Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-18
George Washington University to
Take Definite Action.
HIGH SCHOOLS INVESTIGATING
Radical Changes In the College
Sport Demanded by Public
Opinion.


George Washington University will take
up the question for serious and definite
consideration at its February meeting.
Commissioner Mcfarland favors tho pas.
sage Of laws restricting the method of
play, and the authorities Of the Washing
ton high schools are looking carefully
into the question.
Public opinion has reached a point
where radical changes in the game. as at
present played in American schools and
colleges. must be made. This years game
is no worse than the game that has been
popular in America for more than twenty
years. Perhaps the accidents this season
will be more numerous than those Of any
one Of the past five seasons.
In the Spotlight.
But this year the accidents and fatali-
ties have occurred among the foot ball
teams Of institutions whose athletic per-
formances are watched by many people.
The first of note was that Of Midshipman
Wilson Of Annapolis. whose neck was
broken and who, even IL he lives. is prob
ably injured for life. A week after the
Wilson accident Cadet Byrne Of West
later Archer Christian of the University
OF Virginia received injuries at George
town that ended his life in a few hours
Thus the spotlight of publicity was
turned on the game at the two national
military schools and at the nations CAPT.
tai. where teams representing two Of
the leading southern colleges were play
ing.
Even devotees Of foot ball are begin.
ming to doubt the ACCESSIBILITY Of keeping
yet they are at a loss to suggest an ef-
fective remedy. Every foot ball player
knows that to eliminate danger from the
game tackling must be abolished. And
abolishing tackling from foot ball, IT Is
claimed. would be about the same as abol-
ishing fielding from base ball. As fielding
Is the only method Of preventing scoring
in base ball. SO tackling is the only
method OF preventing scoring in foot ball.
One Proposition Advanced.
One proposition has been advanced.
That is the addition to the list of ofiicials
of physician, whose duty 1t shall be
to disqualify at any period Of the game
and Immediately any player whose phys
ical powers are, In the opinion OF such
official. impaired, either through injury
or exhaustion.
The records show that most injuries to
foot ball players occur in the latter part
e or the game. at time when they are
Byrne and with Christian. 1t is claimed
that willis a man Is strong he protects
himself in falling. 1t is when he is too
weak to do this that he suffers from falls
which II they occurred early in the game
would not hurt him.
The foot ball rules committee will give
this and other suggestions careful con-
sideration at the regular winter meeting.
That the American Rugby game can be
cation Of the playing rules is claimed to
be an impossibility.
Action at g. w. q.
That the authorities of George Wash
ington will take definite action 10 a fore
gone conclusion. Several members OF the
faculty are opposed TO the game for rea-
sons other than its elements Of danger.
They think it interferes with the college
work. is used too much for advertising
purposes and does too much to promote
the anything to win spirit.
President Needham said today that he
would make public his views on the sub
ject within the next few days. when he
issues the call for the winter meeting of
the council.
AT present I can say nothing de-
clared. the head of George Washington
University, except that the council will
take the foot ball question up and pass
definitely upon II.
CONSERVATION Among the Students.
In the meantime CONSERVATION reigns
among the Georgetown University stu
dents. who have been cast into despair
by the ruling of the faculty. which prac-
tically abolishes foot ball from the list
of activities of the university. 1t was
expected that vigorous action would be
taken in order to insure radical revision
ever thought the legislation would be SO
sweeping.
The old gridiron warriors are much dis
appointed that they will lose the best
chance they have had in years to turn
out a champion team. Manager Fftz-
gerald of next years team has been
halted In the preparation of the most
pretentious schedule the school has at
tempted in some years. Already a tenta-
tive list of games has been considered
on which were mentioned such teams as
Princeton, the Navy. Holy Cross, North
Carolina, the Indians, Pennsylvania and
Virginia.
Ruling Of the Faculty.
The ruling of the faculty is to the effect
that until the rules Of foot ball have been
SO changed that the approximate possibility
Of injury has been eliminated no plans are
to be made by the students of Georgetown
for future competition In foot ball, either
with outside institutions or among the
students themselves. The faculty is to
Judge when the game may be again
played, and, since the members have ex-
pressed their intention Of seeing the game
tried out before rendering a decision, there
is little chance Of permission being given
to again take up the sport until after at
least a season Of games, under whatever
new rules may be made. has passed.
With the passage Of this measure Is ex-
pressed the hope that the students will
fnd a suitable substitute for the fall of
the year, and it is suggested that soccer
foot ball I'LL the place. providing a sched-
ule be arranged. This suggestion Is based
on the opinion that the popularity OF foot
ball is derived from the rivalry between
teams playing, and hence this same
rivalry could find expression In any con-
test between we'll known schools.
The stand of the faculty IL that foot ball
as now played is wrong, and hence until
1t has been 50 altered as to eliminate the
more dangerous elements they see no al
tentative but to abolish It. The influx Of
letters and kilograms ever since Satur-
days accident from parents who do not
wish their sons to play the game has had
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