The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-12-05

It must be borne in. mind, however,
that Baltimore starts with several
big advantages. The first of these
is that it is within the area already
agreed upon by the Army and Navy,
so that the Navy can choose it with
out question. Washington is south
of the limit. and may not be chosen
except upon the agreement of the
two institutions. One of the first
things which Washington would
have to do would be to secure the
assent of the Army provided the
Navy was willing to play in the
Capital.
1t Is also to be remembered that
Baltimore has without question one
of the finest places in which to play
a big football game in this country.
1t is far more fitted to the purpose
than any rearranged baseball
grounds, such as the Polo Grounds,
could possibly be. This is a bare
fact which must be recognized. More
over, upon the whole, Baltimore
handled the affair to the satisfaction
of those most interested. Routing,
policing and parking, the outside ar
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be, and interior arrangements were
not at all bad.
To secure consideration for the
game, Washington must be in
position to offer around IS 900
seats for the use OF each service.
The number at Baltimore was,
g, 500 each, and the local athletic
officials were almost overwhelmed
with. requests, demands In many
cases, for seats which they could
not possibly meet. The demand is
sure to be even larger two years
from now.
There is no reason why Washing.
ton could not get the game at some
future time, but the matter of seat
ing capacity is the first and vital
condition. Few realize the tremen
dous task the service officials have
in distributing these tickets and
seeing that those entitled to them
are supplied in a reasonable man,
ner. Thousands of people whom the
officials would like to oblige, always
fail to get tickets, for the simple
reason that they win not go around
Next years game will be the third
to be played under an agreement
which will cover four games. There
fore, the game Of 1925 will be the
last under that arrangement. As the
matter now stands, with the Army
choosing New York for~next year,
Baltimore has a big lead as the
choice for 1926, and those interested
in Washington must act promptly
in order to make their claims effect.
i've.
The decision as to the game OF
1926, however, will not be made
until = after next years game is
played. Rear Admiral Henry r.
Wilson, superintendent of the Naval
Academy, leaves in February of
next year, so that negotiations will
be largely with his successor. 1t
must be borne in mind that the mat.
ter Of selecting the playing grounds
that any appeal to the Secretary of
the Navy is more likely to hurt
matters than help.
There are a good many Navy
people, and, probably Army people
too, who fear that the playing of
the game at Washington would
make the, ticket question even
more serious. They believe that
officials of the Government would
make such heavy demands that
service people, who. IL is felt. have
the first claim, would be curtailed.
This has always been one of the
handicaps under which Washing
ton labOrs.
Up to two years ago. when a new
agreement had been made, the pro,
vision as to alternate selection OF
the playing grounds had prevailed
but the point chosen could not be
north of New York or south of
Philadelphia. When a conference
was held as to a new agreement
Baltimore representatives had i'm
pressed the Naval representatives
with the advisability Of extending
the southern limit as far as Balti-
more, and this was done. Appar.
emily. washington. had made no
move to secure its inclusion in the
boundary.
Washington has great advantages
over Baltimore in its hotel accom-.
modations 70 and in its social bril-.
liancy. This was emphasized last
Saturday when a large number 'oI
Naval people, including midship'
men. and other visitors, went to
Washington as soon as the game
was over. Undoubtedly. the TRIP
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