New-York tribune., 1909-12-19

ReepeCtfr,fI,r Nt--'@ A"A~'
JOHN II. NEFF. Jr
Dr. Alderman's statement follows:
Organized athletics have brought into
80 ieaH al Solese lite distinct elements OF
sou aiau distinct elements of evil. Foot
pall, as the intensest form OF organized
atnletcs, has brought it's special group OF
sDpd things and of objectona ne things.
~ neh the total is summed up. however,
,telleNe that the sum of the good brought
ana moral sides exceeds the sum OF evil
a boy cannot play football successfully
Nttileut VIZ out tne use OF such virtues courage.
Seil-oenlal, Selt-reStraint, resoluteness na-
tience, well ordered attention loyalty 10 a
cause, distinct form of patriotic un-
me discipline that develops them Is NOT a
olsclpnne 10 be quickly condemned. IL is
not clsined 1hat these qualities are de-
neioPsq solely by football Such claim
would be absurd. Furthermore. there have
grown out OF the game a certain solidarity
SEmpathy aud manly relation i'm college
nte which no other agency has developed.
10 other device developed by student life
has ever been 80 potential in protecting
young men against the SINS ~ the bodV
ana IN establishing ideals Of bodily clean
ness There Is that quality in American
exercise of skill and daring and pluck
1heT will not be content with any other
sort OF game. The trouble with the game
OF football is that the risk of life Inherent
N II IS inordinate. IL IS true that men are
injured and killed in hunting, rowing. rid
mountains and in many forms OF sport.
Iootbail. however. is differentiated from
thsse forms of sport by the fact that in
ordinate risks and danger to life exist I'm
ne Tules OF the game. These rules are
deliberately planned and maintained and
scientifically carried out. ID NAV be said
mat many OF these serious injuries result
ing from the playing Of the game are in
other sports mentioned the deaths and
hurts are really accidental. II is perfectly
and concerted action should he taken to Re
move the inordinate risks 10 life involved
IN this great sport. There exists an inter-
ceuegiate athletic committee. with repre-
Sentatives from many of the great tol-
leges. whose function II is 70 study the
EaIne, TO the end that IL may constantly
nittee has not been Idle, and IL is COM
posed OF able fat-seeing and thoughtful
men who are Influenced by high motives,
hut u Is clear that this committee has not
struck al the root of the trouble. The
hour has come for this COMMITTEES 70 act
IN a thefousheoiag way IN the dlrecuon
OF changing the inherent flerce1ess OF the
dehnite change TO be made. but ! do in
sist that the presidents and faculties OF the
American colleges should say to this COM
nlttee in no uncertain tone that IL shall
find and remove the elements Of .nOrdinate
danger I'M this great sport. 80 fascinating
to youths sad TO the American public. The
American public itself should likewise take
2 stand in ti,is matter. and in 4 deter
mined way require Of this committee that
il be not content until il nas solved the
problem of making impossible, save by
accident. the tragedy Of death. The punhe
EaS a greater responsibility IMAM u Is
aware Of IN this matter, and II must share
the responsibility with colleges and with
The committee having IN hand ne cohtfol
OF the game. The great popularity q lne
game is due to the interest il has for thou
sands Of our people, and 1t will neVer ne
changed as il should be, despite the desire
OF the intercollegiate committee on rules,
until the temper of the Deopie. rs well as
the teD1per of college authorities. demands
such change. and demands il immediately.
I do not desire to see taken out OF college
life the interest and discipline that spring
ri
football but J do believe and declare that
the peril Of death and injury inherent IN
the strategy Of this game should I've ellml-
mated promptly, or the American game
70 the Sporting Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Frank Trimbles death was IN no
way connected with football nor with any
other form OF athletics tight qress shSe ,'e
infected and led TO blood poisoning He
was not ia any game this year.
II is my view that no game is worth the
game Of o footba odnH may be save saved but It
must be saved by changes which Viii do
away WIN -''S- - ~ v. L. BRYAN.
President University OF Irdiana-
Bloomington. Ind. Dec. 3, 1909.
To the Sporting Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Your request Tor Information with
respect to the death Of Ray Graham re-
ceiTed.
The young mans death cannot be at
tTlbuted justly TO footoall as ne Nas Iiqt ~
was due TO rivalry between two schools or
two sections of the Town, and the result
might have been the same had the game
been tiddlyNnks instead OF football
This town is divided 10y the Cedar River
and there has always been strong eompeti-
ton between the two sides. There are two
iudepeudent school districts and two high
schools. The two schools met r5ne In 2 to9da 43a
game a West side youngster put West
High pennant up on a flag pole; an East
Side boy climbed the pole, tore down the
flag and put up his own. The West Side
DUPLICATED the feat and then stood round
the base of the pole 10 defend their coiors.
An East Side crowd. headed by large poy
named Fred Lucas, rusneq me pore, ana as
thev closed with the West Siders Lucas
struck Graham, who was smaller boy.
in the face. knocking him down Graham
was able to walk home, but died next day.
Neither Of the boys concerned was q pupil
in either high school. The game itself was
q splendid exhibition of clean sport, and
had q policeman been on hand TO suppress
a few rowdIes there would hove been no
i Would like to see the game made more
safe. but believe that even as It IS now
PLAYED it Is worth 81 sToaST y SIs'1 WALLACE.
Waterloo, Iowa, Dec. 3, 1879.
To the Sporting Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Your letter of November 80, inquir-
ing concerning the death OF Verne Mer-
rii7 OF our city is at hand.
In reply I viii say that the details Of
Mr. AIerrilIs death are as follows: The
Young man received a slight bruse by con
rian Association gymnasium. Ine wound
vas treated by the physical director of the
Young Mems Christian Association who, II
is alleged. scraped the sore with his pen
knife Blood poisoning set IN and entered
his system, and when the arm became so
iuf7smed that q physician was summoned
in was found 10 be too late 70 save his
the only connection that football could
rossiblv have had with his death IS the
TACT that in one game played after the
slight injury occurred the scab was Scraped
IF during the game. The fact thsE MI.
Merrill was captain Of the high school foot
balI team and a prominent athlete natu-
rallv led those unfamiliar with the facts
ro attribute his death TO football Every
one familiar with the facts, however, in
JsnesYille considers that the young man 5
death was not caused by ronghneSs con-
nected with the game or through any fault
ia the rules OF the game.
our own team continued its schedule
right through the year, and Mr.. Merrill s
death created no anup5thy TO football on
The Tart of the parents or our boys Every
one seemed 70 understand the sftuation
here -
game would be of very little value 10 any
ore as I am not a specialist in fOotba II
sn suv sense of the word. We have played
fhe game in our high school for the last
sixteen wears, with no serious injury TO
any one due 70 the rules of the game.
III. Q. BUELL..
Superintendent of Schools.
JauesVilIe WIS
To the Sporting Editor Of The Tribune.
sir. Mr. MillngtOn was playing tackle
and was defending a play against his posi-
sion v-.,en be received unintentional