The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-19
LAWSON'S PLAIN REPLY
OWNER OF INDEPENDENCE TO THE
NEW YORK YACHT CLUB.
refuses to Give Up Ownership, but
Will Do Anything Else in REASON
Cause of the Dispute Launched.

BOSTON. May 1~s.-Thomas w. Lawson
tonight gave out a statement in which he
says that under no circumstances will he
transfer his ownership of the independence
TO any one else. The statement. in part,
follows:
apparently the reason for the building
of the Independence no longer exists. APP
parently she cannot enter the trial races for
the selection of a vessel to defend the
Americas cup, nor can she, If she is the
best American vessel, have the honor of de-
Tending the cup. From start to finish the
New York Yacht Club has expressed a de-
sire to be fair and just, but has been I'M
either the deed of gift, the constitution and
bylaws or the rules, regulations and Gus
toms of the club the independence could
take no part in the trial or cup races unless
/ gave up my ownership of her TO a gentle
man of the club. L agreed to bind myself
to do all those things they requested that
were possible for an owner TO do; but, or
course L was u"nchangeably hrna in my po-
sition that / would under no circumstance
give to any individual that which in every
way belongs solely to me.
1T is not for me TO ~criticise the position
taken by the New York Yacht Club, nor
have 1 any desire to do so. L can only re-
greet that the deed of gift of the Americas
cup or the constitution or the bylaws, or
the rules, regulations or customs or the
New York Yacht Club, make IL Impossible
for the Independence. which | believe as
good a boat as either the Columbia or the
Constitution, TO race. but IL is for me TO
comment on the fact that If the position
taken by the New York Yacht Club Is
tenable, and an honorable and fair way
cannot be found of avoiding this dif1culty
i'm the present and like cases which may
arise, the existence of the Americas cup is
a menace TO manly sport, as 1t tends 10 be-
little and narrow the international yacht
ing contests by compelling those who wish
TO take part, If they be Americans and not
members of the New York Yacht Club. to
do these things, which fair sportsmen
should not be called upon to do.
81 trust that sportsmen, in passing Judg-
ment on this unfortunate affair, Will give
due consideration TO the views which nave
influenced the New York Yacht cup IN
making its decision, for IL may be thai the
members of the New York Yacht Club. like
myself, are circumscribed by conditions
over which they have no control. AS the
matter stands now, the New York Yacht
Club cannot see its way clear 10 allow the
Independence to start in the trial races,
and, consequently, in the races for the
cup defense. unless L transfer my owner
ship of the independence to some other in
Gividual, which l will under no corcum-
stance do. although / will freely and alb
solutely intrust the boat to the New York
Yacht Club or to any ommlttee or OF
fetal the New York Yacht Club may de-
eide on in any way that the club may de-
sire.
'If within the next few days l definitely
determine that the Independence cannot
have any opportunity in the cup races L
will ask the owner of Shamrock ana
Shamrock IL and the owners of the Column
bia and Constitution TO give the hide
pendence a race after the Americas cup
match mas been decided, and will agree TO
any terms or conditions, time or place
which any recognized American yacht club
will decide to be fair. and as such race
will not be confined 20 existing conditions
/ trust no insurmountable obstacle will
prevent its contamination.
IF il is impossible TO arrange these
races | may be obliged, much as | will re-
greet it, to cancel the existing engagement
Of the Independence to race the Column
bia and Constitution at Newport on July 2,
4 and 6, because it would be manifestly
unfair to hang the fate of the independence
on this one race, which occurs at such an
early date as TO give her no reasonable
opportunity 30 get in trim.
IF IL cannot be definitely decided within
a few days that the Independence has
something 10 live for 1 will allow her mer-
its TO remain INFESTED and do all in my
power to obliterate any evil effects that
may have come to the grand sport Of
yachting through anything connected with
this unfortunate episode"