The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-15
GAME ALMOST
 A CERTAINTY University Sends Auburn
 a Letter. UMPIRE QUESTION IS SOLVED To Be Selected by Central Board of
 Rules Committee. onls Point of Doubt Now |. the Date. ruscuIeo-a Offering Nov. '. or s.N After Thankssiving-
 Walker Referee.
 
UMPIRE QUESTION IS SOLVED

In letter forwarded to Thomas Bragg. graduate manager of athletics at Auburn, by Hill Ferguson and Jelks Cabtniss of Birmingham. representing the University of Alabama, the way seems to have been opened for arrang- these two colleges If this overture to the Orange and Blue brings the game. 1t will be played probably on Nov. 2. or between Thanksgiving and Dec. D.
 The. letter of the University alumni committee is part of correspondence e;xchangsd between the colleges since
 The Crimson and White make 1t known now. that they are willing to leave the selection of an umpire for the game to the General Board on of- ficials of the General Football Rules Committee Of the United States. Iaey aiso o are E wiling that Bradley Walker or Nashville. shall act as referee. They had already acceded to the proposi- ton Of each team carrying twenty-two men to Birmingham or bringing them will be waged, and the hotel allow
 The Auburn athletic authorities
 s3aS se noT Tss fro in ths hEsosR of s ceptance of the terms ofrered in a that unless there is a hitch on the date of the game, the Orange and Sue VIII be satisfied and will play ball.
 Letter of TuscaIoOsa.
 The letter forwarded to MT. Bragg
 Birmingham. Ala, Oct 12, 1908. Mir. Thos. Bragg. .Aubvrn, Ala:
 ;, Dear sir-We have decided to end the long-drawn- out negotiations with reference to the playing of the game between Alabama and Auburn during this season, and are accordingly pre- nATa6 pnr Ia ion as to the selection of an official, viz: Leave the matter in tho hands of the Central Board on, officials of the Gen United States. We feel that you have stand originally taken by you,. and Alabama halfway in this matter but as. the question seems to have been reduced to that point where the game and as %s bes%e h hst OE ths sot wesrc sf a of the sport In this section would be injured by failure to play, we have mands. If you have any other and further ones to make. kindly forward them at once, and we will give them stand the matter now. the following points are agreed upon.
 First--The umpire shall be chosen as above mentioned. according to your
 second-Mr. Bradley walker of Nashville shall act as referee. as per
 Third~Each team shall be permitted to bring twenty-two men and shall be allowed railroad fare and hotel bill while VI ia in s.r Birm.ingha,m at the rate of
 It seems that this leaves only the date in question. Will say that we to attemnt trsnsfer er 'c cancelsafion AJ S1 aS our game with the University of Geor- gia On Nov. 14. but that their atithori- ties would not hear to 1t, and we are cancellation contrary to their wishes. Accordingly, with us -Ne matter is re- duced to either Nov. 2. on, which day date following Thanksgiving week. and not later than Dec. 5. If you have an engagement for. Nov. ' and win forfeit. We have been given special authority by the faculty of the Uni- yersity to arrange for game after soluteiy necessary, with the under standing that this action would not be 2 precedent, but was taken merely in We trust that inasmuch as Alabama has acceded to every one or .--,'- de- mands. although feeling them to be allow the question of date to stand in the way, but will at least do that much towards the securing of the We are enclosing a letter addressed to the Central Board on Oficials of the National Rules Committee asking them to send us an umpire and re- quest that you fill in the date left blank and forward it at your earliest conve enience. Kindly let us hear from you as soon as practicable, and oblige.
 ~- s,---- Yours very truly, EHll Ferguson. Jelks Cabiniss.
 Original Proposal of Auburn. Auburn's proposal about selecting an umpire was originally to leave 1t to an unbiased committee. This committee would be composed of one man named by the University and one by Auburn. who would get together and select third member. All the committee l would be athletic coaches or authori- ties of institutions which are members of the S. I. A. A. The umpire was to be named by this committee, carefully | selected, whether he should hall from l the East or live in the South.
 It -seems that the University com- | mittee replied to this that they had expressed an Intention to withdraw | from the S. I. A. A, and that their 1 interests in all contests would be pre- judiced by leaving the question Of an | umpire to members of that association. | They were not willing to subject their system of play to the criticism of an oficial appointed by membeds of the S. I, A. A.
 TO this Auburn replied that the com l