The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-11-12
RELIGIOUS PAPER
FAVORS FOOTBALL
Writer points out some Of the good
Things Derived From Game
and Training.

The Christian Union, religious
paper published at Des Moines CON
tains the following little sermon in
favor of football which is Interesting
reading matter, especially to those
who look upon the game as menace
to the youth of the country:
The writer is not a great football
enthusiast. Neither do we condemn
the game wholesale. At least two
have died from injuries in last Satur-
days games. This is sad. Death is
always sad. Shall we condemn the
game wholesale on account Of the
danger? Before we do that let us
stop and think a minute. There were
perhaps 1000 games played in the
United States last Saturday, in which
probably one hundred thousand men
took part. according to Coach Griffith.
Let 100000 people engage in any form
of amusement for two hours such as
auto riding and the fatalities would
likely be greater Even baseball
would likely cost as great sacrifice.
or course there is some danger in
football. Danger besets the pathway
of mankind. A man was walking
alongside of new building in Des
Moines the other day when another
man fell from the top of the bui' ding
upon him, killing him almost instant.
~. Another man was crossing the
street when a street car struck him
and he died. So it is every day
There is but step between man and
death. Every advance step the world
takes is at the price of blood. Elimi-
nate danger from any form of labor
or amusement and you take awaJ its
attraction. More people have been
killed this year by airships and flying
machines than football. yet no one is
ready to condemn progress in this
line.
Five years ago We began to take
slight interest in football. In these
five years great progress has been
made. The game is much cleaner
now than even five years ago More
people are engaged in it, and there
are fewer fatalities. In spite of this,
however, if there were no advantages
in the game other than amusement il
would have to go and that speedily if
we could bring about It's exit But
there are advantages in the game and
the training that accompanies it that
make a thoughtful person go slow in
condemning it. We will enumerate
two or three of these, advantages that
appeal to us.
Coach Griffith has seventy-five men
in training at Drake University.
These men cannot use a drop OF
liquor and who knows but that this
total abstinence training will save
some one from drunkard's grave.
No one is allowed to use tobacco or
cigarettes while in training, and to
have seventy-fve strong young men
entirely free from the use of tobacco
is worth while. Every man is taught
to play the game square regardless OF
what the opposing team does and this
discipline is not to be underestimate
If any game ever gotten up teaches a
iSetii W 10y = SOiilpiCtC llldSIcT UiIn-
self and at the same time be alert to
all that is going on football is that
game. Another thing, Coa.h Griffith
prohibits swearing entirely and places
a premium on purity of character.
Think of seventy-five young men Ia
Drake University alone taking such
course of training! Then, before en-
tering game every man must E5 ex-
amined by physician No man G.,
the team is allowed to keep late
hours. It matters not what is doing,
a banquet mass meeting or what
not, each man must at an early
hour excuse himself and 60 to his
room and retire for the night. With a
coach like Mr. Griffith, d great stron,
manly Christian character. one who
not only commands but leads his men.
stern as Judge, yet as kind and ten
der as father, true to his University, |
but absolutely loyal to the Great
Teacher one who knows the real
facts in the case not only congratu-
lates Drake University on her snlen- i