New-York tribune., 1909-12-26
INTEREST I'm FACTS
FOOTB1LL WEN TALK.
Praise Presentation of Acci-
dent Figures IN Tribune.

last week Of the real mortality of footpai
m the past season made a good many OF
those interested in the game and rs
reformation think seriously The facts VIII
be presented 70 the intercollegiate Athletic
Association. which meets here on Tuesday,
with a discussion OF the needs Of football
as one Of tts objects
William ~ Edwards the street Cleaning
Commissioner. a famous Princeton PLAYER.
praised The Tribune highly for its presenta
tio1 Of the figures as revised by careful
investigation. a fair statement Of tho
deaths actually due ~ football was badiy
needed" said Mr. Edwards. "and 7 am verv
glad N has been made " gives the foot
ball rules committee definite facts 20 work
on and should prevent hysterical attacks
on the game. which has been painted as
e % deal blacker than n Is.
ANY fatal accident. in anv form Of sport.
is. Of course. most TegTcttable But foot
bail Is no worse than many other games IN
the matter of injuries. and ~ Is TOO bad
that incorrect reports Of numerous fatat-
ties should receive such wide publicity.
Nov We know what happened. and state
ment Of the nature OF the accidents and
Of those who met with them will be Of
great aid i'm preparing proper legislation
70 minimize such danger in the future.
That IS what il wanted. Of course. and
knowing the truth is going 70 make II
easier 10 accomplish This purpose.
There was much comment on the num-
ber of fatalities I'm school games. particu-
IsrIy amoDg schools where the sport
could hardly he thoroughly organized.
You know" said one man. whose voice
will be heard when real action Is taken.
and who therefore did not care 20 be
quoted. ii is hard 10 understand why
there are not more fatal accidents in these
small high school games There is an alb
solute disregard Of the rules; in many
cases complete ignorance Of them II is
not fair 20 Judge the game by such play
eTs any more than n would be fair 70
Judge the operas OF Richard Wagner BY
their Interpretation BY a pianist who has
taken lessons for three months in the local
conservatory OF prairie town
Such schools contribute many Of the
fatalities. and IL is known 10 those of US
who study the question closely that their
system Of play bears no more relation 20
that in vogue in the high schools of New
York than the pianist's to the perform
ancss az Bayreuth Let us be reasonable
IN this discussion and seek 10 get at-the
truth That is what The Tribune did. and
I am glad Of IT,
James E. Sullivan. president of the ANA
teur Athletic Union and practically ths
only defender OF the game in the Board
OF Education when that body ruled against
the sport. said he had been delighted by
the appearance OF the corrected figures
I think The Tribune's article was the
best contribution made 10 the football dis
cussion.' said Mr.. Sullivan. 1T was care
ful and complete. and gave US the facts
Tor the first time ! was more than glad
20 see IT, and have brought il ~ the
attention of many members of the Board
of Education who had been misinformed
as 10 the number of fatal accidents
of course, even the number Of accidents
as reported in The Tribune is far too
great There is a distinct and Iamentable
element OF danger. II makes US stop and
think. and correct figures enable US TO
think 10 better purpose. Remedial meas
Tres should be taken. and will be
I think that there will continue 10 be
football in the schools here The board
simply resolved 70 forbid the game. under
the present rules. after January The
present rules will be revised before the
next football season. of course, and TO for
bid the game then new resolution would
have 20 be passed The question - in the
hands OF The principals now. and We shall
have game before long that rs better
suited 10 schoolboys Going az the problem
in a sane and Unssnsational manner IL
will be easy 70 find a solution
Some people want 10 make out that
football IS PLAYED by boys and Young men
of brutal instincts. That Is not 50. Of
course There Is no tendency among the
PLAYERS ] know 10 be vicious or brutal. and
l know. too, what has become OF good
many football players after they started
70 play the game Of life. Ny facts do not
agree at all with such attacks on the
PLAYERS
Walter Camp. of Yale. dean OF the foot
bail critics. said he was much Interested
in the facts of football perils This
following down of the cases" said he.
will be much appreciated by all lovers Of
the game. and shows unusual thorough
ness. I was eminentIy interested and glad
70 see the subject taken up in such detail"
Lieutenant Il NJ Nelly head coach az
West Point. expressed great interest in
the facts as disentangled from the reports.
and said that he would CaH them to the
attention of other members Of the football
edvisory board The fair presentation
OF the facts regarding the tragic death Of
Cadet Byrne. said Lieutenant Nelly.
pleased US greatly. The whole situation
was well summed up.
James j. Hogan the old Yale captaA
who is helping Bill Edwards 70 clean The
streets. said the figures OF The Tribune
agreed WITH his own knowledge OF false
reports a. To football injuries MANY
stories OF deaths attributed TO football are
wholly false said he. and others are
greatly exaggerated II Is an excellent thing
70 get az the real facts and determine with
accuracy the causes OF such fatal accidents