The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-10
.SUPT, ", 4, WALLS IN
DEFENSE OF SCHOOLS
Believes In Clean Athletics and Also
IN Order and Law In every
Sanse OF tho word

|, is not unusual for u public man 10
issue statements in defense or ms Po
.itiun, upon tho advice y! lrlcHuS.
have decided to lay facts OF aaturuay
unfortunate occurrence IN TcbHu ~ xiv
football game before the puot'e !"
Thc unfortunate incident hinges upon
the incligibility of one player.
Thomas Marker entered schoni ON
Wednesday. After Il careful lnFeS'i gu
ton his eligibility was certified 10 over
The TELEPHONE to rho Bellaire othcials by
IN. principal OF the Martins Ferry hisn
school. There was no question as To MS
eligibility At the time of the game. -
is believed that this statement IS que
Tommy" Marker.
hinged upon the ineligibility Of Joseph
Snme time since the parents Of this
young man moved TO youngstown. az
remained in Martins Ferry. ana as nc
was in good standing at the time our
schools closed because OF the cplneih!c
he continued to play football with our
high school team. This was cmihcntIS
right and proper.
He came to the principal for his cred
| IT'S las, week and WAS told that If he
| failed to return To school this week lie
would not be eligible for the Beilairc
' game The principal urged MN 10 re-
| turn. as did tho captain or tho te0'i
These pleas We're unRrallliIG, ana Hc
left far Youngstown with his report caro-
| from, The local schools Monday when
] he failed TO enter hc wiliiuiiy ScNercu
I his relation with our high Schooi, nc
! was not in school at any t,tnc uuIihF
| the past week. Notwithstanding state
mcnts TO the contrary. ,u-
The rules Of both the ONO VnHcS
| Athletic Association and the ONO HlE!
! School Association require that ria!el
! must be a member OF the school at lh'
time the game is played. ,x.
| 1t has not been the custom to ccrti9
| 10 PLAYERS that are not members OF oul
; high school,
| When il became apparent on the 1ool'
ball field at lScllairc that OUTSIDE lnnu
rncc had been at work on the team u
would have been rank cowardlcc lnr
man to rcccdc from position when M
knew to be absolutely right because O.
threats OF bodily injury.
/ If the proper officials or the team MAJ
notified the school authorities as 10 N
intentions Of the boys not To play I'M
! game without Lipschcr it would nav
| given the local authorities cnance u
have cancelled the game or. 10 nave al
| ranged tho game with tho teams as the!
were at the time the original game VA!
! scheduled, which was poSSipic So'u
ton before the team went 10 iSclIa'rn:
| In fact the captain of the team wa
advised by the principal of the hlGl
school thnt il the matter Of Llpschcr
Ineligibillty as stated was unsatIstac
tory he was advised to bring the cas-
before the principal and superintendent
for settlement. Tho principal statrt
that the matter should be settled II
Martins Ferry and not in Bellairc tn
game was arranged as transferred
game from the original date and not Il!
Il poSt-ScaSon game. ,
1t Is hoped that this statement VII
give a clearer idea Of the facts Of IN
case. 1t is not issued in the belief ina
it will change the opinion of some. bu
that those who believe In fair play VII
at least attribute honest motives and
desire for clean athletics To those II
charge of the local SCHOOLS
The undersigned has tnkcn the bur
den Of athletics in tho local high sch"o
at times when there was no other wa,
out. am Il firm believer in clean ath
lctics, and will stand Oh that platform
In, whatever cost may DO necessary per
sonally. w. a. "Al'l"o'