The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-20
AND LEE
ANSWERS UNIVERSITY
CT. Light, Member Press Committee at Licking
ton school, Replies to Letter From Tom
W Stating Virginia's Position in Re-
gard to Athletic Relations With
w. & u. and ". p. I.

Lexington. Va, February 19.-ln a
statement issued from the Press AS
ISOLATION cf the University OF Nir-
sinia. we note the following p%reface:
When the faculty anu athletic COM
mittcc that control athletics at Nir-
ginia announced several weeks ago
that there would be no football game
with V. p. L., there was considerable
dissatisfaction all over the state over
the reasons assigned, and it was felt
that the decision did not meet with
the wish of the student body of the
university" Following this comes q;
series of references and pervcrsions
Of ancient history concerning the de-
feat Of the University of Virginia by
Washington and Lee in 1907 in foot
hall. and the failure of the Univcr-
sity of Virginia to schedule Il game
with Washington and Lee since. All
these s,atcnlents-lcad UP to the climax
IN what urport 70 be an Official
statement By Tom Towles. u membe
OF the G. y. A. Of the University Of
Virginia.
The reasons assigned By Mr.. Towles
why the University OF Virginia is not
going to play Washington and Lee
and Y. T.. 1. in football next year are:
First. lower entrance requirements
than Virginia, and. second, a prefer
cncc oil their part TO consider George
town and Carolina their football ri
Nals, rather than Washington and Lee
ana Y. Il. /. This from one who was
elected to vote for games with the lat
ter schools.
The first cXcusc-not a reason-is in
the nature of a very questionable as
s%crtion. 1t possesses the carmarks OF
Il libel. and Mr.. Towles might be called
upon to prove his assertion. 1t IS
certainly below the dignity Of an in
stitntion which claims jefferson as
it's founder to allow such Il statement
TO remain eXtant without correction
or rctraction. According to Nirginia's
catalog, the entrance requirement. is
IA Carnegie units-thc same as at
Washington and Lee. The burden of
proof is upon Mr.. Towles to show that
the fourteen units requircd by the
University Of Virginia arc one whit
better than the fourteen required at
Washington and Lee. AS TO her re-
quiremcnts, Washington and Lee has
no apologies To make any anyone. She
was a membe Of the Southern Asso-
citation OF. Colleges for several years
before the University of Virginia was
admitted-but that is ancient history.
We simply wish to cali the attention
of the public TO the inaccuracy and III
justice Of any such statement as made
by the University Of Virginia.
a strange and peculiar anomaly
~fastens itself upon the illogical arsu-
mcnt coming from charlottesville in
the fact that SO far Virginia has
deigned to play one or two games OF
basketball with Washington and Lee
each year since tho unfortunate
calamity of 1907. Why doesn't the
low scholastics''' argument apply to
basketball as Well as to football and
baseball?
The second objection seems to be
more sensible. The University of Viz
ginia has the right to play whom ae
will. but in doing SO she can't claim
State and southern championships
without meeting her two strong state
rivals Moreover. if she wishes to win
favor in athletic circles she cannot
omit games with Washington and Lee
and V. p. l..
Washington and Lee and Virginia
Tech have been meeting in football.
baseball. basketball and track for a
number OF years. and the best OF feel
Ing has been sustained throughout
this time. There is no reason :ly
this should not he true, when either
OF them meets Virginia If the proper
gentlemanly spirit is present in such
contests.
Washington and Lee has remained
always ready -'-cc the last games OF
baseball and football with Virgins to
play any place in Virginia outside of.