New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-04
DR.. BUFFERS REASONS.
FOOTBALL SPIRIT BAD.
r4rguments Fail to Convince Sts-
dents Who Oppose 'fSocker.

The issue of THE Columbia Spectator whlch
appears to-day contains statement io'n -,
dent Butler which will he of great interest 10 '4'
students and alumni of that institution who are
seeking 10 have football restored to It's TOT nc
status at the university. The statement tahes s
CO.,, ~ q letter TO the Students and Alumni Oh
Coluubia University and gives President butiel
-,.sors for causing the adjustment of too'o'i'
there for it is generally understood that the &C
ton of the committee on student orsan'% @ e
taken IL, conformity with Instructions from III
Butler. .+e.
.r5 members of the football association OF the
university who have been working LOT d Ies'oi
NJ the game along the lines OF a nloulIS1h0ii -
tho rules and perhaps the adjustment OF the pres
,znt rules committee, it will be or sfeClal ln'et
observe that in his objections to the game Fresi-
dent Butler practically ignores the QueSuo!i %
brutality and the number of players injured etHei
lesftirately or through dirty work. The hope
of the football advocates has lain in the chahce
for revision of the rules BY his letter President
Butler practically puts quietus on their oeslIts
for he makes il evident that no mere change u
the playing rules viii alter his determination y
strikes deeper than the playing rules he SHOWS
that IL is no mere question OF five yards or ten
yards in four downs; question OF mass play y
-open play that actuates Columbia IN aooIlshiis
football but il the spirit that the game fosters
in the students that has led 70 the action Of the
university.
Dr. Buffers letter deals almost entirely with the
ethical side of the football question. He says that
the game has bred spirit of professionalism ahe
co!nercialism IN college sports that has pervadeo
The whole field of amateur athletics and bids falT
e encouraged to corrupt the student body In al
directions. When a game becomes profession y
IS time 10 abolish it. DR.. Butler -.olds MIeh
voupg men graduate IN football and return 70 thelr
universities TO hold salaried positions as teachers
of football: when it is not question Of the means
hut OF the end of winning by whatever amethous
NAV be necessary that victory IS achieNea t.le
tt IS time to abolish football says Dr. Butter. AM
+1,11 5nna
it is for these reasons that footoall mas soile
Columbia
The same issue Of THE Spectator that publishes
President Buffers letter will carry call for a
mass meeting of the student body tomorrow at
noon TO protest against the abolition Of the game
At Columbia and to try to devise some means Tor
.ts restoration. Despite the letter Of the pres
dent the meeting will in all probability De htlo'
but there IS little doubt that it will be other than
futile so far as the power of its protest is con
cerned one Of those most directly. concerned N
4be end of football at Columbia said when the stu
dents mass meeting was first talked OF:
7b,s 4 not sudden move on the part of Column
bia II is the result of long de6erati9n ana care
full thought We have abolsned 5ootoat IF
The university and the students Do you thlhk 5hdt
When VIE RaF looking ahead to the years come
and considering the broad question o. me i,t
of education in general not az CoiuInoa olS, 15
in all universities that we are gong . Ue ~
in decision by the hysle lcaI nor vet
learned to think in straight line! Ny dear ST.
the answer is oby1ou7
And this is the hope that is held forth for the
students mass meeting. At the same time ehe
university authorities still hope to be able to nave
..soler- heron7e the great American football game
Professor H. G. Lord, chairman of the university
committee on student organizations, went to the
game between Columbia and Cornell on Saturday
and came back much impressed with it and en-
.husiastic over its prospects 1t lacks the excite
rnent of personal collisions and the prospect OF
mortal INJURY he says, but it presents much more
interesting features as spectacle. There was
onIv a small number of spectators at the game
saturday but with the enthusiastic and shouting
crowds that throng the fields TO witness me pts
.nt STYLE Of games, he thinks that its POSSIBILITIES
are only limited to the capacity Of the arena.
The temper Of the students IS. however, al pres,
ent much against .'sOcker. They do not i1el
that they are willing to let any game take the
pIace Of the football that they have played ana
fheL are almost in the mood to come to open war
with the faculty the subject