Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-19
A LETTER ABOUT THE sPoRrsMANs
TOURNAMENT.

EDS. RECORD UNION /: Since the Forester
Club started in this city certain ones have
assumed the Office of suggestors to that organ.
ization. In Sacramento contemporary of
yours suggestor discovers mares nest in the
proceedings of our Club and forthwith pro.
ceeds to produce the eggs. In the first place the
public is informed that the Foresters cannot
claim the idea of forming State organiza-
ton because the San Francisco Clubs have
been steadily at work to that end for some
time. think it was nearly twelve years ago
since the subject was first preached of having
State organization and | will say this, it
was at the suggestion of San Francisco gen.
tieman, Mr.. Kaeding but il the San Fran
cisco Clubs have been steadily at work since
that time they are certainly to be credited
with great deal of hopeless perseverance,
for as there is no State organization they GER
tainly have not accomplished their purpose
up to the present time.
In the next place we are given to under
stand that, as aid is promised the Club from
the State Agricultural Society, the proposed
tournament cannot be called local affair.
Now suppose the Society does give the Club
the 5000, as they THE Clab) will have all the
why they should consult the outside Gibbs as
to what they shall do. Ii they do not get up
a satisfactory programme there will be but
few entries, and, as this would be drawback
to future aid from the Society, it is not likely
that there win be anything done that will be
unsatisfactory. The same persons conducted
the shoot last year, and the Society was so
well satisfied with what they had done that
they voted them twice as much this year as
last
In regard to the handicapping of the sew
eral gentlemen named in the circular, it was
only done after long elaboration upon the
merits of the case, and in mere justice to
poorer shots who might desire to enter, but
who would hesitate before doing so, knowing
it was a certainty, almost, that these gentle
men who are handicapped would secure the
first three prizes if allowed to compete at the
usual distance. Handicapping is done the
world over in everything that man controls
in the sporting line, SO that if fault is found
for such action on the part of the Club, it
only betrays the ignorance of the faulttinder
We are told that if the Club persists in its
course the Clubs of San Francisco will take
no hand in the tournament Last year there
were 90 men to enter the tournament; of that
number but FIVE were from San Francisco.
Considering that that city has nearly as many
Clubs as the balance of the State, l don't
know as they contributed so very largely to
the success of the shoot. Then we are told
of the selfishness and want of public spirit
displayed by Sacramento sportsmen. Now,
suppose we fall back on history little for
few facts. Several years ago when elass-ball
shooting was in its zenith, $500 were collected
by the sportsmen here, who issued an invita-
ton to all in the State to come here and
shoot. The money was given as prizes, and
there was no entrance fee charged. Now
probably there may have been another place
in the State that has done that much, but
never knew of it. AT the last State shoot
held here there were so entries, each paying
$50. The $1,000 thus procured was given
back to the shooters as cash prizes, and in
connection with this there was given at
least $500 worth of prizes by the citizens
given free to the shooters. The large
gun houses of San Francisco were written
to, asking for some contribution toward the
success of the tournament. One house gave
gun.case, another house promised glass
ball trap and a barrel of glass balls but they
were never sent. Several months ago the
clubs of San Francisco combined, and gave a
"Grand State Tournament" They did give
the entrance money back, but they charged
good round price for the pigeons, and the
liberal hearted sportSmen Of San Francisco
secured u par OI DlacK spanish cHtcEeHS anu
a cane probably worth two dollars as extra in
ducements. Comparisons, it is said, are obi
Gus, and | think myself that comparison be-
tween Sacramento and San Francisco in the
matter of Eberality of their sportsmen is only
ridiculous.
The next point alluded to simply shows ig-
norance, wherein it is said there will be 70
entries, which, at $50 apiece, with the sum
contributed, will leave about 81, 500 to be
given as prizes, after deducting the expenses
Now, as there is only 500 given them. and
the expenses will eat that up, I can't see
where the 81 800 is to come from. To con-
clude, it is said that the Sacramento sports
men will fnd themselves occupying back
seat in the first California Sportsmen's Con-
vention. Perhaps that is prophecy, but
they who make it should not forget that such
prophets have no honor in their own country.
j. NJ. Horn
Sacramento, July II, 1880.