The Washington times., 1909-11-15
.FOOTBALL'SF FUTURE
OPEN TO DISCUSSION
Washington Bodies Plan
ming to Give Question
Consideration.

The question Of the future Of football
viii be considered by the governing
bottles Of Georgs University,
George Washington University, and the
Washington high schools. This an
nol,ncement was made this morning by
the heads Of each Of these institutions,
and as a result football IS being put
under the heaviest fire it has ever sus-
tanned IN the District.
The accident on Georgetown Field
on Saturday" declared President
Charles w. Needham. OF George Wash
ington. this morning has added weight
TO other accidents this year, ana the
series will have a bearing on the deci-
sion the university council makes at its
midwinter meeting"
'"che only definite action We thought
il necessary to take at this time SAN
the Rev. oJseph Himmel president 81
Georgetown University was mat OF
canceling our games for the rest of the
ball has two sides, AMI is one TO be
given due elaboration. Before action
is taken the situation will be laid be
fore the faculty.
as a Coed Game"
Football is a good game" declared
Capt. James F. oyster. president OF
tie Board of Education, but these
accidents have laid the game open to
reasonable objection"
Before action has been taken by any
Of these institutions the COrOuer's
jury will have probed the circum-
stances Of the accident on George
town Field. At the same time Major
Sylvester is investigating the CHARGES
that policemen on Georgetown Field
were brutal, negligent. and rough IN
handling the injured player. The
o charge that the policemen refused 10
summon an ambulance when ordered
10 dc so by the Deputy Coroner. who
was one of &he physicians attending
Christian. viii be thoroughly probed,
Ma jor Sylvester says.
Officials al Georgetown are awaiting
definite word this afternoon OF the ar
raugements for the funeral of Chris
tian at Richmond tomorrow. Upon the
time il will be held viii depend whether
the Georgetown football men viii leave
here tonight or tomorrow morning Tor
the Virginia capital TO attend the ser
vices. All the men who played in the
same on Saturday VIII go in a body
and viii carry large floral tributes 10
place on the casket Of the dead man.
AT a meeting this morning by the
athletic association of the University or
Virginia il was decided to cancel the
oniT remaining game of this season,
which was 10 have been played on
Thanksgiving with the University OF
A telegram from Virginia by the
Georgetown manager who had wired
that Georgetown's dates had been can
Celled. reads.
preston of sympathy in our sudden be-
Tcavement and appreciate the spirit
shown in your having cancelled the re-
Isoaehes. players and other men in
Washington who are intimately con
norted with football are stunned by the
death IF young Christian.
An Of Year
speaking of the natter this morning.
one Of the nigh Government officials,
Who was greatly interested in the game
While in college, said:
cit is indeed Unfortunate that such
accidents have followed in quick sue
Cr>sion. Nor until this fall was a mem
bar IF "a truly representative college
team killed. but now we have three
Football is no rougher today than
il was a month or year ago, SIM IL
Is being steadily assailed..
CurOaer Ne-itt arranged 10 hold the
iIqucst al 3 - O'Clock.
Mater Sylvester has carried out his
promise 10 probe the Cfgrees against
tire police by bordering Captain iSchnei-
DEF, Of the seventh precinct. 10 make
tGorou-h Investigation Captain Schnei-
or sIeut the whole morning oI the
case dnd VIA probably report TO Major
Sylvester tomorrow.
That the Board of Education is serI-
OUsly cOnStderlnE the future Of football
IN Atltee LlEEHl eEttDnla NL LIit ltlSLI4EI. Was
brought 10 light this morning as an
aftermath OF the death of Archie Chris
Tian Saturday.
''These-sceidents have been happening
al season and the Individual case on
Georgetown Field viii not have any
great effect on our decision save that u
Is an addition 10 the list Of fatalities
brought about on the gridiron this sea-
son
Likes Athletics.
This is the summing up Of the situa-
ton 10 the high schools bv cant James
i. oyster. president Of the Board of Ed
ucation.
PERSONALLY. ] believe in athletics in
the high schools and / want every
branch Of clean sport represented there.
But my faith in football as il is now
being played is being shaken II Is a
good game. but should certainly be mod
lned. Whether that is possible by chang
ing the rules / am not enough OF a fOoI-
bali expert 70 say.
The direction Of high school athletics
Is directly under supervision of an ath-
letic committee made up Of principals
from the various high schools and their
recommendation would carry consider
able weight II the subject was brought
10 the attention of the Board or Ed
ucatiOn II IS possible that IL may be
given this attention at an early date
but / can not say for certain.
u am told by those who know the
game that the high school contests are
without a part OF the element of danger
that menaces the big college teams. our
teams are light