The Minneapolis journal., 1906-03-17
.sNUBBED|, HOPPE IS
ON The WARPATH
Willie Hoppe Says Disgruntled
Cue sharps Discriminate
Against Him.

x1A G4440U 4AAAAAs
New York, March 17.--william Hoppe, the
champion billiard player of the world, whose
defeat of the noted Vignaux aroused the great
est enthusiasm in Paris has been made to
feel the truth Of the saying that prophet
hath no honor in his own country. His achieve
ment is one that never before was accom-
plished by boy Of his age and it is quite
natural he should expect to receive proper
credit for the feat. So far the general
public is concerned Hoppe has no complaint,
as It has generously applauded him for his
remarkable performance. But by those direct
ly connected with his profession, he insists, he
has been treated with a coldness amounting In
many cases to active antagonism, that Is in
explicable.
On his departure for France to engage the
mighty Vignaux in a struggle for the cham
pionshtp, not expert in this city would
admit that the boy had any chance against
the Frenchman, and many said it was a piece
| of youthful presumption on Hopes part to
| think Of engaging In championship contest
with the French master of the game
One critic pointed out that Hoppe had never
won a tournament from the best performers,
| and therefore, lacked the experience necessary
| to carry him thru a contest with the clever
| Partisan. .-. ..~- .a..-" .s -. .@ ...-
But Vignaux, having seen the boy perform
in the French academies and knowing we'll what
his caliber was, did not regard the challenge
| as impertinent, and at once accepted 1t. Ihe
Frenchman was, doubtless, confident OF victory,
but he realized that his opponent, tho mere
boy, was still a worthy -
When the announcement was made that Hoppe
had won decisively the local billiard sharps were
| temporarily dazed and about all that any OF
| them could say was that it was great sur.
prise.
Champion Is "Cut.'
On the return of the boy with the cham
pionship emblem in his possession he was coolly
received, but he paid attention to that and
| went on in the even tenor of his way. But
when he began to prepare for practice for his
match with Slosson, who had completely ignored
the boy until he won his title, Hoppe says, he
began to encounter the active opposition o.
those who are In the same line of business
He first discovered this feeling when h'
sought to secure the services Of players o.
ability to practice with him in his academy
He made proposition to Jake Schaefer' Du
| that gentleman replied that he was so bus!
he would not be able to get on here until
few days before the match.
Ora Morningstar was next communicated with
do do any ny work with Hoppe, and shortly after
ward he went to Slosson's rooms and assisted
the student.
George Sutton, who is to come across to com
double up with Hoppe in a pleasing sketch a
the latter's academy, but he declined =,
Mclaughlin was requested to come .,o to r,a1 tn
Cutler and Cline could not think of such
thing, as they were too busy with their tour
naments.
Several well-known amateurs were sppeale
to, but they said they feared the professlone
taint and backed away. - -.
y As a result the champion had no one
1 play with except his brother Frank and som
amateur players who have volunteered. a
1t is impossible. for a player to get the bes
results in practice without good man
J oppose him, the effect has been to handica
| the little fellow rather seriously.
, fofS1
: of the champion, "as If there was an unde
standing between certain people to do all the
L can to handicap my boy. His winning OF tt
championship does not seem to please tnen
9 and while his capture Of the title has been
= fine thing for. the game generally, still the
: appear to keep up their opposition to the Dc
= and to do all possible to balk him. You wou
o naturally. think they would try to serve the the
. own interests by assisting him, but they don
e seem to take that view Of the case
I Demands Square Deal.
'.But want to go on record with the
- nouncement that Willie must nave s9ua
:, fair treatment If it is not accorded to nj
: he will take action that may not be relish
BY his enemies. If these tactics are eontinu
q Hoppe may decline to enter the April tourn
J. Iment. and that affair would then be case
: Hamlet without the Dane. These men W
are opposing the boy and throwing oostacl
in his way will. 40 well to consider tae m tu'u !
i last in which the boy will compete
Willie Hoppe was very indignant at
methods pursued by his opponents, ana
,E pressed his surprise that such tactics shot
N I'be employed.
ID when A. F. Troescher of the Brunsw1t
: Bake Collender company, which is the donor
i the emplem for which the players wiz co
ID pete, was asked as to the matter, he replied
10 s'Mr. Hoppe came to me and mace compla
e that his boy was being dlscr1m1nateo agar
~ ~ In the matter Of securing players to pract
T. with the boy, and also as to experts TO p
n in the academy. I told him that so 1ar
of this company was concerned 1t had no ~
va to tell any player where he should play.
-, | Hoppe then lost his temper and left the on
49, ~ without saying anything more on the sup3e
-, So far as am concerned, DO not nnderst'
De what he means. If he cannot secure the pi
ct ers. that is simply matter between Ho
nd and the men. OF course, this shortstop te
al nament will keep the competitors busy II
,r now until March s, and as Tor Morn1nss'
- The was engaged by Slosson the DAY he ian
here. 800 ~,
It ssSutton. I do not believe, will sail until
m latter part Of March, and as for Schaefer, l
he not know what he is doing. All OF these
oh are free to do as they please. and II no
has not been able to secure them that Is
lookout T cannot compel any Of them to c
'Q- nete in his academy. Possibly the elder Ho
ch has had differences with these players,
If that is the case then there Is no need
look further for an explanation. So far
~ Home getting square deal in any of
: events controlled by this company, there Is
ground for question that point"