Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-21
DISCUSSES FOOTBALL
WITH THE PRESIDENT
PROF. WHITE OF U. OF P. is HIS
GUEST AT LUNCHEON
Mr.. Roosevelt Expresses Himself
Against Brutality in the Game and
Urges Greater Powers for Officials
and Severer Penalties

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 2O.-Dr. ].
William White, professor of surgery
of the University of Pennsylvania, and
a member of the university committee
of athletics, returned tonight from
Washington where he had been sum-
moned by President Roosevelt to dis
cuss matters relating to football. In
an interview tonight, Dr. White said:
"The president did me the honor of
asking me to lunch with him at the
White House today for the purpose
of discussing with him the situation
as to American football. An article
of mine published in last weeks Out
look was the occasion for the invita-
ton. AS to what took place during
my visit the president has permitted
Inc to say that we are in complete ac-
cord as to the need of permanent abol-
ishment Of brutality and foul play; of
the increase of the powers of the Off
cialS and of the severity of the pen
alties as necessary to bring about such
absolution; to the desirability of the
careful consideration of any changes
in the rules that may be required to
minimize danger while preserving the
essential, manly and vigorous charac-
terlstics of the game, and as to the ur-
gent need of earnest effort to secure
simple and uniform eligibility code
for all American colleges and uniVer-
stiles. The president said he emphati-
caly believes in continuing the game.
"The president added: Brutality
and foul play should receive the same
summary punishment given to a man
who cheats at cards, who strikes
foul blow in boxing. The umpire must
have the widest latitude in enforcing
this principle, even to the extent of or
dering not only individual players, but
whole teams off the field, and college
presidents should hold to the sharpest
accountability the umpire who permits
foul or brutal football in any game.
We want simple rules, not complicated
rules, because complicated rules offer
too many loopholes. The responsible
authorities of the several colleges
whose teams play together should have
what may be called q gentlemen's
agreement among themselves that
these rules shall be enforced in spirit
as we'll as in letter, each being held re-
sponsible for what goes on in his own
college and each seeing to the perma-
nent removal from the game not only
of the foul or brutal player, but of the
man who is not bona-fide student
and amateur. 1t would be a real mis-
fortune to lose so manly and vigorous
game as football and to avert such
possibility the college authorities in
each college should see to 1t that the
game in that college is clean
"He spoke more than once of the
desirability of continuing the game and
of extending to as many as possible
its advantages with the safeguard al
ready mentioned. He said that the
five or six leading colleges should get
together to agree to play one another
under such an agreement as he pre-
scribed. He also spoke of the far
greater relative danger of many other
sports and pastimes, some of which he
enumerated. He showed characters
tically keen interest in and thorough
acquaintance with the whole subject"