New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-05
CALLS GAME PROFESSION.
DR.. Buffers Football argument
appeals to Students Judgment.

statement from President Butler of Columbia,
giving the reasons for the abolition Of football at
that university. appeared in The Columbia Spec
tator' of yesterday, foretold exclusively in
The Tribune As The Tribune said, President
Butler ignores the roughness and brutality
of the game and deals with the ethical side
and the effect it has student life. The state
ment- which is addressed ITO the Alumni and Stu
dent Members of Columbia University" follows in
part:
ton, taken by unanimous vote, in putting an end
to the present game of football at Columbia Uni
state briefly why that action is in the best inter
Columbia University has no control, direct or
indirect, over the present game of football. II
played by our representatives. it must be played
in the form and manner prescribed by committee
which the chairman of our university committee
on athletics has appropriately described as sell
perpetuating irresponsible. impervous to public
creaslnGiy dangerous character OF me same. ne
game which this committee has devised and de-
mands prolonged training, complete absorption of
time and thought, and is inconsistent-ln practice
first duty of the college or university student IT
of the student body throughout the country it
has come to be academic nuisance because or
its interference with academic work and an aca,
demic danger because of the moral and physical
ills that follow in its train The large sums re-
ceived in gate money are temptation to eXtraN-
agant management. and the desire for them marks
terprise. The great public favor with Whlch even
the fiercest contests are received Is not a cause
We ourselves cannot reform this game and the
experience years has shown that the rules com
mfttee do not desire to reform it. Moreover, only
a few Of the evils of the game are seen on the
playing field. Those evils are many, subtle and
Controlling they affect every phase of college and
university life, and for some years past have
reached down even into the secondary schools.
They are moral and educational evils of the first
magnitude.
What next? do not know and cannot predict.
But 1 think that this much is certain II any
game called football takes the place OF the one we
have put behind US it will be game free from
the evils have pointed out one wholly acceptable
to authorized comnrttee and to our alumni
advisers and which representatives of Column
bia will have some share in controlling If abuses
develop in connection with it
It is not agreeable for men to feel obliged to
take action in obedience to the dictates of their
judgment and their conscience that brings disap-
potntment TO others, particularly when those dis
appointed to be found among their own stu
dents and daily associates Yet in the present in
stance duty plain, and 1 commend the
action of the constituted university authority to
the approval of every true Columbia man and
TO that of every lover of manly, decent
amateur sport. Sober reflection will conf
dent. bring tho most enthusiastic follower OF
football among US to see that the action taken is
the only course worthy of university with
reputation and authority and the only really ef-
feotfve way open the door to truly reformed,
instead of 2 tinkered, football: