Dartmouth and Stanford will play their intersectional football game in the Harvard Stadium this Fall after all. A friendly luncheon and an exchange of mutually diplomatic letters yesterday between the principals involved in arranging the game cleared up all matters and led Mayor James M. Curley, of Boston to reconsider his decision of April 10 forbidding the contest.
In a letter to William J. Bingham '16, Director of Athletics, the mayor stated that he had been advised of the withdrawal of the objections to the game by the Boston College Alumni Association and that he knew of no reason for withholding his approval. He complimented the action of the Boston College Alumni authorities as being both "sportsmanlike and commendable."
B. C. Withdraws Objections
The matter was really cleared up at the luncheon at the Harvard Club yesterday noon at which Mr. Bingham was the host to Edward A. McLaughlin, Jr., president of the Boston College Alumni and Harry R. Heneage graduate manager of Athletics at Dartmouth. Following the luncheon McLaughlin wrote to the mayor requesting him to withdraw his objections since the B. C. Alumni felt that under the circumstances it would be unfair to deprive football fans of the opportunity to see the intersectional game at the Harvard Stadium. McLaughlin had been assurred by both Bingham and Heneage that at the time when the game was arranged the thought that they were interfering with the B. C. H. C. game had not occurred to them.
The Dartmouth-Stanford game was scheduled to be played in the Harvard Stadium on November 28 of this year over two years ago this Spring when the Indians and the West Coast college were making up their schedules. Dartmouth went out to Palo Alto this past season and it was understood that the Cardinals would come to Cambridge the following year. Mayor Curley's statement forbidding the game was made on April 10 last when he said that he thought that holding the game here was interfering with the B. C.-H. C. tilt.
With yesterday's developments, however, everything is as before again. Dartmouth and Stanford will play their game in Cambridge while Boston College and Holy Cross will play their game at Fenway Park. There has been some talk of moving this latter contest to Fitton Field, Worcester, the home grounds of the Crusaders, but the probability of that move is remote.
Bingham Pleased
The statement made by Bingham, which officially allows the two universities to use the Harvard Stadium, expresses the feeling that the Harvard athletic director is glad that the controversy has come to an amiable close. The statement follows in full:
I have been informed of a letter written me today by His Honor, Mayor Curley, in reference to the Dartmouth-Stanford game which originally was scheduled to be played in the Harvard Stadium on November 28, 1931, subject to the approval of the mayor of Boston. Since His Honor has approved, the Stadium will be available for Dartmouth and Stanford of that day. I am happy that arrangements have been made which are satisfactory to the authorities at Boston College and Dartmouth.
Wouldn't Disappoint Fans
Following is the letter sent by McLaughlin to the mayor:
His Honor, James M. Curley,
I have just had a conference with William J. Bingham, Director of Athletics at Harvard, and Harry R. Heneage, Supervisor of Athletics at Dartmouth. Both Mr. Bingham and Mr. Heneage express to me their sincere regrets that the scheduling of the Stanford-Dartmouth game at the Harvard Stadium has created a situation which under any circumstances might prove embarrassing to Boston College. They both assured me that if the question of interference with the annual Holy Cross-Boston College game had occurred to them the matter would have been handled in a way which would have prevented the present unfortunate conflict.
The Boston College Alumni Association feels that rather than deprive lovers of football of an opportunity to witness this classic that under all circumstances it would be well if Dartmouth and Stanford were allowed to play at the Harvard Stadium on November 28, 1931.
I therefore request that Your Honor reconsider the decision which you announced in your letter to Mr. Bingham under the date of April 10, 1931. Respectfully yours, Edward A. McLaughlin, J. President, B. C. Alumni.
"All's Well--"
A copy of McLaughlin's letter was sent by the mayor to Bingham with the following letter appended:
My Dear Mr. Bingham.
I am in receipt of the accompanying communication this day, which I beg to forward herewith, submitted by the president of the Boston College Alumni in which he states that the Boston College Alumni Association is agreeable to the game which Dartmouth and Stanford Universities desire to play at the Harvard Stadium on November 28, 1931. The action as taken by the Boston College Alumni is both sportsman-like and commendable and objection by them to the holding of the game having been withdrawn I know of no reason why I should withhold approval. You are at liberty to inform President A. Lawrence Lowell of Harvard and the presidents of Dartmouth and Stanford universities as to the decision arrived at. Respectfully yours, James M. Curley.
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