The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-01
CALLS FOOTBALL
A BRUTAL SHOW
PRESIDENT WALLACE OF MACAIr
ESTER rs SEVERE.
Declares Game Tends to Demoralize
Higher Education and Promote Gam
bling and that, Like Gladiatorial
Shows of Ancient Rome, It Is Sap
ping Moral and Intellectual Life Of
Colleges.

Present day football seems to have few,
if any, friends among the principals
Of the colleges and high schools of st.
Paul. DIR. James Wallace Of Manchester,
DR.. Humphrey Moynahan of st. Thomas,
G. f. Weitbrecht of the Mechanics Arts
high school and DR.. E. V. Robertson OF
the St. Paul Central high school see
the game.
In addition to expressing an adverse
opinion Of the game, they do not hest.
tate to blame the large universities OF
the country and presumably the Uni
versity Of Minnesota in particular, for
the evils which they assert have become
features Of the game. They maintain
that, as the universities have been the
leaders in the movement that has
brought about alleged brutality and
professionalism, they must also be the
leaders in movements for reform. A
lack of independence and sturdiness on
the part Of the colleges and high schools
is openly confessed, the men in question
saying that their schools have followed
the lead Of the universities and are
now powerless to take independent ac-
ton tending toward Improvement.
Dr. Wallace Severe.
| DR.. Wallace Of Manchester is by far
, the most severe in his criticism Of the
game, asserting that it is brutal, that
it tends to demoralize higher education,
that it tends to promote gambling ana
that, like the gladiatorial shows Of an
cient Rome, the game is sapping the
intellectual and moral life of the edu-
cational institutions of the country to
a degree that is appalling and peyond
would be better should the universities
60 into the open market in search OF
professional material, as do the national
baseball associations.
He says that the game reeks with
dishonesty, and, that like the athletlcs
of ancient Greece and Rome, it's evils
have become fragrant and deeply i'm
bedded in the commercial interests OF
form, but says that possibly reform as
ISOLATION by the distribution of itera
ture might accomplish some good. HI
fears, tho, that the universities have
! started movement they cannot stop
and says that the gate receipts are 81
large that it encourages gambling b,
gain. He suggests that professional
! coaches be done away with, that train
, ing tables be discontinued and tina
5 there be no early season training.
DR.. Moynahan Hopeful. !;
, DR.. Moynahan Of st. Thomas is les
} pessimistic and hopes to see a modifica
! ton Of the present game that will eli
!, inmate some of the Objectionable feat
; ures. He believes public opinion wi
demand and secure changes for the bet
8 ter, Professionalism and brutality ar
| in his opinion the chief evils of tn
5 game. He believes the colleges hav
$ imbibed some of the evils of universit
: football and that they will as quickl
!. adopt any reform measures. "Wit
open play and an approximation of tn
= associations rules, favor the retentio
81 of. the game, he says =y r.
Mr.. Weitbrecht of the Mechanics ArtI
believe the game is too strenuous fo
high school boys, who, as rule, are nc
sufficiently mature to withstand har
} play without danger of permanent il
jury. They believe that light team
! should not attempt to play teams out c
their own class in weight and age, an
that in such contests a handicappin
;, system should be adopted. They d
: not believe that high school football
g characterized by any special brutalit,
. but see objections in the interferenc
= with studies, and the tendency to gan
: bling presumably by the placing of bel
+ on their respective teams.
:, High School Football.
S High school football is. more undo
:, the control of the principals, who hav
IL IL the power to disbar players even whe
t. they have filled all requirements wit
o regard to age and work in school. tt
a principals also control the finances.
~ Professor Robertson sees the san
dangers of interference with work an
~ physical injury to immature boys. Z
. admits that no severe injuries have b
g fallen his students. who, he admits. hay
, = been well trained. He believes tn.
- high school teams should not be above
- to play with heavier college and unive
= sity teams Of greater weight and s
u perior strength. 49,.