The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-09
LAWSON AND THE CUP.
The Question of the Eligibility of
the Indepepdcnce.

NEW YORK, March Sit seems prob
able that Thomas W. Lawson will have
had his trouble for nothing in building
the yacht Independence unless he con-
sents to have her sailed under the name
and colors of member of the New York
Yacht Club in the trial races for the
honor of defending the Americas Cup
against Sir Thomas Lipton's challenge.
Statements made yesterday by an infiuen-
tfal member of the organization which
has had charge OF the cups defence ever
since the trophy came to this side of the
Atlantic were to the effect that the Cup
Committee would not construe otherwise
than strictly the clubs rules under which
the competition is open only to the club $
members and that the fact that Mr..
Lawson vas assuming an expense of at
least e150.0O0 would not be considered
grounds for an invitation to him to enter
the trial races.
Action. it is understood, will be deferred
until the Boston boat is brought to the
starting line for the first trial race. The
fact that the Independence is ineligible
will then be communicated to Mr.. Law
son. and whatever develops then will de-
pend upon the course OF the Boston
yachtsman His boat will not be allowed
in the race unless she is transferred to a
member of the New York Yacht Club,
carries that members flag. and is enter
ed in the clubs records.
The member who told of the clubs at
titude toward the Boston man and his
boat said:
Mr.. Lawson is not member of the
club, and according to our rules he is not
in a position to enter his yacht In any OF
our races. These are for members only,
and the only time that this rule is broken
is when foreign yacht is in these wa
tiers. when the owner has sometimes been
invited to take part. This is special
rule in the races for the Astor cups ana
it was the same in all the races for the
Goelet cups. If the Independence flies tie
flag of member of the club and is reg
ularly enrolled in the fleet she can enter
any races, including the trials for the cup;
and IL fast enough to defeat the Columbia
and the new yacht being built at HERE
shoffs she can be selected by the Cup
Committee to represent the club in the IN
ternational races.
Another reason why Mr.. Lawson will
not be invited to take part in the trial
races is that he was once proposed for
membership in the club, but the commit
and friends were asked to withdraw his
name. If they had persisted, of course
Mr.. Lawson would have been defeat at
the election The same thing happened
in the Eastern Aacht Club. and the only
Yacht club of which Mr.. Lawson is
member is the ull-Massachusetts Club.
Now. it would look very strange If the
New York Yacht Club should invite
man to take part in it's races after hay
ing refused to allow him to become Il
member of its club.
When Commodore Stevens and the
other owners Of the America turned over
to the New York Yacht Club the trophy
that has become so famous, they decided
it to be a perpetual challenge cup. sub
jeCt to challenge by yachts owned in for
eign countries, the races to be sailed
under the rules OF the New York facht
Club as long as it held the cup. The
qualifications for entry in competitions /
held by the club are stated in Rule "
and in Chapter " Of the bylaws, which
say:
''First-No yacht can be entered for
club race unless her ownership, rig, ton
mage. dimensions. and measurement Tor /
time allowance, as competed by the |
measurer in accordance with the rules Of I
the club are on record with the secretary |
and true model deposited with him
NO Yacht shall be entitled to repre- |
sentation until she shall have been regis |
tered on the clubs record in the name OF /
her owner or owners; shall have been |
launched. and a certificate signed by the |
mea Surer MED with the secretary sptGI- I
fying her dimensions and rig
Mr.. Lawson has friends here who are |
inclined to resent the view taken by the !
organization that has defended the cup /
through so many years at Il |
cost of many thousands of dollars. while /
It's members have spent fortunes for de-
lending yachts. Mr. Lawson's friends say |
that II will be an arbitrary ruling which |
will exclude the Boston boat. They point |
out that the Atlantic, which was built by
4 syndicate, was allowed to enter the cup
-rials in 1856 Most of the members of the
syndicate were, however. New York Yacht
Club members, and the Atlantic was
sailed under the management of Latham
A. Fish, for years leading member of
The club Mr.. Lawsons friends also in
stance the case of the Pilgrim. a syndi
,ate of Boston yachtsmen built the PHI
grim, which sailed in the trials. X. Suy-
lam Palmer and Bayard Thayer of the
syndicate were members of the New
York Yacht Club. and the Pilgrim sailed
Inder Mr. Palmer's colors. Gen. Charles
l. Paine, who, Mr.. Lawson's friends say
s Boston yachtsman- was elected a
of the New York Yacht Club in
$50