Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-21
President Roosevelt Would
Treat Football Sluggers
Like Card Cheaters
WANTS PLAYERS PROTECTED
Suggestion Made That Players 30
Put Upon Their Honor Not to Use
Brutal Tactics and Those Who vio-
late Agreement to Be Severely Pun.
! ished.

Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. 31.--Dr. j.
the University Of Pennsylvania and a
member Of the university committee
on athletics, returned last night from
Washington, where he had been sum-
moned by President Roosevelt to dis
cuss matters relating to foot ball.
THE president, said DIR. White In
an interview last night, did me the
honor asking me to lunch with him at
the white house yesterday for the pur-
pose Of discussing with him the situa-
ton as to American foot ball An ar
ticle Of mine published in last
weeks Outlook was the occasion OF
the Invitation.
AS to what took place during my
visit, the president has permitted to
say that we are in complete accord as
to the need of the permanent abolition
Of brutality and foul play, Of the in
crease OF the powers of the officials
and of the severity Of the penalties as
0SAAit5 bSSSGcbAy W OAAhks tuLVut o0S4A
abolition, as to the desirability OF
careful consideration of any changes
In the rules that may be required to
minimize danger while preserving the
essential, manly and vigorous charac-
teristics Of the game. and as to the
urgent need OF earnest effort to secure
simple and uniform eligibility code
for all American colleges and univers-
tiles. The president said he emphat-
ically believes in continuing the game.
Says Brutality Must Go.
"The president added: Brutality
and foul play should receive the same
summary punishment given to man
who cheats at cards or who strikes a
foul blow in boxing. The umpire must
have the widest latitude in enforcing
this principle, even to the extent Of or
dering not only the individual players
but whole teams Off the field. and col
lege presidents should hold to the
sharpest accountability the umpire
who permits foul or brutal foot ball
in any game, We want simple rules,
not complicated rules, because compli-
Gated rules offer too many loopholes.
The responsible authorities Of the sew
eral colleges whose teams play togeth'
er should have what may be called !
gentlemen's agreement among them
selves that these rules shah be enforc-
ed in spirit as well as in letter. each
being held responsible for what goes
on in his own college and each seeing
to the permanent removal from the
game not only Of the foul or brutal
player, but of the man who is not a
bona fide student and amateur.
est would be real misfortune said
the president in conclusion, to lose 50
manly and vigorous q game as foot
ball. and to avert such possibility the
college authorities in each college
should see to 1t that the game in that
college is clean
Explains Previous Conference.
"The president explained to me the
selection of the institutions that came
to the conference at the white house
last month by saying: I was asked
to call II by representatives Of Harv-
ard, Yale and Princeton, and called It
accordingly. II Pennsylvania, Column
bia and Cornell representatives had
happened to make the suggestion, then
only those three colleges would have
been asked
"He spoke more than once Of the
desirability Of continuing the game.
and Of extending to as many as pos
sible It's advantages with the safe
guards already mentioned. He said
that the five or six leading colleges
should get together and agree to play
one another under such an agreement
as he prescribed.
"He also spoke Of the far greater
relative danger of many other sports
and pastimes. some Of which he enum-
Grated. He showed Enthusiastically
keen interest in and thorough acQuain-
$3.50. ,,,+l, +ha r,hnla q,Ihiect"