The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-28
FOOTBALLS TOLL.
american News Scrvicc)

tAmeIi'dn Ne"s S'iNNc'
New York, Dec. 2s.-Are the pres.
ent football rules satisfactory? This Is
one OF the important questions that
will be discussed at the annual meet.
ing of the intercollegiate Athletic as
ISOLATION. which will be held in this
city tomorrow.
The widespread agitation at the
close of the 1909 season. over the ter
rible toll OF the gridiron had the ef-
feet OF n drastic change In the rules
governing the game. Rules against
mass plays were made and arbitrarily
enforced In an effort to make the
game less dangerous.
The results. however. have been far
from satisfactory. When the season
closed In November. and the football
statistics we're compiled II was found
that 81 young men had met death
IN result OF the gridiron craze.
while the list of injured reached the
unprecedented number of 49l.
This showed a decrease from 1909
which the list OF injured was double
that OF the previous year.
The number OF deaths among col
lege men has been particularly large
this year In spite OF the assertion that
men who are properly coached and
trained are not In great peril.
No Changes In Rules.
Despite this grim total. II Is doubt
full II the committee In charge Of this
section will make any radical revision
OF the rules. They cannot make many
more changes. and still retain the ex-
citing features Of the game.
II seems to be the concensus OF OPP
tee that many OF the accidents were
due to infraction Of the rules.
There have been many charges that
the new code was not being enforced
by the officials selected and that the
students fail to adhere strictly to the
letter Of the present rules. These
charges will form the subject OF an
exhaustive investigation.
At the coming meeting question
sheet contains three questions per-
tanning to football and two to base.
ball. They are:
l. Are the present football rules
satisfactory, except for minor
changes?
2. Should coaching be limited to
members of the faculty. undergrad
yates and alumni?
2. Were the rules of play satisfac-
torily enforced this season?
Should the members be of the opin-
ion that the rules need revision a foot
ball rules committee will he appoint
ed to investigate and make the neces.
sary changes, but should they agree,
a. II Is said they will. that the pres.
ent rules provide adequate protection
for participants In the game no change
will be made.
Regarding Baseball.
The baseball situation. however will
he the subject of suggestions made by
a committee which has been investi
eating the question In conjunction
with the Athletic Research society
anu tueIs ScciHS ~ sttoHS PROFANITY
that action will be taken to remedy
the delinquency implied in the first
baseball question.
Are amateur laws applied to in
tercollesiate baseball In your local
ity?"
The other query. what Is your so
luton Of the summer baseball ques
tom" will be the subject OF debate
and possible action on the part of the
association.
Alonzo Stage Is chairman Of com
mittee which is considering track ath
letics. their proper control. uniform
rules for participants. methods of pre-
serving records. etc. which will make
q report.
The important proposition will be
possible change in the constitution
80 as to give representation on the ex
ecutive committee Of local leagues
such as that OF the New England
states. the Western Pennsylvania ant
West Virginia league. the Ohio Val
ley. the Southern Collegiate. the Mis-
souri, Valley Conference. and the Chi
cago association. II Is thought tina
a change of this nature will foster
greater working interest in the al
fairs Of the national organization.