The San Francisco call., 1896-07-08
ST. GEORGE CLUB
ABHORS SLUCG|NG,
Sees No Reason Why 1t
Should Not Hold a
Tournament.
FOR PURE ATHLETICS.
Wishes Only to Increase the
Love for Physical
Culture.
LICENSE COMMITTEE SCORED.
The Members Aver They Will Ask
the Supervisors for No More
Favors.
LICENSE COMMITTEE SCORED.

considerably incensed over what they term
an uDcalled for and wholly unreasonable
action on the part of the Health and Po-
lice Board, or License Board, or License
Committee in refusing to grant the club
permission to hold an athletic tourna-
ment at Mechanics Pavilion on the 9th
Of this month, in which the features were
to be wrestling and fencing contests, box
Inc for points and all other kinds of ath-
letlc exhibitions.
The club guaranteed a purely scientific
sparring contest, and the proceeds of the
entire entertainment were to go toward
the building fund of the club. These guar
antees were made by some of San Fran
clsco's best known and most reputable
citizens. The committee refused wholly
to allow this exhibition or tournament TO
be held. In consequence the members of
the ST. George Club feel aggrieved.
Edward Oliver, secretary of the club,
said yesterday: 1--WE put in an applica-
ton to the Board of Supervisors for per-
nit for an athletic tournament. 1t was
distinctly stated in the application that
boxing would be only a feature of the
tournament. We guaranteed that every
thing should be conducted in a respectable
and orderly manner-that there should be
nothing in the nature of slogging match
or anything TO which the most fastidious
could object.
"I personally appeared before the COM
mittee last Thursday morning, and re-
ferred them to some of our prominent Off
GERS among whom were William Greer
Harrison, Rev. w, w. Bolton, Colonel An
drews and Charles Lyons, and stated that
anything objectionable would do us con-
siderable injury. Colonel Little, Mayor
Sutro's business agent, also appeared be-
fore the committee with me, and gave his
personal guarantee that everything would
be as respectable as could be desired.
81 further stated TO the committee that
the proceeds from She tournament were to
be devoted toward the building fund of
the club, but that at the same time we
were willing 10 pay for the licei-se and for
all other legitimate expenses that might
be necessary.
"But for some reason or other our appli-
cation was refused, and this, too, in the
face of the fact that applications are being
granted to such clubs as the National and
the New Occidental, which have no real
existence so far as l am able to ascertain.
l cannot understand upon what grounds
the application has been refused.
81 have no desire TO say harsh things
about the Health and Police Committee of
the Board of Supervisors, still il does seem
10 me passing strange that permits can be
obtained for such disgracefuI exhibitions
as have recently been given in this City
while respectable athletic tournaments
under the auspices of respectable clubs
with large and influential membership are
refused peremptonly-
What our people will do in the matter
do not know, but personally / am not in
favor Of asking anything further from the
present Board of Supervisors.
"a statement was made in the daily pa-
pers of Friday morning that the applica-
tion was refused because the committee
wished 10 give the National and New Occi-
dental clubs chance first. These two
clubs have been given a very fair show al
ready and the Corbett-Sharkey fight and
the Smith-Gallagher fiasco have shown US
what kind of exhibitions these so-called
clubs are putting up under the sanction of
the Health and Police Committee of the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
''Our object was to give clean and re-
spectacle athletic contest, consisting of
fencing, wrestling, boxing for points and
other athletic amusements that could
have been introduced into such a tourna-
ment.
Our members are very much dIsap-
pointed at their failure TO obtain a permit.
but no doubt we shall find some other
means of accomplishing our objects. Our
club is purely social club, and we have
no desire to be known to the public as any
thing else than respectable club organ
lied Tor social purposes. We disclaim
any desire TO be known as q sporting club
in any sense of the word.
'The club is progressing far beyond ex-
pectations. We are taking in new mem
bers at the rate of 100 month. By the
time we have our new club building
erected we shall undoubtedly have 1000
members. The bids for the building will
be opened tonight, and the work Of put
ting mp the structure will be begun i'm
medlately.
"Since the refusal of the permit for the
tournament our most active members are
exer;ing their efforts toward inducing the
Australian cricketers now playing in
England TO return home by the way of
this City and play series of matches with
the local cricketers here.
Communication with the team has
already been opened and a reply is ex-
pected within tae next few days. Liberal
inducements have been offered to bring
the Australian club here, and It our
efforts are successful we shall have the
grandest exhibition of cricket ever seen in
this country, and thousands OF people
from all over the State and British Co.
lumbia will undoubtedly visit this City to
witness the games"