The Editor, Sir:

This brilliant suggestion of some bright minds of our Stanford student body that OUR Axe, that most precious emblem of Stanford Spirit, be donated as a trophy to be awarded to the winner of the Big Game is not only the most ridiculous but also the shallowest thought yet produced by this University.

In the first place, the Axe is OUR Axe, not theirs, and rightfully belongs here in Palo Alto. Because it has been so long absent from its natural habitat in no way reduces OUR right to its ownership.

The high esteem and spirit which the Axe represents was clearly demonstrated by the events of last Thursday night. Yet it is suggested that this symbol in which Stanford Spirit reaches its apex shall he relinquished to our arch-enemy. Does any sane-minded Stanford cohort really feel that we should sacrifice our most inspiring token simply to make an ostentation of good sportsmanship that would probably be unappreciated by all parties concerned? Shall we take a step that may be regretted by generations of Stanfordites for generations to come? Shall we cheapen the value of the Axe until it is practically worthless? Are we afraid that we cannot hold the Axe against any future attacks that have already been promised in no uncertain terms? And by what right shall we who are now students at Stanford pass upon the final disposition of the Axe? Has not every Stanford alumnus just as much right to be heard on this vital question?

Let us not act hastily and unwisely.

- W. E. Keepit

The Editor, Sir:

What's all this noise about putting the axe up as a Big Game trophy? After it has been the ambition of every red-blooded Stanford man for the past thirty-one years to regain the axe, why should we immediately put it up as a symbol of victory and give Cal a chance to win it back at the next Big Game? The axe never did legally belong to California. They stole it from us. We merely regained what was rightfully ours, and did it in a clean, sportsmanlike manner, even though California has accused us of using "Chicago methods" (surely, tear gas bombs don't sound nearly so Chicago-like as armored cars.)

From California's point of view, putting the axe up as a trophy would be just like saying "Heads I win! tails you lose." They have everything to gain and nothing to lose by such a proposition. I don't mean that we should act as they have, and guard the axe like a miser guards his sack of gold, but let them meet us half way. We don't have to put it up as a trophy unless we want to, and we can keep it as long as they did if we use our heads as well as the fellows who captured it.

If the Californians want to show more sportsmanship than some of their members have already done in raiding our trophy room, and if they want us to be so big hearted, let them put up the Golden Bear as a wager against the axe in the next Big Game. If we win the bear, we'll paint it red. If they win the Axe, they can paint it any color they darned please. Then in succeeding games let both bear and axe be put up as trophies and let the winners take both. We have just as much right to their bear as they have to our axe even though they did have unlawful possession of it for thirty-one years.

It should be further agreed that the losers must escort the trophies across the field and deliver them to the victors.

Yours for better sportsmanship,

- An Oldtimer

The Editor, Sir:

The men who captured the Stanford Axe certainly should be rewarded. Any reward that we might offer would not be great enough, but the alumni, students, and Board of Athletic Control might show their appreciation in a small way by arranging to give all the fellows who actually took part in capturing the axe, a life membership in the Alumni Association and a generous number of of complimentary Big Game tickets for life. (In fact, they deserve the whole stadium.)

Yours until Cal gets the Axe back.

- F. L. Johnson