The Washington times., 1905-08-20
BOAT CLUB
MAKES FIRM DENIAL
Says Statements by exMember Concerning Organization
and Its Methods Are Unrue-An Explanation
and Some History.

Ing by any member owning #. so that
each and every member OF the club has
had an equal voice in the appointment OF
the officers of the club, and the election
OF all members of the board OF gov
ernors, by whom the affairs of the club
are managed.
The statement that "a prominent
Georgetown business man" offered to
buy up all the stock and turn 1t back
into the treasury. and failing In this
laudable effort 10 emancipate our long
suffering friend he invested his rnonsy
in an eight-oared shell which he gave
the club, and then left in disgust. il
mere childish prattle, and appeals to
our sense of Eumor. We are afraid that
our tsport5manltke friends gullibiIity
must have been imposed on by some Of
his co-workeTs in the destruction Of the
Potomac Boat Club. EVe cannot believe
that your informant has enough ina gil
nation to cOncoct The above statement:
he has been misguided and misied. We
are sorry for him. The Potomac Boat
Club has been very fortunate In having
some generous and public-spirited mem
bers, but has never been 50 fortunate
as to have an eight-oared shell presented
to it by any member.
Now, as TO the disgruntled member
and John Hadley Doyle. the president OF
the club To these who know Mr.. Doyls
as a gentleman and an admiTer and pro-
moter of amateur athletics, our defense
of him will seem superfuous, but as this
person is 50 ungailant as to attack Mr..
Doyle by name, and at the same time
is too eowardly 10 come out IN the open
and give his name. and has seen fit to
attack his good name and his square
sportsmanship. we deem it our duty to
make a few remarks for the informa-
tion OF those who may not know Mr..
Doyle. and may be misled by the lying
statements Of your informant. John
Hadle Doyle has done more for the per-
petuat ton of rowing. and the renewed in
terest in this sport on the Potomac
river in the last few years than any
other man in the city Of Washington
in aquatics since he first joined the Po-
tomac River Regatta Association was
formed, and he has labored constantly
and inteIligently to increase the interest
in acquatics since he first Joined the Po-
tomac Boat Club, In 1889. He has been
elected president of our club for the past
ten years, and has devoted his time and
energies to the upbuilding of rowing IL
general. and the Potomac Boat Club in
particular He has been an ardent pro-
moter of amateur athletics in all lines,
and is prominently identified with the
athletics of Georgetown University. lie
has the unbounued respect and esteem
of all square athletes throughout the
United States. wherever he IS known,
and those who know him best Will not
be surprised that he resented a personal
insult given him. not in the heat OF argu-
ment. but by a man who was the ag-
gressor and very much larger than he
The statement that the stockh0ldiuR
members of the board of governors
'.whitewashed'' Mr. Doyle when charges
were preferred against him for assault
is a lie, and the man who made such
statement IS unworthy of belief. It is
true. charges were preferred against
Mr.. Doyle by the member who was as
saulted. and he was given a fair trial.
The member who preferred the charges
had the privilege of summoning, and did
summon, all the witnesses he desired.
Mr.. Doyle rested hfs case on the bare
statements of his accuser. feeling that
he needed no denfense or witnesses.
The board of governors of the club.
after hearing the evidence Of the MEM
Der and his witnesses, decided that he
was tie aggressor, and that Mr.. Doyle
had done what any other self-respecting
gentleman would have done under Ike
circumstances. The affair was most
unfortunate one, and no one regretted
IT more than Mr.. Doyle himself, bur
under the circumstances he had no other
alternative than to protect himself
from insult and assault.
Now, Mr. Editor, we feel that we
have made plain to you the fact that
your informant is either ignorant or
malicious. and that your spirit of fair
ness will manifest itself in giving tha
same publicity TO this statement q s you
did 70 the malicious misstatements Of
this "gentlemanly promoter and patron
Of craftsmanship"
JOHN. J. NOLAN.
CHARLES G. WARDEN.
w E. II. MERRITT.
Washington. D. c.. Aug, II, 1905.