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

432 THE SCROLL.been determined by a sort of an elimination process. The teams were pairedoff for the first games and the losers dropped out. Then the winning teamswere again paired off and the losers again dropped out and so on until thecontest for the championship was narrowed down to a contest between thelast two surviving teams, the winner of which won the championship. Manifestlythis was an unjust way of deciding the championship for many thingswholly unconnected with A teams real playing ability, might intervene tocause it to lose a single game and thus bar what might be a very strong teamfrom the contest at the outset. To avoid this injustice the committee hasadopted the percentage system for this season. The thirteen fraternity baseballteams in the league are divided into two groups with six in one andseven teams in the other. Each team in each group will play every otherteam in the same group. At the end of this series the two teams having thehighest percentage will play a series of three games for the championship.This system has the advantage of being fairer than the old one and at thesame time will greatly add to the interest of the series.'Since the last letter a matter has come up here which is of especial interestto fraternity men. At a joint meeting of all the fraternities here PresidentJames suggested that a national conference or convention of all the fraternitiesrepresented in the university—S X, B G II, $ P A, A T A, K S,* K S, * K 4', A T, A T fi, S N, S A E, A K E, $ A G—be called to consider,inter alia, the following questions: First—Whether the fraternities areaccomplishing the greatest possible good for their individual members as atpresent conducted and if not what changes would be conducive to that end;Second—What should be the relation of fraternities to the university authorities;Third—What should be the relation of fraternities to student politics.Each of the local chapters of all the fraternities represented here has beenasked to appoint a delegate to confer with the president concerning the propositionssuggested by him and to consider the advisability of calling theconference. This chapter and several others have appointed delegates butnothing further has been done up to the time of writing this letter. It seemsto be the general sentiment among the fraternity men here that there doesnot exist a sufSciently compelling reason for such a conference to make it asuccess. However, should the suggestion be finally decided upon asfeasible and an invitation is extended to the thirteen national fraternitiesrepresented here to assemble in national convention for the purposes mentioned,Illinois Eta hopes that Phi Delta Theta will be represented both inthe number and the character of its delegates as befits the high standing ofPhi Delta Theta among national fraternities. We assure every visiting Phia most cordial welcome and that his comfort and entertainment will be ourconstant aim and desire. The date suggested for this conference was sometime in the month of October..Louana Riley, plaintiff vs. Illinois chapter of Delta Upsilon, et als., defendants.Action, trespass on the case. Damages alleged: $2,000. Thisis sequel to the unfortunate accident which occurred at the Delta Upsilonhouse several months ago when a colored domestic was severely bitten by abull dog owned by the local chapter of Delta Upsilon. The woman hassued the local chapter and each man in it, charging them with negligentlykeeping a wild and vicious animal upon their premises which was likely tobite mankind, without taking proper precautions and providing proper safeguardsto protect the plaintiff. The case will be tried the latter part ofApril. It will be watched with a considerable degree of interest by fraternitymen. It is not believed that the plaintiff will recover as the facts donot seem to sustain certain material allegations in the declaration.Champaign, April 16, 1906.W. H. STELLE.