation with that body. None
OF the above mentioned universities was
represented at todays conference. II they
refuse to Join with the committee appointed
today the latter will aot Independently and
formulate rules for the guidance Of the
institutions ratifying today's action.
Nebraska on Committee.
The committee on rules named by the
conference is as follows:
e. X. Hull. Dartmouth; Lieutenant DAILY,
West Point; J. A. Rabbit Haverford col
lege; DIR. H. d. williams. University of
Minnesota; c. w. Savage, Oberlin college;
James 7. Lees. University of Nebraska;
F. II. Curtis University of Texas.
The committee will go to Philadelphia
tomorrow to present it's credentials to the
existing foot ball rules committee
The following permanent officers Of the
conference were elected: President. Cap
tain Palmer f. Pierce, West Point; vice
president, Dean w, D. Wild, Williams col
lege; secretary, Louis Bevier, jr., Rutgers
college.
An executive committee was elected and
consists of the president representing the
New York section; the vice president.
representing New England the secretary.
representing the middle states, and the
following other members: Chancellor Frank
Strong, University of Kansas representing
the far west; President WEIGH, Ohio
Wesleyan. representing Ohio; w. l. Dudley,
Vanderbilt university, representing the
south. The member TO represent the middle
west was not chosen, but will be selected
later.
The conference, which was the result
of a call issued by Chancellor MacCracken
of New York university, finally adjourned
tonight, subject to the call OF the president
The debate during the day was spirited at
times. The appointment of a rules commit
tee to act with the existing foot ball COM
mittee was the result of the stand taken by
West Point in favor of such action as the
most rational course for the conference to
pursue. West Point suggested that the
committee be limited to five members. but
finally consented to it's enlargement to
seven.
Resolutions Adopted.
The instructions TO the new rules COM
mittee were those recommended by West
Point. Captain Pierce. representing the
military academy, declared that the
academy 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 en-
forced, would bring about the desired
change In the game. Among the many reso-
lutions introduced the following were
adopted
Whereas, The game of foot ball as prac-
ticed under existing rules by the students
of the educational institutions in the United
States has developed undesirable features,
the regularly accredited representatives of
the faculties of the educational institutions
ton assembled in New York City Decem-
Der 2S, 1905, in an effort to remove this OBJ
1ectionable phase of the sport, hereby
Resolve, That this conference recommends
that the academic authorities of this Goun-
try hold themselves as ultimately respon-
sibie for the eGnduGt OF athletics WITHIN
Resolved, That II is recommended that
the executive committee OF the permanent
things, OF the vital questions Of eligibility of
students who take part in athletic games
and sports. and report at as early a time
as practicable to themselves on rules and
Recommendations for the general conduct OF
all such matters.
Resolved, That the action taken at this
hall ahAh hn N
TO all colleges actually engaged in the
game, with the request that the same be
ratified and shall be binding on any institu-
ton only upon ratification by that institu-
ton.
Chancellor MacCraclen's Address.
Chancellor MacCracken of New York uni
versity said that the member of the foot
ball rules committee who claims to repre-
sent Harvard is not authorized to do so. II
object" he continued, ito any legislation
being passed at this conference TO amalga-
mate with the present foot ball rules COM
mittee until evidence is brought to me that
all the members on the committee do rep
resent the universities rom which they are
said TO come"
Prof Marstou Bogart of Columbia said
that his university opposed the present
rules committee and added that it would be
q mistake to cooperate with the present
rules committee.
1--WE are here 10 represent the nation, -
he said las TO its educational institutions,
and l tell you that the time has come
when the universities and colleges are
going to run the game of foot ball and not
the foot ball rules committee. In time
the other universities will be glad to come
in with U.S."
Prof. Moore of Vanderbilt university
doubted the ability of a faculty committee
to cope with the experts in making rules
| for foot ball. and said he favored amalga-
| nation with the rules committee. Nearly
| every speaker said that he was in favor
| of continuing the game of foot ball.
Instructions to Committee.
The discussion was precipitated by resolu-
| lions offered by Captain Pierce Of West
| Point favoring amalsamation with the
present rules committee Upon his sug-
gestIon the conference voted 10 appoint a
| rules committee of its own. fixing the
| membership of the committee at seven.
Captain Pierce proposed the following
| duties for this committee:
/. To communicate with the representa-
| tves of Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Penn
| sylvania Cornell, Annapolis and Chicago
| university, who constitute the committee
| that has formerly governed foot ball, and
propose that the committees be amalga
| mated into one which shall formulate
rules under which foot ball be played.
| g II this amalgamation is refused theT
| the above named committee OF seven shall
| IN Ia % n VII iHI