New-York tribune., 1909-12-29
Work Through the Country
Increase in Influence of Association and Higher Eth-
cal Level Reached.

Southern team has given rise to much coni-
ment and feeling against the game as now
played. There is some talk of legislative
enactment against football In one ur two
or the Southern states.
Realizing that most of the serious ac-
cioents occur in games Where the rivalry IS
very intense and where young players are
Spurred on by an excited crowd OF Specta-
tors and thus urged to overexert them,
patriotism for their school. the Soithern
intercollegiate Athletic Association passtd
the following resolution:
Resolved. That the s. ]. A. A recon-
mend TO all colleges ana schools that no
student under the age of sixteen years De
permitted to take part In any lnterc9t.,.
,egfate o. intersch ola stiC game OF FOOTBALL
Professor A. A. Stagg, of Chicago. rep
resenting the fourth district. reported in
some detail as to the growth of the associ-
alton in his territory. He had this 10 say:
Your representative for the fourth district
desires to report some progress in the Sc
curing of members for the association. 1t
sity, metlber of the Western Contere nee,
has Joined the association. Five OF the
eight members composing the conference
are now enrolled in the association nciud-
ing the University of Minnesota, the Uni
versity of Iowa, Northwestern University.
Indiana University and the University OF
Chicago.
Your representative has made several ef-
forts to secure the membership of the
Illinois and Purdue University. Two OF
these have definitely expressed interest in
the association and its work, and believe
eventually will become members. L have
also made several efforts to enlist the IN
terest of the small colleges of Michigan,
Minnesota and Illinois in joining the asso-
citation, but so far as l know without
avail.
There has been a steady and definite
growth among the students, faculty and
public of the fourth district IN the develop
ment of the amateur spirit and of the inter-
Conference, which has now been in exist
ence for fourteen years, has never been
so strong ii is at the present. and there
is very harmonious spirit existing be-
tween it's members to develop and preserve
the best ideals IN all their intercollegiate
relations
The fourth district, which includes the
states of Ohio, Indiana Illinois, Michigan
and Wisconsin. is in pretty good shape as
regards the appreciation and understand
ing of the split of intercollegiate amateur
sport. The Western Conference, which was
established early in 1896. set the pace for
wise regulation of intercollegiate athletics
in the Middle West. The effect of the con-
ference regulations proved so GOOD that
other sections patterned after the confer
ence and adopted some of their regulations
entirely. and others in modified form.
The universities and colleges of ONO in
particular organized along similar lines
and for several years have been regulat-
ing and managing the intercollegiate ath-
letics of the leading colleges OF the state
in a most beneficial manner
Beyond the Mississippi the state uniVer-
stiles of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas. Nebraska
and the State Agricultural College at
Ames Iowa. along with Drake University
and Washington University, several years
ago organized the Missouri Valley Confer