Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-11-18
|RATON..LAS VEGAS
FOOT BALL GAME

The mnch.talked-of football game
between the Las Vegas and Rator
high schools came very near not tax
ing place this afternoon. The mana
ger and captain Of the local team were
informed that four ringers" had beer
run into the Ration team. aud u tele
gram dispat ched to the superintendent
at Ration brought bacl: the nforma
lion tha, several names had tcen ad
ed 10 the list. which hs certified rs
high school players. 'r'ie manage.
Of the visiting team expressed his
willingness TO withdraw TAO Of thesc
men. lightweights. by the way. INT ~.
clinei TO play unless the other wc
big athletic looking fe'.cws were ,e
tained. He claimed that the two,
while not regular attendants at the
high school took some studies there.
and were therefore eligible. He did
not say whether or not they took the
classes FOR the purpose Of playing
football.
The Las Vegas high school manager
declined to play the game under such
conditions. and the Ratonites packed
their grips and repaired to the depot
dinnerless. as the arrangement to pay
expenses was terminated when the
game was called OF.
Several citizens., hearing that the
boys were going home without their
dinner. went to the depot and urged
them at least to remain till the next
train. agreeing to pay for their dinner
II no compromise could be arranged
by which the game could be played
A number of the high school players
agreed to get up an independent team
and play the visitors. A further con
ference was held between the mana
gers, and the game is going on, but
upon what basis The Optic has not
been informed.
While the Optic believes that the
best thing to do under the circum.
stances was to play the game. while
It believes that 1t wOuld have injlr
ed the name OF the city for hospitality
II the boys had been allowed 70 -
6ask dinneriels. ana while Il axrees
with the considerable number Of citi'
Gems who conferred with the boys at
the depot that the people who bought
tickets would have been dispfeased Il
the game had been called on. vet u
does not In the least wish 20 be under
stood as standing for the sort OF deal
which the Ration school Is believed
here to have ATTEMPTED.
The Optic believes in equare sport
II ever a team from the Las Vegas
high school or the Normal attempts
to introduce player who is not 9
bona fide representative Of the school
the censure fill be more ready and
more strong than 1t is In this case
ANY unfairness will ruin school sport
Better no interschool contests In ten
years than to have a sin3e violation
Of the school etiQuet and the spiri'
Of fair play. II It Is true In this case
however, that the visitors have ring
ers" on their team, even though they
win by a wide margin. the disgrace
and shame and loss do not soil the
crimson Of our high school. but the
yellow and black Of Ration. For this
reason and because this afternoons
game had been widely advertised and
our courtesy and hospitality as city
are at stake, The Optic believed the
game this afternoon should be played
But II does not believe In having our
schools play any more games with Ra'
ton II It can be lhown that delibe'
rate attempt to be unfair was made
to-day.