The Washington herald., 1909-11-16
Special to The Washington Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Richmond, Va, Nov. I5.-With
two dead and a half dozen seri-
ously injured as Virginia's quota
to footballs costly toll this season,
a storm is brewing in Virginia
against football which threatens to
drive it from the State.
Talk is now rife in Richmond
that the next General Assembly Of
Virginia. which meets in January,
will enact legislation that will either
abolish the sport or place rigid re
strictions around its playing which
will relieve it Of its apparently dan
gerouS features.
Talk Of aboHshing the game IS loudest
IN Richmond. the capital of the State
This city had not recovered from its
grief and sorrow over the death OF
Archer Christian upon the Georgetown
field when the news was flashed over
the city that another Virginia lad. Wal
ter SURREY. had died from injuries re-
Ceived ON the gridiron. Then on al sides
the protest against the game grew In
volume. until 10 now threatens 10 bury H.
Speaker Byrd Protests.
The protest against the sport IS not
confined 10 the uninfueutial This is
shown bv the interview OF Speaker Rich
ard Evelyn Byrd. OF the Virginia house OF
delegates. one Of the most influential fig
ures in YIrginIa's legislative halls. and
the father Of Young Dick" Byrd. quarter
back on the Navy team. Mr.. Byrd said
some law should be passed 10 place re-
strictions around the game, but Just how
far this should go he could not determine
he said.
IT have been appalled, by the numerous
fatal accidents at football this season.
and 7 cannot think that any game In
which such disasters are so usual. can. IN
the long run. be Of any real benefit.
Many gallant and promising boys are
MANNED for life; others are killed out
right. II is heartbreaking 10 think Of the
anguish OF the parents OF these boys.
one OF my sons. Evelyn Byrd. Jr-, has
PLAYED on the Annapolis team, and I am.
OF course. uneasy about him whenever he
takes part In a game
1T does look a little inconsistent 10
have laws against prize fighting and
chicken fighting and not only permit. but
applaud. the game OF football as 10 is
now PLAYED Nv old friend, Dr. Powell,
used 20 have a bill abOlshing football,
which NJ always argued for very strong
d. II IS not easy 20 determine, however.
iu such matters. just how far legisla-
ton ought 20 go"
other Lawmakers Alarmed.
Mr.. Byrd is not alone among the Vir-
gInla legislators who thinks the game
should be modified Col. John $. Har-
wood. Of Richmond. another scion, had
son hu~t on the Richmond College
team. and he has a horror OF the game.
Delegate Throckmorton. OF Henrico. has
a son who formerly played football and
gave his family untold anxiety. 1t IS
these legislators who are alarmed over
the game as il is played now and who
will doubtless lend their influence 20
have the dangerous features Of the sport
abolished.
This cry against football recalls the
effort some years ago to abolish the
game Then an active fight was waged
against il in the Virginia legislature, but
# was defeated by Delegate Early. Of
Greene County. who was center on the
Virginia team when he was at the uni
versity
Whether The present storm this year
will be checked or blow over remains to
be seen. but at the present time, with two
young Virginians having died within two
DAYS from football injuries. IL looks as II
some determined effort will he made 10
place some restrictions around the game
as il Is played now.