The Evening Herald

School of Mines V
Football: Dispute With U.N.M.

Socorro, Sept. 30.

To the Editor Evening Herald,
Albuquerque, N. M.

Dear Sir: — In view of the article appearing in The Evening Herald Sept. 28 regarding the football game between Varsity and Mines, may we rely on your spirit of fair play to give publicity to the salient features of the enclosed copies of the correspondence exchanges between Varsity and Mines, the originals of which we have placed in the office of the president of the State School of Mines for the open verification of anyone interested.

We wish to afford the public an opportunity to judge the question between Varsity and Mines on its merits and not on a one-sided and untrue account thereof such as the article referred to.

In 1919 Mines played Varsity at Albuquerque and was defeated 54 to 0. Varsity Coach McGough and Manager C. Caldwell gave their verbal agreement to Mines Coach Reynolds and Manager W. Burke to play a return game with Mines at Socorro in 1920.

On July 7, 1920, Football Manager W. F. Hamm of Mines wrote G. S. Bryan, football manager of Varsity: The New Mexico School of Mines football team would like to schedule the game with your team for November 13 at Socorro. Will guarantee expenses of 18 men and a coach, provided you guarantee our expense to Albuquerque next year.

On July 15 Manager Bryan of Varsity wrote: 'We cannot accept November 13 as a football date at Socorro. I could offer you October 2 either at Socorro or Albuquerque. I do not doubt that an arrangement can be made in regard to the guarantee to play the game in Socorro. Hoping that this date will prove satisfactory, etc.'

On July 19, Mines Manager Hamm wrote: 'Am sorry that you cannot play us at a later date than October 2. I would like to have the game played at Socorro. We will offer you a guarantee of $175.00.'

On August 23, Varsity Manager Bryan wrote: I have taken the matter up with the coach and as he had instructed me to have the first game of the season in Albuquerque I do not know what his final decision will be. Will you send us a contract covering your proposition to reach here before September 15?

On September 13, Mines Manager Hamm wrote: To close our correspondence on the game scheduled for October 2 as per your request, we guarantee you $175.00 on the completion of the game to be played at Socorro between Mines and Varsity, conditional upon your agreeing to reciprocate in the guarantee of $175.00 under similar conditions for a return game in football in 1921.

On September 23, Mines Manager Hamm wrote again: We have been surprised at your delay in replying to our letter of the 13 in which we elected to play here. In accordance with the choice that you submitted to us of playing you on October 2 either at Socorro or Albuquerque. Kindly inform us at once as to your acceptance or refusal of the contract as submitted by us, as we will be unable to hold this date open for you much longer. If you cancel this game, it is possible that we can arrange for another game at a later date.

On the evening of the 23 Varsity Manager Bryan called up Mines Athletic Director O'Loughlin over the phone and asked for a transfer of the October 2 game from Socorro to Albuquerque. Asked by Mr. Bryan if there were no conditions whatever under which Mines could play at Albuquerque on the second, instead of at Socorro. Mr. O'Loughlin replied that Mines could play at Albuquerque on the second if the Varsity would meet Mines at Socorro this season on Oct. 30 for a return game. Mr. Bryan agreed to confer with Varsity coach and call Mr. O'Loughlin over phone on following day to complete the negotiations for an arrangement to have Mines play Varsity at Albuquerque on October 2 and at Socorro on October 30.

On September 26, Varsity manager sent the following telegram to Mr. O'Loughlin: Play you October 2 for $175.00 at Albuquerque, return game Socorro, October 30, same guarantee as agreed.

Meanwhile Mr. O'Loughlin had conferred with Mines athletic council on the matter of changing October 2 game from Socorro to Albuquerque and playing at Socorro on October 30, with the result that he wrote to Mr. Bryan on September 26: Your telegram of the twenty-fifth received offer to play Mines at Albuquerque on Oct. 2 for $175.00 with a return game at Socorro October 30 with the same guarantee. In reply, I regret to advise that it is the decision of the athletic council, in view of last year's experience in the matter of return games between Mines and Varsity, that the first games of such dual meetings between the institutions this year must be played at Socorro. Accordingly the arrangement outlined in your telegram of the twenty-fifth is unacceptable. We can meet you for a first game at Socorro only. Kindly advise us as to your decision to accept or refuse this date of Oct. 2 at Socorro according to your original proposition to us and our choice based thereon as noted in signed contract submitted by us for your acceptance and signature September 13. Trusting you will appreciate our position in this matter and advise as soon as possible as to your course, etc.

The result was the article appearing in The Evening Herald September 28, together with the telegram to Mr. O'Loughlin quoted therein.

Replying on your sense of fair play, Mr. Editor, to appreciate the injustice done us by this newspaper article, we trust that you will publish these 10 paragraphs, or this communication in its entirety, assuring you that we will gratefully appreciate such a courtesy at the hands of the Albuquerque newspapers.

We will let the matter drop there, leaving it to the public to compare the newspaper article and telegram in question with this correspondence and we suggest that the reader ask Mr. Bryan to produce for comparison his copies of this same correspondence.

Very sincerely yours,

W. R. HAMM,
Football manager.