The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-16

As an indication that the so-oalled
death knell' TO football ukase OF the
Harvard authorities Is not seriously re-
garded. Hatherly Foster. 07 was elected
yesterday at Cambridge captain or the
Harvard varsity football eleven. The
players undoubtedly will go ahead pre-
pairing for the coming football season just
as IL there had been no agitation or the
matter.
The overseers OF the university, whose
decisions I'm secret meeting were made
public. distinctly declare that there WIN
be no further participation IN inter- as
rules for the game, radically changing
It. have been formulated. and these rules
approved by the governing boards 81 tne
university. When everything said mas
been considered. IL Is obvious that if bru-
tality trickery and professionalism, ana
possibly commercialism, have been clint
mated. Harvard will again enter the lists,
or will at least have no excuse FOR not
trying to regain it's lost laurels on the
gridiron. The national rules committee
has been working on a new set or rules
for several weeks and will soon have
ready the results OF its labors. 1t Is pos,
sible that these rules may be repudlated
by the Harvard authorities, since. from
President Eliot down all have shown
decided antipathy to the committee as
at present constituted. apparently mold
ing many OF them responsible FOR the
degradation of the game.
Here is the announcement given out by
the board OF overseers the final ana
highest power at Harvard:
"At meeting OF the board OF over
seers at Harvard college In Boston. Jan
10 1905 IL was voted that the committee
on the regulation OF athletic sports be
requested to report TO this board what
bali. and until said report has been acted
upon and approved by the governing
boards, 10 permit no further games OF
intercollegiate football"
In addition 10 this a ub-committee Of
the board OF overseers, the committee on
physical training and athletic sports made
a report which Is I'm part:
Your committee considers the game OF
football as at present played essentlally
bad in every respect. The methods or
formation absolutely encourage trickery
versities play the game in this way II Is
bound TO have a bad effect on the school
boys. Thickness and foul plays are abb
solutely encouraged In many places. The
result is bad forAhe morals as we'll as for
the body.
'Is It not time for the larger and more
important universities, considering not
alone their own condition. but the bad
effects outside. TO stop IL? Your commit
tee is thoroughly convinced that I'm the
interest Of clean, fair minded sport,
complete change is necessary-either to-
adopt a different kind of football game,
or else so 10 change the existing one as
to make 1t radically different
mittee believes that no man now mem
ber OF the so-called intercollegiate rules
committee should have n hand In II. be-
lieving that they are so far committed
20 the present system that they could
not agree TO such changes as are abso-
lutely necessary TO produce decent,
clean. pleasurable contest. instead OF the
present apology for rough and tumble
fight.
Football is a fine game when prop
erly played but the present method is
thoroughly bad and ought TO be stopped
absolutely and finally. Any university
taking this action will later be considered
as a benafactor by many players and by
all lovers of healthful. clean sport and
fair play There is no desire to criticise
any especial set OF players. All seem
more or less to blame. IL is the system
that is wrong
REID WON'T TALK.
w. T. Reid. Jr, Harvard's representa-
tive on the new rules committee, re-
fused to discuss the action OF the board
Of overseers. DIR. F. H. Nichols. the man
I'm Harvard football OF the greatest i'm
fuence next to Reid, said:
Il cannot speak for the overseers, but
from my own knowledge OF the game. |
think the rules can be changed to make
them answer the demands OF an improved
game
Foster the new captain. in his fresh
man year was on his class football. base
ball and hockey teams. He played half
back on last years team. He Is from
Brookline. and prepared for college at the
Hacklcy school at Tarrytown.