New-York tribune., 1909-02-05
BARGAIN DAY AT SALEITH AMATEUR IN GOLF
National Champion Opposed to the
Western Definition.

From opinions expressed yesterday oy Wen KNOWN
local golfers there seems TO be little Likelihood OF
the United States Golf Association cooperating
with the Western Golf Association in the latter
proposed new definition Of an amateur Ihe clause
in the Western rule over which most objection Is
raised is the one which states that a person VINO
has been a professional In any other orahch Vi
sport cannot be amateur golfer
In referring to this yesterday Jerome D. 1r@veis'
the national champion, stamped the proposal as
ridiculous. He regards John NJ ward VINO III as
younger days played professional baseball as gooa
an amateur in golf as the next man. Another wen
known local amateur in talking OF the new west
rule. said:
.I can't understand why the Western Coli AS
sooiaton should havo adopted any 5uch RUE II
goes further than anything else Of the KIND ever
proposed In this country with reference to any
amateur sport In England. where social Condluohs
are vastly different from here and professional
In any branch OF sport is regarded as unht LOT as
ISOLATION such q rule might find favor, although
m, not sure that even there they have gono so far
as this rule goes But in this country we are al
supposed TO work for livelihood and q man VINO
earns his money honestly is respected. no matter
what profession. trade or occupation he may fol-
low, Such g rule as this IS uncalled for and uh-
American.
I never heard from any source that the game OF
golf in this country was In any jeopardy from the
cause intiTnated by the adoption Of this new rue
Under the conditions which exist here II IS neon
ceivable how Il ever could be- 1 thinks the con-
cIrdinE clause Of the rule must have gone through
without sufficient discussion notice. for so far
as my reading and observation have gone there
has been no call for such a radical change
doubt II It would receive support II proper aiteh-
ton were called 1t. It is possible there may be
q Jew snobs anxious to ape anything that is Eng
ush who would favor such change. but I do
ths great body Of golfers in this country the credit
OK believing that they in q very small NIL
norty"
Additional light has been shed on the contro-
ve-sy between Jerome d. Travers and the United
States Golf Association As told In The Tribune
on Monday the executive committee took up the
question Of the true value Of the national cham
plonship medal after -he impression had gained
ground that the medal was below standard The
following correspondence however. between Sam
ue y Heebner, treasurer Of the United States Goir
Association, and the Travers family is Under
date Of November 16 Mr.. Heebner wrote TO Jerome
D. Trayers as follows:
BIessrs. Caldwell & Co have just brought TO my
attention your statement that you had the medal
arned by goldsmith and that hat It vas vas pronounce
gold washed and plated. Is this iaS{! regugsC
goldsmith that examined the medal, and an exact
public, and why did you not report the matter az
States Golf Association? have beside me the
medal won by you and a report on the same made
l4G76 carats pure. I win bring this matter to the
attention Of the executive committee at the next
until that time.
In answer to the above Vincent P. Travers,
father of the national champion. replied TO Mr
Heebner November Is follows:
Your favor of the 18th instant to hand; The
statement that my son. Jerome had the medal eX-
anined by goldsmith IS incorrect The fact IS.
took the medal 20 engraver 10 have his name
engraved thereon. After, engraving the name the the
reCesses of the letters showed up a bright metal
that looked like silver. The engrayer said he dld
There was no actual test made l mentioned the
fact to Jerome, and he inadvertently mentioned II
TO some OF his friends. CaldweFs representative
stated they used a silver alloy That explained
why the metal looked like silver. ] told him II
would be better some other alloy that looked
more like gold, and then they would not be open
suspicion. According to the analysis, there IL
40 per cent of silver in the composition ana q
bright metal like silver will predomtnate 10 such
extent that IT will throw even an expert on his
guard. There disposition on the part or
the engraver knock the goods, and so far as
Jerome was personally concerned the intrinsic
value Of the medal did not count for much
An odd coincidence is that shortly after the first
talk concerning Travers prize. Walter J. Travis
took his medal. in the qualifying round of
the national championship, to a jeweller, with
view to finding out whether 1t was up to former
standards Mr. Travis's fears were set at rest when
told that his medal fourteen carat fine.