New-York tribune., 1906-03-23
IN FAVOR OF FOOTBALL.
SCHOOLBOYS CAN PLAY.
Principals So Decide, bat Plan to
Control the Sport.

Football will be played by the boys IN the
high schools in New York and vicinity next
year. in spite OF all OF the opposition to the
game.
At a meeting in the rooms Of the Board OF
Education yesterday principals Of the leading
high schools and some OF the private schools
decided that It would not be advisable to aooIish
the game.
The meeting was. perhaps, the most repre-
sentative OF its kind when the private as well
as the public schools are taken into considera-
tion that has ever been held in this city. All
the schools in the country were invited TO take
mart in a conference that VIII be held by the
committee appointed yesterday TO devise rules
for an organization that VIII be national IN its
scope.
The following resolution was acted upon yes
terday:
That the secondary schools and the members
Of the Principals Athletic Council shOulo sus-
pend the game OF football Tor one year
The principals met behind closed doors. DT.
Luther Halsey Gulick reported on the findings
after the meeting was over. Among those pres
ent were Virgil Prettyman. Horace Mann High
school: DIT. John marlborough, the Boys High
school: John Holly Clark. Flushing High; DR..
J. C. cole Trinity High; Frederick Rollins
s-uyvesant High; J. C. McVickar, Montclair
Military Academy: Charles D. Larlkins, Manual
Training School: Dr. A z. Wilson, Hudson
River Academy: William VerOeck, St Johns
school. Nanlius; F. I. Lane Poly Prep; W. R
Marsh. Pingry High; Edgar Fauver. Horace
Mann: P NJ. TIlden. Erasmus High. and J. II
Denbeigh Morris High School
ersrited discussion arose when the resolution
WAS offered for the abolishment Of football next
year in the secondary schools On motion OF
Mr.. Marsh the question was put TO q vote and
the resolution was lost Only three votes In
favor OF the resolution were cast
After further talk II was decided to appoint
the following committee. with DR.. Gulick as
chairman 10 consider the best ways and means
for carrying on the game and other games dur
ing the year: Messrs. Prettyman. Marsh Gun
nisou. Larl.ins, Buchanan and Campbell
Dr GuIick said after the meeting that the
sense Of the gathering had been that the broad
est way was the preferable one IN dealing with
the question Of interscholastic athletics He saii
further:
This is the first meeting Of public and private
secondary school principals 70 consider football
ever held in this country. We are aiming TO put
all sports on higher plane We discussed the
question Of eligibility and the abOlishment Of
professional trainers in secondary schools. The
general sentiment OF the meeting was that foot
ball should not be abolished, partly because II
the boys cannot play for the schools they will
play outside for athletic clubs. and partly be-
there are many good elements IN the game that
should be retained.
There was no principal present who said that
he satisfied with present conditions, but
the dissatisfaction did not centre much about
the technical rules OF the game as Il did about
the dishonesty, incompetence or partiality OF
officials. the undue attention given to the
game AID the deliberate brutality often shown.
II was The unanimous opinion OF those present
that interscholastic football and other athletic
sports should be continued, but under the con-
trol OF the principals rather than the boys.
All present seemed 20 think that the financial
moral and physical questions involved are mani
festy beyond the capacity Of the average
secondary school boy. Football Will not be
abolished by the principals athletic council IN
less there Is a complete change Of sentiment
among those present.
The committee requests the forwarding Of
views OF the principals and head masters OF
secondary schools throughout the country upon
ali questions OF interscholastic athletics