Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-13
Among the Oarsnen

In a couple Of weeks the rowing season
OF the country will come to an end, and
from that time On until the spring OF 1905
the oarsnen will enthuse only in rehears-
Ing the battles OF the past In many OF
the clubs Il will be case OF "shellackins
checks" and paving the way for greater
successes and activity among the devotees
OF this sport. AL OF the clubs have their
UPS and downs in aquatice, and, like every
thing else IN this world, they are kings
when up, but such old "dubs' when down,
az illustration just now that applies most
pointedly TO the celebrated Vesper Club and
crew OF Philadelphia Their defeat in Eng
land and their action since coming nome
refusing 20 enter crew at Baltimore yes
terday, have opened the tloodgate OF harsh
criticism, and they are being roundly
abused for their action.
Another Illustration refers to the Potomac
Boat Club especially, 1t Is not detracting
one iota from the other club here TO say
that this club has stood out paramount BE
the leader of rowing In the south. and this
city In particular, II has managed all
regattes held on the Potomac river in late
years and has pulled them off to the sat
isfaction Of everybody This year. with
the national regatta at Baltimore, the club
desired to make q showing that would JUS
tify the support Baltimore had always CIV
en- local regattas. and not wishing to go to
the merchants and ask aid nor get up en-
terta,nments which meant that few would
do ell the work, such as ticket selling. etc,
II determined 10 assess, per capita, each
member. This raised G. tempest. and, IN
consequence. quite large number have re-
signed from the club. while others have
been summarily dropped for the non-pay-
rnent OF the assessment. This means quite
loss Of revenue TO the club but the Of
fcers state that In the end II will more
than justify itself. Most OF those who
protested against the assessment were the
devotees Of canoeing, who had nothing IN
common with shell rowing or competition
In regattas. and did not fee! that they
should be forced TO pay for such-
" y
This argument Is met by the statement
that they were members of an acknow!-
edged rowing club. whose prestige at home
and abroad was achieved solely through
the prowess Of It's crews. and all were fully
aware OF the fact. But all the same many
OF the canoeists have absolutely refused to
pay the assessment
THIS state of affairs has kept sort OF
uurestful feeling among the oarsmen, and
elght-oared crew Will be sent TO Philadel-
mia on Labor day TO compete In the mid
die states regatta. The Potomacs have
lad crews IN this regatta for eveN year
10 which the regatta has been held, and
this year wanted TO go TO Philadelphia Tor
MANY reasons The Potomacs had the call
on the middle states this year, but gave
way TO the pleadings OF Commodore Rob
ert Mlligan, who. head officer or the
middle states, and likewise the Schuylkill
Navy, desired the regatta at his homo
Commodore Milllgan has always been a
stanch friend of the Potomac Boat Club.
and In the three years past has been the
means OF sending many crews and scullers
here that under other circumstances would
have stayed away. So, to help make his re-
gatta big success, the Potomacs were
anxious to send their crew, the middle
states champion eight. to uphold their title.
The regatta committee OF the club-Messrs
Warden. Zappone and Doyle-will decide
the question AonAAv. They have secured