1905-06 Volume 30 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 225dent has permitted me to say that we are in complete accord as to the needof the permanent abolition of brutality and foul play, and of the increase ofthe powers of the officials and of the severity of the penalties as being necessaryto bring about such abolition; as to the desirability of careful considerationof any changes in the rules that may be required to minimize dangerwhile preserving the essential, manly and vigorous characteristics of thegame; and as to the urgent need of earnest efEort to secure a simple and uniformeligibility code for all American colleges and universities. The presidentemphatically believes in continuing the game.The president added: "Brutality and foul play should receive the samesummary punishment given to a man who cheats at cards, or who strikes afoul blow in boxing. The umpire must have the widest latitude in enforcingthis principle, even to the extent of ordering not only individual players, butwhole teams off the field, and college presidents should hold to the sharpestaccountability the umpire who permits foul or brutal football in any game.We want simple rules, not comphcated rules, because complicated rules offertoo many loopholes. The responsible authorities of the several collegeswhose teams play together should have what may be called a 'gentleman'sagreement' among themselves that these rules shall be enforced in spirit aswell as in letter, each being held responsible for what goes on in his own college,and each seeing to the permanent removal from the game not only ofthe foul or brutal player, but of the man who is not a bonafide student andamateur. It would be a real misfortune to lose so manly and vigorous agame as football, and to avert such a possibility the college authorities ineach college should see to it that the game in that college is clean."The president said as to the selection of the institutions that came to theconference at the White House last month: "I was asked to call it by representativesof Harvard, Yale and Princeton, and called it accordingly. IfPennsylvania, Columbia and Cornell representatives had happened to makethe suggestion, then only those three colleges would have been asked."He spoke more than once of the desirability of continuing the game, andof extending to as many as possible its advantages, with the safeguardsalready mentioned. He said that the five or six leading colleges should gettogether and agree to play one another under such an agreement as heprescribed.President Roosevelt's views as to college athletics are wellknown since they were fully and frankly stated in a speech atthe Harvard alumni meeting last June. He said then:I believe heartily in sport. I believe in outdoor games, and I do not mindin the least that they are rough games or that those who take part in themare occasionallv injured. I have no sympathy whatever with the overwroughtsentimentality which would keep a young man in cotton-wool, and I have ahearty contempt for him if he counts a broken arm or collar-bone as of seriousconsequence when balanced against the chance of showing that he possesseshardihood, physical address, and courage. But when these injuriesare inflicted by others, either wantonly or of set design, we are confronted bythe question, not of damage to one man's body, but of damage to the otherman's character. Brutality in playing any game should awaken the heartiestand most plainly shown contempt for the players guilty of it, especially ifthis brutality is coupled with a low cunning, in committing it without gettingcaught by the umpire.President Eliot, of Harvard, thinks that the president hastackled a hard job. *'It is hard to bring about a reform