To the Editors of the Crimson:

The Class Day Committee yesterday afternoon met the Corporation Committee for a final discussion of the "Tree" matter. We previously understood that their chief objection was in regard to seats, but we now find that they have taken a decided stand against any form of scrimmage whatever. In this they are unanimous, and believe that the Corporation as a whole fully back them up in all their ideas. They object to a scrimmage, first, because football clothes, which are dirty and offensive, are necessarily worn in the presence of refined ladies; second, because if football clothes were not worn, such weaker garments as were used would be stripped off; third, because the scrimmage has become a fight in which to pay off old scores instead of a good-natured scramble; fourth, because with any form of scrimmage, even such as we proposed with every day clothes on and with lowered flowers, there would necessarily be roughness on account of the present large numbers in the class; and last, because they feel that such an exercise is inappropriate for cultivated gentlemen and for a Harvard Class Day.

We have tried to meet these objections in every way we can think of, but without success. We have said we earnestly believe that the majority of the class desire to keep the Tree exercises as they are, but the committee of the Corporation believe that not even a petition signed by a large majority of the class would affect the decision of the whole Corporation. We were willing to grant every possible compromise in the way of lowering the wreath or doing away with the '97 emblem, but this did not meet the vital point of the scrimmage. In short, we offered every possible alternative which we thought could be offered without destroying the old traditional form of Tree exercises with cheering and singing, followed by a manful struggle for flowers. These suggestions did no good and the scrimmage was still condemned.

Altnough the matter seems apparently decided, it still awaits the condemnation of the whole Corporation.

We merely put this statement forward as a report of our dealings with the committee of the Corporation for the information of the class. We shall be glad to hear of any possible way of preserving the old tradition.

A. M. BEALE, J. B. HAYWARD, J. D. PHILLIPS, Class Day Committee.