Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-28
COLLEGES ASKED TO join

Their Observation-Disclosures Propos-
cd Plan to Be Tried-Some Of the
Changes Suggested.
Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. 27-Seizing
on the present wave of bitterness
sweeping over the country as a result
of the long and appalling list of deaths
and accidents on the gridiron Saturday
to bring about radical changes in the
rules governing foot ball, the Univers-
ity Of Pennsylvania has proclaimed it.
self leader in the fight for purer foot
ball, and addressed invitations to every
college and school In the United States
to join forces with. it.
The university claims to be acting
on the request of President Roosevelt
and the rules, "a gentleman's code of
honor" the university calls them, which
it proposes are declared to have been
suggested personally by the president
in conference with Professor White, a
member Of the athletic committee Of
the Pennsylvania university.
There Is nothing particularly sensa-
tional or new in the "code of honor
the rules embracing practically the
same idea as the present intercollegiate
rules as regards the amateur standing
and the scholastic attainment of con-
testants. The idea here Is to make the
obedience to these rules more of mat
ter Of honor among the colleges and
to emphasize the fragrant offense of
winking at them.
Sensation in Proposed Penalties.
Real sensation, however, is found
a-plenty in the punishment suggested
for violators of the rules against
roughness Of play. This punishment
which Is said to have been suggested
by the president, if decided on by the
schools and colleges would completely
revolutionize the foot ball game.
The most important feature of the
punishment proposed is that any play
er found smuggling or heeling OF elbow
ing or piling up will be ruled out of
the team, as provided for by the pre-
sent rules, and that his team will not
be permitted to play another man In
his stead. This consequently, would
leave the team playing with but ten
men. Another feature Is that any
player who shall be penalized for
roughness twice in one season shall be
disqualified for further intercollegiate
competition for the remainder of the
year.
The action by the University Of
Pennsylvania was taken after num-
Der of meetings of the university COM
mittee on athletics Of the University of
Pennsylvania, at which President
Roosevelt's thoughts on the subject
were discussed. The committee formu-
lated rules which it thought would
meet the situation and decided to send
them to the authorities of all educat-
ional institutions in the country for
consideration and adoption If they met
with approval.
Full Text Of the Letter.
The letter is as follows: president
Roosevelt in a recent interview with a
member OF this committee, Professor
White, expressed his opinion as to the
urgent need of an earnest and concert-
ed effort to secure simplicity and uni
forlnity in the eligibility rules Of the
colleges and universities Of this coun-
try"
II Professor Hollis of Harvard has ex-
pressed the same thought. In his opin.
ion the backbone of college regulation
Of athletics rests in three rules
II. A definition Of professionalism.
'2. "A rule which should require all
members Of athletic teams to be gen.
uine students Of the college which they
represent and to be satisfactory in
their studies.
"s. A rule to prevent the procure
ment Of good players from other col
leges by social or money inducements
1.-THE university committee on ath-
letics Of the University Of Pennsyl-
vania in an endeavor to cover these
points and to provide code which will
meet all the desired requirements with
tforoughness and at the same time
with brevtty and clearness has formu-
lated the inclosed rules ard will advo-
cate their adoption not only by their
own institution but by the others
whom they may meet in athletic COM
petition.