The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-22
ELMER BENSER
AND HOFFMAN
LOST TO TEAM
State Beard Declares Demon
St:.:rs Violated Cage Code by
Playing Independently
PENALTY IS AUTOMATIC
Spcrtsmanss.ip Shown by Lo-
cal Officials in First Pre-
senting Case TO Board

Suspension of Elmer Benser and
Earl Hoffman as members of the
Bismarck high school basketball
team! was announced by high school
officials here today.
The suspension was ordered be-
cause the boys participated in two
basketball games with an Independ-
cnt team during the Christmas holi.
days. contrary to the rules of the
North Dakota State High School
League.
The matter of the eligibility of
the two players was presented to
the state league officials on Febru.
airy 3, local officials asking that the
board decide If the two bows were
eligib', to play. The matter has
been under consideration by the
state board since that time and the
two boys have been barred from
competition penli :, the decision.
Only one member Of the board.
Superintendent J. c. Gould of Man
dan. was of the opinion that the
boys are eligible to play under the
rules. Other members of the state
board expressed the view that sus-
pension from play is rather a harsh
penalty for the violation but sid
there is nothing else to do under the
circumstances. They agreed that
revision Of the rule should be con-
sidered at the next league meeting.
Tighe Is Queried
The matter first was brought to
the attention of the league officials
BY Bismarck high school officials in
a letter to B. c. Tighe, Fargo, league
president. The letter asked inter-
probation Of the ag: rule which
states that no player "shall have
participated in a similar contest
during the school year as member
of any other than a high school
team"
Hoffman and Benser, it was ex-
planned, while students a. the high
school and members of the high
school basketball squad, went on a
transforming tour With five or six
boys home from college Turing the
Christmas vacation, playing games
at New Salem and Glen Ullin. The
Glen ullin game was played on Sum-
day and no admission vas charged
while that at New Salem was played
OIL Monday and an admission charge
was made. The fact that the trim
was made by Benscr and Hoffman
was unknown to any school official,
it was pointed out.
Commenting on the case the letter
to Tighe said:
"There is no desi. G on our part to
have you set aside any rule. if it fits
our case, and if you decide that the
boys in question should not repre-
sent our school, they will b., declared
ineligible Immediately upon receipt
OF your ruling. Hol ever, it appears
to me, knowing the boys !. do and
with circumstances of the nature in
dictated in the preceding paragraph,
that governing board would be
justified in ruling that these boys,
or any boy involved in similar case,
be warned for his first offensc and
suspended if he repeats it."
Rule Technically Violated
Tighe replied as follows: can
swering your kim favor of Fcbru-
airy Ord, may l state that as he rule
now stands the young men have a
technical violation charged in par
ticipating in the "ames that you
mention? l suggest that YOU do not
play them until you hear from Mr..
White, secretary of the High School
League Board. ! am writing to Mr..
White and sending your letter to
him in order that he may get your
communication as you gave it to me.
ut may be that after the board
as whole has had cha. q to con-
slider the situation, the bows will be
regarded eligible but this is entirely
speculation on my part. NY official
opinion is that they are ineligible
and should no. be played until. as
stated above, you get additional in
formation from Mr.. Wk.te confirm
ing my opinion or revoking it. This
is good rule and yet it may be
somewhat harsh in its application
in the present instance"
Mr.. White writes as follows: IL
appreciate the fine spirit of sports
manship which led you to write Mr..
Tighe with regard to Elmer Benser
and Earl Hoffman. and their barn.
storming trip.
ut is my judgment that the boys
clearly broke the rule given in Sec
ton ) Of Article 6, and are not
eligible to represent your school.
Vacation Not Point
"The fact that the games occurred
during vacation time cannot, so far
as l can see, have any bearing on
the situation, for surely we wouldn't
say that q boy could smoke all he
wanted to during that time merely
because it was vacation and school
was not in session.
II like your suggestion that some
warning be given for tho first Of.
Tense before thu ultimate penalty be
applied.
However, az the rules Of the
League now operate, ! do not see
any way that the Board Of Control
is authorized to avoid the penalty.
However, I do not want to trust my
own judgment in this, 50 shall
write the other members Of the
Board Of Control. meanwhile asking
you not to use these players until
you have heard from us again.
.. am inclined to think that the
rule is ). satisfactory entirely
except in intention. and that it ought
to have consideration at the next
League meeting"
Mr.. White notified officials 81
Bismarck High School Of the vote
Of the Board il ;.letter which reads
as follows: Zone Of the mennhavs