Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-22
MUSCATINE is
.PEEvED Overt Loss
NOW ENpEAVORiNG TO HAVE
TITLE GAME TOSSED OUT
: WoRMHoUDT INELIGIBLE.
HOW ABOUT ELLIOTT?
Principal Hammitt Has Given Board
Of Control Information That May
Bar Pearl City From Athletics
--Wormhoudt is All Right.

"VTV,UouOt ~ ~ N'S"N'
Peeved over their defeat at the
hands of the Ottumwa basketeers
which eliminated them from the cham.
pionship race, the pill shooters OF
Muscatine high are now seeking re-
course to the beefing process IN an
endeavor to crawl back into the run
ming by having the late OttumWa VIC
tory thrown out by the Iowa Athletic
association and ordered replayed. The
stunt that is now under way in the
Pearl City is to have Henry Worm
houdt, guard of the red and white
quintet, declared ineligible on the
grounds that he graduated from the
local school in January. But the over
confident "Muscatinites," now has
beens in the title class Of the state,
will have to forget the Wormhoudt gag
and seek other means Of protest. And
while the subject Of protest Is being
discussed the Pearl City organization
might find it very advisable to pre-
pare to defend herself against being
declared ineligible in Iowa athletics
as school, for someone Will
doubtless be called on the carpet
before the board of control to
explain the return of Norman Elliott
the lulwark Of the Mnscatine team,
from Bloomington, ILL.,, land his play
ing In the game with Ottumwa. Prin'
cipal F. M. Hammitt has now pro-
tested Muscatine high school for viola
ton of the rules Of the Iowa Athletic
association and from the dope he has
received. some very pretty explana-
tions will be needed. ."u.
The Wormhoudt Matter.
According to Muscatine papers. Prin-
cipal True of the high school is con-
sidering going before the board of con.
troll in Davenport to protest the Mus
game on the grounds
that Wormhoudt is Ineligible. He has
it doped out that Wormhoudt graduated
here last semster, which closed IN
January and therefore he had no right
TO play in the title game. But Henry
did not. graduate and will not do so
until this coming June. Principal
Hammitt so stated today. So the toss1
ing out of the contest cannot be Sc
cured on this count. Another form OF
Muscatine's protest, mere technical
ity as it were, is that no teacher or
member of the faculty accompanied
the team. as provided in the state as
sociation rules. 1t is true that no
teacher was with the team but 1t was
the fault of the railroad. Manager
Mendelsohn did not accompany the
team. He left later, however, and
would have reached Muscatine In time
for the game. But owing to the fact
that the train was two hours late, the
game was finished when he arrived in
the Pearl City. .. ~ .... .,s..
The Elliott Matter.
The Elliott matter seems at present
to take serious proportions. Ottum-
wa fans remember the Big Swede"
that won for his team in this city 1t
was supposed to be his last game with
the Pearl City five. He left Musca-
tine with his parents and moved to
Bloomington, III. Principal Hammitt
has secured information from source
that ne does not now care to disclose,
but which he states is very authentic,
that throws some light on Ell1otts re-
turn to Muscatine high. Elliott en-
tered Bloomington high school Janu.
airy 20, became member of the bas.
ketball team, playing in two games.
Principal Hammitt's information
states that Elliott left Bloomington
high February IL to return to Musca
tine. Elliott told at the time that he
had completed three years work in
high school in January. He further
stated that he had been promised
graduation in June, which means credit
for years work in four and One-half
months if he would return to Musca-
tine high The Bloomington faculty
could make him no equal offer to keep
him, despite his basketball attainment.
So Elliott went to save semester OF
schooling 1t is further stated that
Elliott's returning to Muscatine high
was to gain for him free room and
board during this present semester
This information has been sent to the
board of control by Principal Hammitt
protesting Muscatine being allowed in
high school athletics, not only in bas-
ketball but everything. His reason is
this. It is rule of the association that
where student who enters athletics
cannot enter athletics for a period of
one year if he changes from school to
school without his parents or guardian
moving to the city where their son or
ward is attending school. Elliott went
to Bloomington, enrolled in school and
played basketball. His parents moved
to Bloomington When Elliott re-
turned to Muscatine high his parents
remained in Bloomington. Brother
Elliott was therefore barred by the
rules of the association from playing
basketball for one year. But he played
In the Ottumwa game, Muscatine
they were slipping one over
on the locals. The board of control is
expected to act on the information
given them by. Principal Hammitt with
in the next few days. Sauce for the
goose in sauce for the gander and pro-
test by Muscatine has brought protest
from Ottumwa
The high school students celebrated
h cir viotOrv over Muccatinp in vorv