Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-23


II am not mistaken, Mr.. Roper him
self has contributed actively to this
publicity which he now deplores so
deeply. In the past Mr.. Roper has
written essays on foot ball for as many
newspapers as would pay for them. In
fact, his portable typewriter used to be
quite as busy in the foot ball season
IS the typewriter of Mr.. Babe Ruth
during the base ball season.
Mr. Roper said further, in part: Foot
ball Is not going to continue because
IS, 900 persons clamor for seats on the
50-yard line, or because newspapers give
column after column of space to it, set
ting UP mere boys as idols and then
knocking them down for single mis-
play. Foot ball has reached its present
heights because 1t has brought out the
sterling qualities in men. If it Is going
to continue it will continue because 1t
will retain those qualities which have
made 1t great"
TT rather sounds as If Mr.. Roper were
j one of those gentlemen who never
notice anything that appears in the
newspapers unless his attention Is called
to it. Suddenly, 1t appears, MFR. Roper's
attention-caller has informed him that
pieces have been written in the press
concerning foot ball, and incidentally
foot ball at Princeton. Also, the at
tention-caller may or may not have
brought to the notice of Mr.. Roper that
Mr.. Roper inadvertently, 1t seems, has
been writing some of this objection
able matter himself and unwittingly
has contributed to column after column
OF the space, Of which he complains.
] do not wish to see anybody out
Of job with hard Winter gather
ing, but 1t would seem that the only
thing that Mr.. Roper can do in
justice to himself and as step to
save the noble game of intercollegiate
foot ball Is to fire his attention
caller forthwith. The man has been
criminally negligent in not letting
MIR. Roper know that pieces were
being written in the newspapers con-
corning foot ball. He was especially
negligent in not letting Mr.. Roper
knoy that Mr.. Roper himself was
contributing column after column.
How was Mr.. Roper to know that,
when his attention-caller was loaf
ing on the job?
doubt II the attention caller even
told Mr.. Roper that Tad Jones, Knute
Rockne, Chick Meehan and other
coaches were writing column after
column. Otherwise, Mr. Roper certain
ly would have reproved them for con-
tributing to the possible demise of foot
ball through publicity.
II Mr.. Roper suddenly is convinced
that publicity is such an undesirable
thing for foot ball, and always has been,
he should express some penitence for
having committed the sin of writing
about foot ball himself. Also, he should
return the money he received for writ
ing these reprehensible columns, for
! understand that Mr.. Roper did not
write as an amateur.
MIR. ROPER may sincerely but sud-
IVA denly have convinced himself that
publicity is killing foot ball. Then it
would be unfair to imply that Mr.. Roper
might still be reconciled to favorable
publicity. The alumni, who have much
to unfortunately-with foot ball,
never have objected to publicity except
ing when 1t was unfavorable. In fact,
every university in the United States,
with the possible exception of Prince
ton, as interpreted by Mr.. Roper, wants
more and more publicity.
Some of the foot ball coaches,
understand, have tried to indicate just
what sort of publicity should be given
their foot ball teams I hope that Mr..
Roper is not one Of these.
a NY thinking person viii admit that
IA it does seem idiotic to give column
after column of space to foot ball. But
| the popular interest seems to justify II
| BOYS as idols" as Mr.. Roper puts 1t
seems all out Of proportion. Perhaps
| It would be preferable to set UP the
| foot ball coaches as idols. Mr.. Roper
for instance, would make O paSsable