The Washington herald., 1914-11-06
Death KneIl Sounded
For Sunday Football
Decision Handed Down BY
Justice Robb Is Knockout
Punch to Sport.
ALL ATHLETICS ILLEGAL
NJ. JOHN A. DUGAN.


Sandlot amateur sport was handed q
Knockout punch yesterday when Justice
Ro6b, Of the District Court Of Appeals,
handed down decision which reversed
the previous ruling Of the Supreme Court
Of the District OF Columbia, declaring
baseball and all other athletic games 70
be legal on sunday. Amateur. semi-pro-
fessionai. and professional athletics are
now. Illegal In the District Of Columbia.
With this staggering blow 10 Sunday
sport confronting him. Manager Joseph
oliveri, OF the vtgilant football team.
who has been booking games at Andrews
Park fifteenth and H streets northeast,
Immediately consulted his. attorneys.
Daniel W. Baker, former District at
torney, and James J. O,shea, Who have
been engaged by the Vigilant footban
team. made an effort this morning 10
enter a stay Of proceedings in the
supreme Court of the United States.
which win allow the vieIlant club TO
conduct its games each Sunday pending
an application OF this hearing.
In the reading Of Judge Robb,s decision
no athletic games OF any kind viii be
legal. and It yet remains to be seen
Whether the Commissioners have the
power to stop the exhibition next Sunday
between teams Of the United safes gov
eminent on government reservations.
liant football team will stiiI conduct its
Sabbath games, as also will the ether
sandlot football teams. The Ewing
Athletic Club, OF Philadelphia, win be
brought here Sunday to meet the local
champions. and Manager OIiveri viii play
this contest II his appeal to the Supreme
Court Is allowed.
Providing that the Commissioners have
no Jurisdiction over the conducting Of
contests on government reservations. the
grtdiron at the Washington Barracks
VIII be the mecca for local football clubs,
and the -Vigilant classic will be
played at the barracks this season.
II Just had to come. Yes, some one had
to bswl out Howard p. Drew, the great
sprinter' as pro, just as they have
every other. geod athlete. These ar
tacks seem to be part Of the price ath-
letes must pay for success these days.
II seems that DreR's habit Of touring
about the country for the purpose Of
competing in athletic meets Is what got
the goat OF the high mindef native son
who wrote the letter attacking the col
ored champions amafeurism
There IL no rule In the A A. U. code
that prevents an athlete going here and
there to compete 10 long as he doesn't
accept money beyond his actual expenses.
As q matter Of fact Drew has taken
but two long trips this year, and both Of
them brought him to the Atlantic sea-
board. The first trip in April was as q
member Of the University Of Southern
California team that. took part In the
Penn relays.
Any expense money involved was hand |
led between the respective managers OF
Penn and Southern California No |
chance for graft there. :
Drew's second trip East was in June, |
and 1t had nothing to do with athletics. |
He came East to take q summer Job up |
in New England and paid for the trip |
with his own hard-earned cash.
Two football battles that involve the |
Of the East will be staged |
tomorrow, one between Harvard and
Princeton and the other between the |
University Of Pittsburgh and the Wash |
ington and Jefferson. that beat Yale a |
few weeks ago.
Betting here today centered mostly IN |
the Harvard-Princeton game, with most |
Of the wagers placed at even money. On |
relative showings this season, Harvard |
has the edge. because she has won all |
her games with most of her stars on the /
hors du combat list. Princeton looked to |
have a world-beating team two weeks
ago. but IL received & setback last Sat-
urday when Williams played 1t to TT
BE-
The stars Of both eIevens, with the ex-
,eption of Brickley. Of Harvard. win be In
The game. capacity crowd is in pros
oect at Cambridge. A 5000 crowd-the
park capacity-is looked for when Pitt /
meets Washington and Jefferson The
Pittsburgh team Is the sensation Of the
year, because It has beaten Carlisle,
Navy, Westminster, George
town and Cornell and seems to be grow
ng better as the season advances The
". and J. outfit is in perfect shape for the
1attle and with both teams adept in the
lew style game the battle promises to be
/ thriller.