New-York tribune., 1910-01-09
TO AVERT COLE WAR
DEM4NDS OF VEST
MY BE MET.
Leighton CaLkins Suggests Re
iqaon Of Constitution Of
National Body.

Decisive steps were taken yesterday
toward averting golf war. which has been
threatening for some time. when copies
containing drafts of a proposed revision of
the constitution Of the United States Golf
Association We're sent out by Robert c.
Watson. the secretary. Leighton Calkins,
former member Of the executive committee,
Is the author Of the revised code. and in an
explanatory statement to the secretary the
old constitution is handled without gloves.
While the proposed constitution is dis
t;nctly loyal 10 the traditions of the game,
* also opens up the way To solution of
the problem OF membership and govern
nent over which the West has become so
wrought up of late. There is a proposition
TO have the members divided into two
classes. known as active and associate,
Instead OF associate and allied" as at
present Both Herbert Jaques. president Of
the United States Golf Association. and Mr..
Watson are in accord with the work which
has been done by Mr. CaIkins. and it is the
general belief that the other members of
the executive committee WIFI also look upon
the revision with favor
When seen IN his Office late yesterday
afternoon. Mr.. Caikins explained the pur-
pose OF the proposed revision as follows:
To fair minded men in the East it has
been perfectly apparent for several years
that there has been merit in the claim of
the West that the United States Golf As
socisfion has ceased TO be national in scope
and activity. although # has been charged
unfairly that the leading Eastern clubs
have conspired 10 retain control When the
association was organized. in 1885, the game
u-ss little known except in the East, only
one Western club being included in the
membership The constitution therefore
provided that consideration should be given
to the geographical location of clubs ap-
plying for membership so to preserve
Just distribution of the voting power. The
intent was TO prevent the election of too
many voting clubs from the East. especial
~ from the New York district, which origi-
nany had three out OF the FIVE voting clubs.
unfortunately this provision. inserted
only with the best Intentions originally, has
always been construed in the West as hav-
ing been intended TO maintain Eastern con-
. troll by keeping out Western clubs. although
there has not been a single case of any
club being blackbailed. The provision in
question, however. was always a mistake.
So long the interest in the game was
mainly in the East. it was proper for the
East 10 have control of affairs. Now that
the game is widespread. the control should
he distributed generally over the country.
II therefore follows that now. in the be-
ginning. there is no useful purpose served
ny keeping out any representative club ap-
plying for membership. Any club having
an eighteen-hole course should be eligible,
II of good reputation.
AT the same time the fact is that about
three-quarters Of the voting clubs are To-
Gated east Of Pittsburg. All Of the annual
meetings in sixteen years have been held
in the East. except one Two-thirds Of all
championships and about five-sixths of
a1 meetings of the executive committee
have been held on the Atlantic Coast
Therefore. il is incontrovertibie that the
activities Of the association are sectional,
not national. and the West is and has been
right in claiming this tn be the fact, and
in demanding reform. ] might add that
since the organization OF the association
the presidents. secretaries and treasurers
hsve always come from the East. which
vas proper enough in the early days, but
viii no longer suffice if the association is
% represent the entire country
So much [ have said in fairness 10 the
West In fairness TO the East let me say
that the criticism Of the West while justi-
red as TO effect. has been unfair as 10
cause The results have been charged up
10 q malicious intention 10 maintain East
ern clique control, whereas the real trouble
has beer duo 10 other causes Il has also
ne~n claimed that the denial of a vote to
The allied clubs has held back an ex-
psusion Of the association along national
lines. whereas it has had nothing to do
with IL In short the West has had ample
ground for dissatisfaction, but has not been
aole to pat its finger Oh the sore, or to sug-
Gcst. until very recen j., any adequate
cure.
The theory Of the allied class is 10 per
NIT small insignificant golf clups End social
clubs % Joint at small expense $50 yearly.
so that their members can be eligible for
championships. The theory of the voting
class IS that representative golf clubs with
oiEhteen-hole courses shall have the con-
troll But 1and this is the most important
fscO the reason why foUr-fifths of the voI-
ing clubs are Eastern clubs is solely he
cause practically all the meetings Of the
association and executive committee ana
tNo-thirds Of all championships are held
IN the East There is no inducernent for
Western clubs TO join as full members a
thereby they merely get a vote and the
right Of their members 10 be on the axecu-
tive committee and these rights have no
great value. with practically all meetings
held IN the East
for adoption At the annual meeting. giving
any eighteen-hoe club a right to become a
fuT menber. regardless of location. and
containing other broad features But this
revision is intended only as a beginning.
in addition, J shall introduce a resolution
FOR the appointment of a special committee
Of representative men to consider whether
= would be advisable 10 abolish club repre-
sentatiou and substitute representation by
constituent associations, whether if
club representation is retained, each club
shall have vote. and also TO recommend
plan for distributing meetings and cham
pionsh;ps more justly over the entire coun-
try.
This special committee shall have full
foWe er To go into the entire matter of asso-
citation government 10 effectuate a really
national association. I believe all broad
minded men VIII support this plan, which
j. in the interest Of the game
The annual meeting OF the United States
Golf Association VIII be held in this city
ou January p. The meeting of the West
eTn Golf Association. when the members
will vote on an amendment TO broaden its
scope and change its name 10 the American
Association Will la heIa Ianu-