Evening journal., 1905-02-25
EDITORIAL OPINION
TIekets . the Army Navy eams.

From the Baltimore sun.
The annual game Of football between
the midshipmen and the West Pointers
seems to be regarded by the athletic as
soclations Of the two branches Of the SER
vice as permanent AFFAIR and they are
now considering the future policy and
conduct of these interesting events The
detail IN the arrangements which seems
TO give the management most trouble is
the disposition of the tickets OF admis-
! sion, and the suggestion is now made that
the trouble be ended by selling them in
stead Of By giving them away, as hereto
fore. Commander w. +. Halsey, Secretary
of the Naval Association, has sent to the
members a circular asking for a postal
card vote for or against the plan OF sell
ing tickets The game, as all know, has In
late years taken place IN the athletic field
Of the University OF Pennsylvania, IN
Philadelphia. For the use of the field the
University receives one-third Of the tick
cts 6li7, and the army and navy each
the same number. AT first all were compli-
mentary, and the demand for them has
been 50 great that 1t was found impos-
sible to crafty even a large proportion Of
it. In 1908 the University, finding II i'm
possible TO give satisfaction in the free
distribution Of its allotment, determined
20 sell its tickets and TO devote the net
receipts to charities of the army and
navy. This plan has worked so satisfactor-
lily that the two service associations seems
TO be in favor Of adopting It. Their annoy
ance has, indeed, been greater than that
l MI Na
perienced, because the politicians come
down upon them Members of Congress
have made extravagant demands for tick
cts, and because they could not be graft
fed, have threatened to hold up the game,
and ii has been feared that they would
vote against the Naval bill
The difficulty has been increased by the
growth IN the number of midshipmen who
have to be supplied with tickets, leaving
only small number for distribution
among the members OF the athletic asso-
citation who supply the money to conduct
the games. Another plan suggested, but
not urged by Commander Halsey, is to
provide an athletic field upon some Gov
| ernment reservation Ia the vicinity Of
Philadelphia, the midway point between
the TWO academies charge admission to
the first game 20 raise money to erect
grandstauds and necessary buildings. and
after that to divide 10000 tickets between
the army and navy for free distribution
among invited guests. In some respects
1t would be much more desirable to have
the games alternately at West Point and
Annapolis. One object Of the game is to
promote feeling OF comradeship between
the officers of the two branches Of the SER
vice, and this could be done better If the
members of the two schools could occupy
the place of hosts and guests. But this is
perhaps impracticable because Of the lack
Of facilities at Annapolis and West Point
for accommodating the vast crowds that
gather TO witness the games, which are
not only most interesting as games, but
as social gatherings. The annual report
Of Commander Halsey complains that the
conditions growing out of demands for
tickets of admission are intolerable. The
public can well understand how this is so,
and can sympathize with his desire to
mend them.