New-York tribune., 1909-12-17
GOLF WAR BREWING
VEST UP IN ARMS.
Amendment Proposed That
Means Secession.

Chicago. Dec. 16-The Western Golf As
sociatiOn will change its name 10 the
American Golf Association and will make
any organized golf club lin North and
South America and the Islands pertaining
thereto" eligible for membership II the re-
port of the committee appointed TO frame
amendments TO the constitution is adopted
These proposed amendments. which were
reported on favOrably by the committee
last night. will be voted on at the annual
meeting in this city on January 15
As each club in the association is en-
utied TO cast two votes. either by mail
proxy or direct representation. the chances
are In favor of a heavy vote being poIled
Inc proposed amendments. read in the
form Of a resolution. are as follows:
Be il Resolved. that Article of the con-
stitutiOn of this association he and IN Is
hereby amended follows:
by striking out the word Western and
inserting In lieu thereof the word Amer
ms association shall be called the Amer
lean Golf Association: and further.
be II Resolved. that Section /. Article
3, or the constitution OF this association
be and IL is hereby amended as follows.
by striking out the whole of said section
ana substituting therefor the following:
any properly organized club on the con-
tinents of North and south America. and
Islands pertaining thereto, maintaining or
eohlroIllng a golf course shall be eligible
10 membership I'm this association"
According to statements by prominent
golfers here, proper consideration has not
been given the Western Golf Association
by the United States Golf Association on
several occasions and II has practically
been taxation without representation"
Further evidence of the way Western
golfers feel on the subject is shown I'm an
hN~
Of the Glenview Golf Club. In the current
number OF The Golfers Magazine Mr.
Bryant urges all clubs in the Western
body to cast their votes in favor Of the
amendments. He says in part:
1T is the American spirit when prob
lens arise 10 solve them. Golfers for
years have been trying TO solve the prob
lem of national golf association. Ulti-
mately IL will be done and in a manner
to fit the whole country. not just a small
portion OF it. The problem apparently
cannot be solved through the United States
Golf Association. as it turns a deaf ear u
all attempts TO change II into a representa-
tive body. Why. then. not make the at
tempt through the Western Golf AssOcia-
tiOn. in which every club has an equality
of votes and which has established a repu-
tatiOn for progressive methods?
There are many in various sections of
the country who contend that the United
States Golf Association, as at present con-
Etituted. is not a national association and
should not be termed such; that its meth
cd and form Of government are fundament-
ally wrong; that it's actual membership
IS composed of only fOrty-five clubs. as
IN politics II is only the voters that count.
and the non-vOting clubs. 230 in number,
having no voice in legislation and cleo
tions. should not be counted as members
of the United States Golf Association. they
being disfranChised.
A vote in favor Of the proposed amend
ment means the ultimate formation OF
representative national association. \
vote against the amendment means what
we now have. the United States Golf As
sociation-an un- American anomaly. Which
shall II be?'
The Minikahda and Detroit golf clubs
have. applied for the Western amateur
championship tournament next summer.