The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-29
Regents Gleed and White Are
Opposed to Game as Played.
LOSTTHEFIRST ROUND
Proposition Was Discussed for
Two Hours by Board.
Another Meeting Will Be Held
SOOn-ROund Two.

| Lawrence, Kan, Jan. 29.-William
| Allen White, a regent of the Kansas
State university. is making a strong
effort to abolish football at K. U.
absolutely until the Missouri valley
conference agrees to run the game
under civilized rules. He is strongly
supported in his fight by ]. w. Gleed
| of Topeka, another regent.
| The motion to abolish the game,
| after being discussed by the board of
regents for more than two hours yes
| terday, was voted down. However,
| the two advocates of a civilized game
| or none made some progress in their
| campaign because another proposition
] to have joint meeting of the regents
of the schools IN the conference to dis
cuss needed changes in the rules met
with favorable consideration. No final
action was taken on this matter
though. 1t will come up at the next
meeting of the regents.
Play for People Who Pay.
At the conclusion Regent Gleed
gave out the following statement in
regard to the matter:
intercollegiate football means a
series of fierce, ultra-strenuous, phys
ical contests, in various public arenas,
for the amusement of large miscel-
laneous audiences, who pay money to
witness a highly exciting spectacle.
"When a football man enters col
lege in September, he sees before him
a series. of such public exhibitions; the
most important scheduled at Kansas
City before thirty thousand people on
Thanksgiving day. He hears in ad-
vance the plaudits of vast multitudes;
he sees his name in the papers day
after day; he anticipate the sweets OF
final triumph, the notifications at
home, and permanent distinction and
admiration among the student body.
He is taught to think that upon him
| hangs the good name and glory of his
| college.
Life and Limb Disregarded.
"Such publicity, such applause. such
glory. constitute tremendous prizes. 1t
would be a strange 1S-year-old boy
who would not lay down his life to
win them. At any rate with such re-
wards before him-with such re-
sponsibilities upon him-can any
November seem important except foot
| ball?
| "And when the great day comes,
can anything seem important except
| that his side win? suppose there is
| danger that if he plays today that in
jured ankle may be permanently ruin
ed: can he stay out? Certainly not.
There is the glory of the college, the
glory of his fellow players, his own
| glory at stake
s'The actual play being on. what
| determination animates him? The de-
| termination to do thus and so abso-
| lutely without regard to the life and
limb of his opponent; subject of course
to the ruIes-so that nothing be lost
by a foul. Subject to the rules, the
| will. the passion. which must ami
mate him, are the will and passion
which animated the warrior of past
centuries, when war was a hand TO
| hand struggle
Brute Instincts Aroused.
eff he, the young gladiator, is
| heavy enough is strong enough, the
back of the desperate boy On the other
| side may be broken, may be broken
so, it must be. The ball must be ad-
vanced. thus and SO, regardless of con-
sequences.
your nice. good natured son, my
dear madam, of course does not go into
| a game with murder in his heart. But
suppose he loses a point by reason OF a
foul on the other side, palpab1e, con-
| temptible foul, not seen by the umpire
what is now the feeling in his heart
Is it possible for men to engage in
fierce hand to hand physical struggle
| without arousing the smashing and de-
stroying instinct which comes down to
US from our animal ancestors?
How is the game less brutal thar
prize fighting? The per cent of deaths
or permanent injuries is less in prize
fighting: and the game is the same il
both cases-to accomplish certain
/ physical results against physical OPP
position
What's in It for Player?
And what does the player get out OF
it? Health and strength? He ha6
health and strength to begin with or hs
never would have been put on the team
Health and strength? No physica
trainer ever recommended football as
the best preparation for long life an6
permanent health and strength.
go to the great game and watch the
defeated team stagger in after all Is
LOST watch them as they drop on the
ground, every atom of muscular ani
and nervous self-control gone the
whole man, physical and mental abso-
lutely gone-completely and utterly ex-
hausted; watch the boy as he drops, g
Quivering. moaning heap. hear him cry