The Washington times., 1909-11-01
Yost Tells of Investigating
Comparative Value and
Dement'S of Game.
PLAYERS TESTIFY
IN SPORTS FAVOR
Those Benefited, 32S; Those
Harmed, SchoolmaSterS
Also Advocates.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

Football. its advantages and its
dangers, has long furnished a theme for
argument IN American schools, and a
widely discussed topic with the public
at large, but seldom has a systematic
attempt been made to get definite statis-
tics for either side.
As a rule the loudest element in the
discussion has been that opposed TO the
game. and football supporters have
been on the defensive. Waiting tactics
have almost invariably resulted in favor
Of the sport, its enemies soon having
their thoughts diverted to some new
thing which gave them a chance 10
bulge TO the front
One of the few efforts to get at the
real truth Of the matter was made a
few years ago, and is related in Foot
bah for Player and Spectator which
was published IN September, 1895, by
Fielding H Yost, the famous Uni
versity of Michigan coach Yost relates
how the discussion caused a prominent
Bostonian TO ask the Harvard board
OF overseers for an investigation Facts
only were solicited, regardless OF con-
sequences to fOtball, and the data was
by no means solicited as a defense or
plea for the sport. Speaking OF the
result Yost says in his book:
Competent Investigators.
Mr.. Robert Bacon. (afterward Assist
tant Secretary of State Of the board
TO whom the matter was referred, came
TO New Haven and solicited successfully
the services of Mr.. Walter Camp, the
best-known authority on the game. and
a veteran player himself. to act as the
Chairman Of a committee which should
thoroughly investigate the matter. Mr..
camp accepted and, with the assistance
OF Rev. Joseph Twitcheu. of Hartford,
Conn, a member Of the Yale corpora
ton; Rev. EndicOtt Peabody OF Gro
ton School, Massachusetts James w.
Alexander, Of Princeton, and Hon. Hem
~ L. Rowland, of New York Messrs-
Camp and Bacon took up the work Of
amassing the facts.
"A thorough canvass was made or
the veteran football players OF Harvard,
Yale, and Princeton, and a mass or tes-
timOny was secured from team cap
tains, college authorities preparatory
school masters and the result was a
most complete array OF data, proving
beyond a doubt that football Is a game
in which the benedcent effects far out
number the possible drawbacks.
Without going into the detail which
IS presented in such a wealth Of array
IN Mr.. Camps Facts and Figures a
work which finds its subJect-matter IN
the results of the investigation, the
committees findings may Well be sum
married. in a few paragraphs OF their
report which includes the following:
Merits Many; Dement'S Few.
I've fnd that the almost unanimous
opinion Of those who have played the
game of football at Harvard, Yale, or
Princeton during the last eighteen years
is that it has been Of marked benefit 10
them, both IN the way Of general de-
velopment and mental discipline; also
that they regard the injuries sustained
as generally unimpOrtant and FAR out
weighed by the benefits. Stil further
similar inquiries sent out 10 the play
ers of the majority Of college teams
have brought back the same unVarylng
replies. testifyiug that the game was Of
great benent 10 the player, both men
tally and physically.
/" While it was fair to conclude that
men VINO had been out Of college all
the way from two OF three years 70 six
teen or seventeen would be fully COM
potent 10 judge OF the effects Of the
game upon themselves, ii seemed that
something more would be necessary in
the case OF the schO0lbOy who had not
yet entered college. For this reason our
inquiries were made not only of the boy
himself. but OF the teacher as well The
head masters also of most Of the, prom
inent schools were courteous enough 10
reply quite at length 20 our request for
an expression Of opinion. we md that
the evidence here too, is that. IN the
majority Of eases. the sport has been
beneficial 10 the physical development
and discipline or the school and that the
consensus OF opinion is that scholarship
has certainly not suffered
Summary Of Statistics.
The summarized statistics collected
by the committee from the Harvard.
Yale, and Princeton students IS as fol-
lows
Number Of men who considered
themselves benefited, a2s: number of
men who considered themselves in jured.
81 number Of men who failed to reply.
= number Of men who considered II had
no effect j.
Substantially the same ratio applied
10 the same questions. asked in refer
ence 70 the effect OF the game on the
players mental equipment"
ATHLETIC NEWCOMER.
Another school has earned a place on
the District scholastic man A4h1aFF-s