New-York tribune., 1911-12-24

association because 1t was fostering pool
room. Explanations failed to be con5ne-
ing. The bold. black type headlines tie
newspapers repeatedly stated, "Poolroom
Raided." Therefore there must be some
covert copartnership with evil
Gaining the attention Of the better class
of public billiard room keepers Of the
country, It was comparatively easy for
the Young Mems Christian Association Of
ficials TO convince them that change ot
name was to be desired. II was shown
that the cheaper class of rooms were more
often conducted as gambling places for
youths than for the ostensible purpose OF
billiards and pool 1t was the custom OF
keepers Of such rooms To spread Wnat
gamblers term sweat cloth upon the TOD
OF one of the pocketed tables. This CLOTH
usually of light oicloth, painted and num-
, bered in various ways, and similar to the
board upon which faro and roulette play
ers placed their bets, was the foundation
of various games OF chance played with
dice. The layout was not expensive, ana
1t had the advantage Of being easily ana
surely disposed of in the event OF the pe-
lice Unexpectedly visiting the room.
warning word, swish and the whole al
fair was whisked out of sight.
It is on record that I'm one room in CHI
cago that received a sudden visit OF the pc
lice the cloth, dice and chips were N
twinklns tucked beneath the vest or the
dealer, who was already OF corpulent pro
portions and would have escaped deteaon
but for the information of player. Iaeie
was q raid of this description on room
in Broadway, near 42d street IN this CITY
not many months ago. The police had eeeh
informed that the innocent appearing pool
room was only the blind for q nourlshlns
gambling game. The entrance TO the room'
which was up one flight OF stairs was
watched by detectives, who counted nearH
two hundred men entering the place Upon
the entrance Of the detectives only 'h'ee
or four of the pool tables in the room "e'7
ir use and altogether there were not hi'esn
men present. However, in the prlVe"
academy room adjoining there was san 70
be a match going on. II was there thar 'he
detectives found the crowd and as eapois''
a layout as has ever been coniscated.
Chicago was the first TO take concertei
action to purge the game OF its eNh ass0-
Citations tom" Foley who conduc'S .
famous billiard room next door 20 the AuoF
torium Hotel. enlisted others In his crusaue'
and the Illinois state association was
, formed, with the avowed purpose OF dn.ias
the gamblers out. other cities folloWea T"
line in the movement, so that IL was s0Is
Of the proportions OF a national sS"
alton.
Then the matter Of changing the NAM
was taken up. Alfredo De orc, the s'e1'
champion at the game; Thomas HuesI0a'
Jerome Keogh. Clearwater and other lol
mer holders OF the title were called VI"
consultation The result was the decisiv'
to rechristen the old game as pocket D'H
iards Under this title the country h'
been flooded with literature during the @s'
month. Several thousand dollars has pSe"
spent in the campaign 10 make tne ue'
name a live issue among the clubs anu ~.
leading amateurs, and II is achieNiHs ~
purpose with remarkable rapidly
the burning topic Of the hour wherever nc
assemble to play or watch BILLIARDS. -
the National Association OF Amateur Ds..
lard Players set It's seal OF approvai up-
the new designation at a recent meeuns
this city, held at the New York cluo' Wv
20 West 10Th street There 1t was deei'e'
TO conduct the national amateur ehamp'O"
ship tournament next March unosr =,
title OF pocket billiards. Maurice pap'
George Slosson, John Doyle ana o'n.
among the foremost room Keepers OF ~"
city have Joined In the movement when
creating one OF the greatest changes hh0''
In the world OF sport.
The name selected. however, is not So
orally regarded with favor. IL IS eunve.
some title. De orc stated only the o'"s
day that he had recently become eonV'ISs
that the name pyramids was better.
name is favored because Il is the one
English use for their hlteen-oall game.
is concise. and really informs the mlno
to the style OF game. while pocket onH.
seems top heavy and is somewhat e0n''
ing TO those not well Informed. -,
There is no doubt, from the wideS~,s
interest that has been shown, that the W
name of pool Is TO be done away "ss
Whether the name OF pocket BILLIARDS
survive the present controversy anu
tation remains to be seen. IL may DC -,
planted by another or several before "
muddy waters that have been surtsu
over the old game run clear again ~ 49,
event II is the first time In sport thS'
evil associations which have oeco"9 a.
tached 10 pool like a parasite have
a change for respeotabilty sake nece'ss''