The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-12-30
.CORNEl|'SS HEAD
OUT FOR: FOOTBALL D:
Criticism Of Game is One Sided
and Unfair, Declares Jacob
Gould Schurl1lan.
MODIFY, D0N,1. ABOLISH II

Special 10 The Times-Dispatch.)

3a5fisz
SYRACUSE. n. Va . December % Jacob
Gould Schurman, president OF Cornell
University placed himself on record last
night. In an address before the union
meeting or the Associated Academic Prln-
cipals OF the State OF New York, as a
stanch q friend or the game Of football de-
claring that he recent criticism which
has been visited upon tho game. s..if not
hystcrical md frenzieti, Is at least one
sided and unfair, President schurman
urged that the game should mot be abol-
ished. Modify It, he suggested, 80 as to
remove the extra hazards, but to abolish
at. he asserted, would be to do ava with
the most popular port OF the youth OF
the country and Of the rican people
thcnlSel Ives. sssS} ;;4sss ss
President Schurman's theme was ma
tional G reatness, and after he had spo-
I ken OF the teachers share In tho -de-
velopine e ~ OF the country. and had urged
that better pay: and pensions be provided
for the tea ching corps OF the public
schools. he turned upon the physical ba-
sig 6f manhood. S
!; sntrange II may sound to the
that athlct tics have made 1t possible R to
govern (becauseS athletics have developed
an esprit du corps) hundreds, yes. thou
sands OF students in a esingle university
year a ters year Wit bout the help OF jury,
court or policeman. II the critics abolish
ed baseball or ball, we should implore
them, IN the Int crest Of academic dsci-
pine, to devise suit able Substitutes or re-
store these games themselves. 5S
Am ], then. an adYocate OF football?
what : have said ~ have said and desire
not to alter. BaseballFa football are
the best outd DOR sports. we have for the
american youth.8an football is the most
popnlaarS not onl y among the youth. but
ami1ng the AMI rican peo ple themselves.
IT Is. 4 rough game, bit taking 4 ccount
2 oI8t ne large number Of people who play.
ACCOMPANYING hem for e3amp the
serious accidents and of fatalities is small
ne game isS SO stirring ut challenges
50 potently the y PLAY impulse sof young
appeals 80 stron to the
mas SO many elements OF military discip-
line and moral training 1t affords such a
+ Vol luminous vent for huge masses of su-
periluous feeling Y, and players and
seek and find an outlet in more dubious
els--there Is IL say, SO much to be
itdduced In favor Of the game that the
criticism which has Of late been hailed
found to be. II not hysterlcal and fren-s
zied, u at least sone-sided and unfair.
The game II is roug h, y but grougtness is
NO bad ordeal; leyenathe Scriptures 81 enjoino
tended with saccid dents SO Is every game.
so Is every form OF human activity and
every. form OF idle ness: Is the game nn-S
duly rough or Sun q dangerous? Then.
modification of the rules. In my own
judgment the two great est objee tons TO
football as now played are smuggling and
al her Intentional eyasions Tof the rules,
for the purpose Of veal ening opponents
and the commercialism which grows out
( Of gate receipt 8 and e the handling by
young men OF enormous sums Of oney
for athletic purpose 81 " 3, 5 5a Z,
"rhe these evils an pc remeai .aa
foul playing, not only dlsqualifying the.
offender but penalizin& his side: !, I, /.
FIJI some less obje ctionnb way Sis devised
81 supporting athle tics i. /. y,
.But what an imp ~ Wo otaa
IA q 81 all other ref ornls we're effected
1t la n { And see no on.why they
should Ana shon have ,kS e9 asa
sn,;Inp have been efrec ted in foot ball
the friends the n oWs, 9 q Mbe
HOY nan the experts to the objectionable
Sfea tires Of this branch OF at ietlcs