Evening star., 1908-12-20
WANT NATIONAL REGATTA.
Proper Place for Holding Big Event
Is on the Potomac.

is OH Cnc 1OCOm0C.
| The article in last Sundays Star in rela-
ton to the national regatta Of 1909. par
ticularly that portion in which it was
stated that Washington could have it for
the asking. stirred up quite discussion
among the devotees of aquaticS in this
vicinity. and the regret was sincere that
the Potomacs could not see their way
clear to shoulder the responsibility.
While Washington has had many inn
por:ant regattas held here on the Po-
tomac, only twice. 1881 and 1891. has the
greatest event Of all-the national-evel
been pulled off here for the benefit OF
it's people, and many such believe that
next year is the one that Washington
should corral
In speaking on this subject Mr.. William
G. Mckinney, assistant superintendent of
the bureau of engraving and printing. an
oarsman of national reputation. being
many years champion Sculier of the SOut'
and the cleverest bow man the Potomac
Club ever produced, said that it was really
an evil that the national regatta is not
pulled off here on the Potomac.
1--WE have here the grandeSt river and
cousSe in the world, and with the National
capital as the drawing card the oarsmen
Of the world are always anxious to come
here to compete. as is shown by the
Middle States and local regattaS held here
under the auspices of the Potomac River
Association
Il realize the heavy expense a regatta
entails on a locality of the entire eX-
pense falling on the shoulders of the one
active club in our city, but I sincerely be-
lieve that if the scheme was taken up as
d citizens affair, and not as single row
ing organization, success can be made OF
the regatta from a financial point of view
Il we'll remember back In the old fight
ing DAYS of Analostons. Columbias and
Potomacs how things used to hum and
the two nationals. in which participated
were pulled Off without any financial loss
to the clubs. beyond that which they
would naturally have to pay out. Citizens
had charge of the resattaS then and
financed both regattas along in splendid
manner. and l believe that such could be
done again in 1909 il the regatta associa-
ton will go after it properly.
1T would he paying affair to our
hotel and business people, as the regatta
runs two days and attracts large crowds
| from all sections. Why, in some cities.
Worcester and Saratoga for instance. the
street railways pay the entire expenses,
as they reap a big return from the crowd,
and as the course is right at the terminus
of all the roads in the District they would
surely come down literally with dona-
tonS.
1T would be splendid thing. TOO, in
the first year of President-eiect Taft 10
hold the National here. for while at Yale
he was one of Old Ellis best sweeps and
there is no doubt he would lend his best
efforts of his Office to make the National
d great success.
If d meeting of citizens is called. prom
inent ones outside the pale of the clubs,
and they effect an organization for the
purpose, I believe civic pride would be
aroused to such an extent that the tinan-
cial end, which is the only drawback,
would be easily surmounted."
Another of the old boys. MIR. Terrence
German of the sixth auditors Office and
the stroke Of the famous Reverwick
tennial year. 1876, defeated the English,
French, Irish, Canadians and American
crews for the worlds championship, at
Philadelphia, is warm supporter of
bringing the big regatta here next year.
This is really the ideal spot for all
national regattas," said Mr. German, ''for
nowhere can one find such a beautiful
stream and always free from roughness,
which oarsmen despise. l hope the Po-
tomacs will start a boom to get the
regatta here next year, / am sure
il can be run off TO success.
The drift of talk is all toward making
fight for the date, but among the pro-
meters of regattas hereabouts the sub
iect is looked at In a rather doubtful way,
but it is settled that they will not make
definite move just now, as they have
too many financial affairs in their way to
assume any other risks
:.
Ruddicks' boat manufacturing estab-
lishment in New York was destroyed by
fire recently and many valuable models
Of shells lost. Among them was the one
on which that excellent racing boat of
the POtomacS was built, and the club
anticipated another one this spring from
the same model. they are very much dis
appointed thereby.
The track men of the rowing clubs
would like some of the indoor games to
put on relay race for the boat clubs, as
it is certain enough teams could be made
Old Dominons would enter teams sure,
while the Analostans and Washington
Canoe Club could easily be induced to
do likewise. Here is your chance George
town, George Washington or the Federal
hackers, to get busy.
!; =
The Technical High School will not have
crew on the water this year. 1t is to
be regretted that the movement that
commenced here so auspicious couple
away by poor management and judgment
on the part of some interested parties
What is a failure here in Washington is
proving success in Baltimore and Phila-
delpha simply because the schools and
students affiliated with the rowing clubs
have made school boys rowing a feature.
The windy attempt to make it a separate
affair outside the jurisdiction of the
older clubs, was the cause of the down
fall of school rowing in the District, for
such clean sport is too expensive and
heavy 10 be run by boys while yet stu
dents in high schools.