Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-11
PLAN WORLD FOOT BALL UNION
Knox of New South Wales Proposes a
Federation.
KAISER WILHELM INTERESTED
Emperor wants German Lads 90 Take
Tn sport - Australian offers
Criticism of Game-TOo
Highly Specialized.

NEW 1OhAks Dec. IN ptau 10 FORM n
federation OF foot ball interests the world
over and to create an entirely new game
combining elements Of the American inter
collegiate contests and rugby is proposed
by Alexander Knox. former executive
chairman OF the New South Wales Rugby
Foot Ball league. He desires the building
of a new game which will be a sort Of Es-
peranto foot ball played by American. Eng
fish. Canadian, South African. Australian
French and possibly German teams.
Mr.. Knox. who is now IN this city, has
seen several games Of foot ball as PLAYED
by American colleges and has been quoted
with opinions Of the game in various cities
Naturally, he believes rugby is the better
game, but unlike some other visitors he
has no desire to hurl an alien form OF
athletics bodily into American institutions
Il wish to organize foot ball so that It
may become an International sport Ike
the olympic games and Marathon running 20
said Mr.. Knox.
Il have no idea Of attempting to devise
a new game Of foot ball myself, but have
a plan to interest the governing bodies OF
foot ball playing peoples in an international
game. As for criticsing American foot
not like the game as played here as well
as 1 do rugby. but it must interest Ameri-
cans intensely for the big contests draw
thousands Of spectators. Rugby attracts in
similar way wherever It is played.
Important men are enthusiastic over
foot ball as q game. The German emperor
has advised the young men of the nation
to take up the sport. The elements OF
foot ball are beneficial and interesting. II
a game could be devised which every coun-
try might play under a universal code no
athletic field could hold the crowds which
would gather for an international champ
ionship match. The game should have the
best elements OF all the present variations
A movement to form such a game desire
to start"
To Issue Letter.
Mr. Knox's plan is TO send a letter to
the intercollegiate rules committee in this
country and q similar letter to the rugby
foot ball associations OF England. Canada,
Australia. South Africa, France and Cali
fornia, asking the bodies IL they are will
ing to attempt the formation OF a new
game and are willing to send delegate to
an international convention for the pur-
pose. II favorable replies are received to
such a communication and the main foot
ball interests Of the various countries are
Willing to consider the plan, Mr.. Knox Is
ready to take the first steps in securing
corresponding secretaries from the or
CARNATIONS and selecting a place for an
international conference.
The Australian, who has been identified
with rugby for many years. takes q more
favorable view of the American game than
does Prof Edwin Linton OF washington
and jefferson college, who has Joined the
ranks of those who desire the adoption
Of rugby and the complete assassination
Of the American game. He has been in
volved in the faculty control Of athletics
in Washington and jefferson for some
time. and has had an influence on inter
collegiate athletics among the rivals Of his
college.
His recent attack on foot ball reads In
part as follows:
why this insistsnoe for radical change
in the rules year after year. No such de-
mand is or ever has been made for any
other game which is used in intercollegiate
athletics Bluntly, my answer Is that 1t
is because the game es It has developed in
this country has 80 many undesirable char
acteristicB that the only reform which ia
possible Is It's final and iTresurreetabie
burial In the scrap heap Of thu worlds
follies. 1 shall give very briefly q few OF
my reasons for this opinioni
Too Much Specialization.
First the game Is too highly specialized
1t Is not a game in which a large number
OF the students can take part, Further
more, the team cannot be got into the
shape required for success without a sac
risice Of time and energy thar no exigency
- 49,. -
justify.
Second. the cost Of carrying on the
game lie increasing. On account OF the
highly specialized nature OF the game,
coaching in necessary. Good coaches can
not be secured without adequate salaries.
And the officials; My gorge rises as l
mention them. Those who have been try
ing to devise rules which win remove the
greatest reproach of the game. via. the
opportunity 1t gives for the Indulgence OF
ungentiemanly tendencies. have attempted
to meet the difficulty by adding rule upon
rule and multiplying officials until II has
come to pass that the officials in an inn
portant foot ball contest cost more than
the combined charges for umplres, guar
antee and advertising for the ordinary
game OF intercollegiate base bali.
W.
manifest in the game. BY this mean 20
refer to the opportunities for Intentional
/ personal injuries which are afforded by
the American game. TO remove them will
mean the substitution Of a radically diff
ferent game Tor the American game. The
opportunity is not and cannot be eliminated
from the American game Of foot ball with
out making II q radically different game.
The opportunity for intentional personal in
I jury being present the temptation TO put
| the man out OF the game who Sc standing
in the way Of victory will be present al
ways. Coaches and players, like other
mortals. are liable to yield to temptation.
Foot ball has been played in England a
long time. 1t appears TO be In a large
measure free from the incurable evils Of
the American game. 1t had been introduced
on the Pacific coast Of our country and is
said to be satisfactory. / am IN favor OF
| intercollegiate athletics when controlled
by the authorities OF the participating col
| leges. The American game has been ahund-