Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-25
FOR CHANGE IN RULES
Sentiment Is Against the
Abolition of Foot Ball.
TESTIMONY OF EXPERTS
City's Position Shown at Meeting
Called by Commissioner.
DELEGATE TO RULES MEETING
No Legislation in District Until
After Intercollegiate Association
Convention Next Month.
DELEGATE TO RULES MEETING

Convention Next Month.
representative OF Washington ath-
letics will lay before the governing bodies
in foot ball matters the sentiment OF
Washington regarding foot ball. Thomas
Kirby, foot ball coach and newspaper
man was chosen unanimously by the
men. who met yesterday in Commissioner
Macfarland's office. and he will be envoy
extraordinary at the meetings OF the
foot ball rules committee and the inter-
collegiate association next month. Be-
fore leaving Washington Mr.. Kirby will
try to get from every sourcs the feeling
as to what should be done to foot ball.
This sentiment will be explained to the
fathers of the game at the rules commit
tee meetings, and at the intercollegiate
association meeting, and certain changes
will be asked for i'm the game.
Believes Changes Necessary.
DIR. w. s. Small of the Eastern High
School. one of the men present at yes
terday's meeting, was very much i'm ia
vor of impressng the intercollegiate as
ISOLATION with the fact that changes In
the rules are necessary in order to keep
foot ball in the high schools. He be-
lieVeS that the rules committee is bound
to ''old foot BALI by every tie of educa-
ton and tradition, and that Walter
Camp, the head and leader of foot ball
itself, as well as great force on the
rules committee, would he a hard man to
convince that certain of the changes de-
manded are necessary to preserve the
game. He pointed out that three years
ago, when the open game was made
possible by the rules, the rules commit
fnn n nt ft,n rhQ
intercollegiate association forced the is
sue. DR.. Small said he believed in ath-
letcs in the schools, with proper precau-
tions.
Several newspaper men present. who
have made the sporting world their field
of activity for many years. told Com
missioner mcfarland that they believed
Walter Camp and the rules committee
will be more than glad to receive the sug-
gestions from Washington.
None for Abolition.
The school and college officials at the
meeting yesterday made no definite sug-
gestion to abolish foot ball. Rather did
they seek some way by which the game
could be retained and fewer injuries re-
suit
The sporting writer's and foot ball
coaches were of the opinion that the
game has far too much good in IL to be
cast aside. Many suggestions were made
for changes in the formation of teams, In
the attack, in the defense. etc. Thomas
Kirby was first with the suggestion to
divide the game into thirds, thus having
three periods of play and two intermis-
sions instead of the two halves now In
vogue. Norborne Robinson newspaper
man expert in the game from the play
ers and writer's. standpoint, told the
Commissioner that although the crisis in
the gridiron situation had become
public issue. he did not believe the acts
of public officials would influence the
rules committee,
He was strongly In favor of sayoring
| the good that lies in foot ball. and sug-
gested that to the list of officials med
ical man be appointed to ascertain the
physical fitness of each player. This Of
fetal could have the absolute power to
remove exhausted player from the
game. Mr.. Robinson Is fully conversant
with the facts concerning the death OF
Archer Christian. having talked with men
on both the Virginia and Georgetown
teams. Christians head snapped against
the ground in a manner which he could
have prevented had he not been ex-
hausted, is Mr. Robinson's opinion.
Secretary Davis of George Washing
ton University had much the same idea
as Mr.. Robinson, but suggested that tho
medical referee be appointed by the Dis
trict authorities and i'm that way repre-
sent the authorities at the games. r. A.
Crafts of the G. w. L. foot ball team
backed up that suggestion. and also APP
proved the idea to have thirds in place OF
halves.
Deaths From Other Causes.
Thomas Rice. a sporting editor, said
that all the deaths credited to foot ball
were not strictly due to the game, as, for
instance, the death of a certain player
from blood poisoning after a scratch on
the leg. Mr.. Rice said that scratch
could have occurred to any one at any
time and that similar examples would
bring down the list of deaths to two
thirds of the number scheduled this year.
Furthermore, Mr.. Rice said, the elimina-
ton of tackling will not eliminate all the
danger from the game. and also that
without tackling there would be no game.
He mentioned soccer as a substitute for
the college game, but gave 1T scant praise.
saying that ii is dangerous. and the TACT
that the Pilgrim team now touring Amer
lea was forced to play with nine men out
most of the time. because of injuries To
the other players. proved II.
Coach Whiting of, the Eastern High
School. also condemned soccer with faint
praise.
Dr. Small made another suggestion at
this point. He said that it would he
wise to analyze each injury SO as TO find
out whether open foot ball or mass
play is responsible for the hurts, as this
years list of fatalities and accidents is
larger than even the former banner year
for accidents Immediately preceding the
adoption of open play.
Danger Always Present.
John. Gass of Lehigh, known as an ex-
pert referee, told the Commissioner that
no change in the game would eliminate
the danger. and said that the percentage
of accidents was low.
Other men who gave their views on the
game were William Peet, W. B. HUDSON.
II. l. McBain and Percival Hall.
Commissioner mcfarland said after the
conference:
Il shall suspend action looking toward
legislation either by the Commissioners
or Congress to restrict or abolish foot
ball in the District of Columbia until
after action is taken on the rules at the
meeting to be held i'm New York next
month, i'm view of the advice received
from the foot ball experts whom / In
vited to my Office for the purpose of get
ting their views. 1t is clear that there
is good prospect of getting the rules
so changed as to make the game safe.
and as the season is practically over
nothing is lost by waiting"
Virginia Educators in Session.