New-York tribune., 1905-12-29
REFORM, NOT RADICAL.
FOOTB1LL THRASHED OUT
Delegates from Fsfty-eight Colleges
Name Nezo Rules Committee.

Name Nesc RasLeS Committee.
The first meeting of the national conference
of universities and colleges was held at the
Murray Hill Hotel yesterday. It was called as a
result OF the conference of twelve colleges and
universities held the early part Of this month
to devise means for reforming the game of foot
ball. Delegates from f1fty-eight colleges and
universities were present, and all parts of the
country were represented, from California to
Maine. Although many of the delegates were
from the smaller colleges the wide sections
which they represented made the meeting ma
tional in its character.
Yale, Harvard Pennsylvania, Princeton, Cor
nell, Chicago Northwestern, Iowa. Illinois, Mich
igan and other big colleges did not send dele
gates, but it evident from letters read at
the meeting that many of these We're at least
in sympathy with the movement. Among the
larger colleges represented were Columbia, Min
nesota. West Point. Amherst, Williams and
Bucknell There were thirteen college presi-
dents and chancellors at the meeting.
Captain Palmer E. Pierce expressed the gen
eral sentiment Of the meeting when he said
We want reform in football. not revolution"
There sprinkling Of revolutionists among
the delegates. but by far the greater number
favored reforming the game. and not abolish
ing it
After an all-day session a committee of seven,
one each from each section Of the country. rep
resented, was appointed to serve rules COM
mittee. It was instructed to confer with the
present football rules committee. and. if posi-
ble to amalgamate with that committee to the
end that the rules be uniform.
The men selected to act this committee
and the sections Of the country which they rep
resent follow: New England. E. K. Hall, Dart
mouth College; alternate, DR.. P. c. Phillips
Amherst College New-YorE. Lieutenant DAILY.
West Point; alternate. Mr.. Huntington. Colgate
University Middle States, DR.. F. A Babbitt,
Haverford College; alternate. F. H Dodge, Rut-
gers College. Middle West. except Ohio. DR.,
H. L. Williams University of Minnesota; al
ternate. H. W. Donovan. Ohio Professor O. n.
Savage, Oberlin College; alternate, Professor
Fred Stone, Miami College. West Professor
James T. Lees. University of Nebraska: alter
nate John B. Eheley University Of Colorado.
South, F. H. Curtis. University of Texas: al
ternate, w. l.. Burt. Kentucky State University.
1t was decided to effect a permanent organizs-
ton. and the following officers. who. with four
others will make up an executive committee,
were elected:
President Captain P E. Pierce West Point;
vice-president, H D. Wild, Williams; secretary.
Professor Louis Bevier. Rutgers. and President
Welch, Ohio Wesleyan; W. H. Dudly, Wander
bilt University, and Chancellor Frank Strong,
University of Kansas.
The Middle West, except Ohio, will send in
the name Of its representative later.
After a long and at times heated discussion
the meeting adopted the following resolutions;
Whereas. The game of football as practised
under existing rules by the students of the
educational institutions in the United states mas
developed undesirable features the regularly
accredited representatives of the faculties or
the collegiate institutions from all sections OF
In anti
Murray Hill Hotel, New-York City, December
2S 1905 in effort to remove these obJec-
tionaI phases of the sport. hereby resolve:
That this conference recommends that the
academic authorities of the colleges and uni
versities Of this country nold Lne,1sstveS 6S
ultimately responsible for the conduct OF ath-
letics within their respective institutions.
Resolved, That the committee on reSoIutlons s
recommends that the executive committee OF
the permanent organization now to be ap-
nointed take cognizance among other things
Of the vital questions Of eligibility of students
10 take mart in athletic games and sports and
report at as early time as practicable 10
themselves on rules and recommendations for
the conduct of all such matters.
Resolved That the action taken at this con-
terence on football shall be submitted to all
colleges actively engaged IN the game with the
request that same be ratified, and shall be
binding on any institution only upon ratffca-
ton by that institution.
Resolved That a football rules committee of
seven members shall be elected by the members
of this conference. and that this committee be
directed to act a. follows:
-
Princeton Harvard. Pennsylvania, Cornell An
nanolis and Chicago University, who constitute
the committee that has formerly governed foot
baII and propose that the committees be ANAL
samated into one, which shall formulate rules
Under which football shall be played.
second-If this amagamation is refused, then
the above named committee of seven shall pro-
ceed to formulate rules under which football
shall be played by the institutions ratifying the
ae1lpi, rpirdITbat u the seven members elected by
this conference shall be guided In their action
90 as to secure the following:
(a) An open game.
Ih1 elimination of rough and brutal playing
fc) Efficient enforcement of rules; making
the r1les definite and precise in all respects
tuch as the definition of brutal playing. holding,
tripping and in general, all infringement of the
1Iles for which penalties are given.
1d1 Organization Of a permanent body of off,
cias.
It was a signal victory for West Point. as
these resolutions with few minor changes,
we're the same as those drafted by the Army