The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-16
SPORTSMEN LEAGUE
HAD BIG BANQUET
Most Prominent Sportsmen
in Country Were in At
tendance Last Night.
(Amorican News Service)

american News Service)
New York, Feb. ia sportsmen's
league. or as it might better be called
sportsmen's protective league, was
launched last night at the millionaire
dinner presided over by August Bel
mont at the Waldorf Astoria. The
avowed object of this league is the
formation of an organization TO deal
with the malicious attacks made from
time to time upon sports of all kinds,
but it is said the underlying motive of
this feast of sportsmen is the resump-
ton of racing in New York state. Col
or is lent to this rumor by the fact
that while the league is ostensibly to
protect sports of all kinds, racing
men are decidedly in the majority.
1t has been known for some time
that there has long been fomenting in
the minds of wealthy patrons OF sport
an agitation against the vice crusades
which have made such inroads upon
nearly every form of sport enjoyed in
America. The reason given for so
long a delay in launching such pro-
ject is that the men who. because of
their wealth, must naturally father
such a plan of retaliation, have been
doubtful of its reception by sports
men. 1t is said, however, that they
have long had their fingers on the
pulse of public sentiment and believe
the time is now ripe for drastic action.
Hence the most notable gathering of
Americas sporting fraternity that has
taken place within decade.
The scheme for a protective league,
though new to this country has long
been in operation abroad and has met
with notable success, especially in
England. The league in this country
will embody a broad protective princi-
pie and will be composed of men who
are willing to throw aside all individ-
ual tastes for particular branch of
sport and support the whole edifice.
1t will also be comprehensive enough
to meet the we'll organized attacks of
reformers, and if need be. carry the
warfare into their own territory.
While the credit of the idea is pref
ty we'll distributed among America 9
multi-millionaires Mr.. Harry w. Smith
of Grafton. Mass. master of the Graf
ton hounds and the London Fox hunt
has been especially commended by
fellow sportsmen for his part, both in
disseminating the scheme in America
and the organization of the dinner.
Mr.. Hunt, who is one of the best
known cross country men in America
personally riding two winners of the
grand national steeple chase at Nor
ris Park, has made thorough study
of the English organization and modi.
fed the scheme for adoption in this
country besides actively spreading its
propaganda among his fellows.
The banquet itself was one of the
most remarkable affairs ever given in
the metropolis. No expense was spar.
ed in decorating the great hall of the
Waldorf Astoria. and the art collec.
tons of multimillionaire sportsmen as
we'll as those of the greatest art firms
in England and America had been
ransacked to furnish the decorations
for the occasion. Rare paintings, pic
lures and cups, together with trophies
and emblems of all forms of sport
were freely given that these men OF
millions might seat themselves amid
art objects and trophies worth for
tunes in themselves.
Word has gone forth the world over
of the object of this dinner and mil
lionaires touring Europe, Asia and
Japan hurried home to be present al
the dinner A partial list of the
guests included Secretary of Wal
Dickinson. Gen. Leonard Wood, Gen
Fred Grant, F. X. Sturgis. F. r. Hitch
cock, Thomas Hitchcock, H. X. Knapp
Schuyler Parsons, Alfred Vanderbilt
w. X. Vanderbilt. Jr., Cornelius Van
derbilt, John Jacob Aston, J. w. Har
riman, Judge w. II. Moore, John E
Madden, X. T. Wilson, H. B. Duryea
Harry Payne Whitney. Lawrence
Waterbury. Algernon Daingerfield
Major Foxhall Daingerfield, John G
Follansbee, Andrew Miller, Phillip
Dryer, w. S. Vosburg, J. H. Alexand
err, J. f. Cowdin, J. Z. Widener, A
Henry Higginson, Henry J. Morris
Charles Hayden, II. S. Page, Windsor
T. White, Charles Pfzer, Frederick
Bull, Oakleigh Thorne, J. E. Davis
Robert J. Collier. Robert l.. Gerry,
Watson Webb, Sir Montague Allan
Hugh Allan, J. E. Seagram, A. E. Ogil
vie. Bartlett Maclenan, Adam Beck
Colin Campbell. w. p. Frazier. DR.
Charles McEachern, August Belmont
Jr., and Raymond Belmont.