The Washington herald., 1912-01-21
BY Az MACHLER.


A much-mooted question among bowl
ers Is that of professionalism. Many
claim there are no professional (D bowl
ers. Can he be recognized as a class and
segregated from the amateur performer
These questions are agitating the minds
of bowling promoters all the way from
New York to San Francisco. President
William Kirk OF the National Bowling
Association, in a recent speech delivered
at Wilmington. Del, spoke very emphat-
icaIly in regard to this problem Presi-
dent Kirk seemed 10 feel that the very
life Of the tenpin game depends upon its
successful solution.
In the past ten years bowling has grown
in popularity to such an extent that It can
almost be called the national indoor. game
OF America To-day there are probably
more men actively participating in bowl
ing contests than any other sport in the
world, and the great annual bowling
tournaments conducted by the American
Bowling Congress and the National Bowl
ing Association have probably been big
factors in fostering this growth How
ever, in the last few seasons a new fac
tor has entered the sport which threatens
to disrupt It With alleys increasing
so rapidly, more and more men are re-
Quired to manage them, and naturally
these men soon become expert at the
bowling game. Groups OF these experts
would organize into teams or clubs, and
In the last few years have practically
been monopoliZing all OF the big prize
money in open tournaments, leaving the
crumbs for the simon-pure cmateur to
pick up. Locally. however, this condition
does not exist, owing to the dearth OF
tenpIn bowlers and the ever-increasing
popularity Of the duckpin game.
1t has long been realized in the big ten
pin centers, such as New York, Chicago,
&C, that It is manifestly unfair to ex-
pect a man, who INDUCES in this fasci-
mating sport for pleasure and pastime
only, TO compete against one who makes
his living by II, and unless something is
dcne in the near future TO protect the
amateur, this class of bowler may desert
the open league and tournament games.
William Cordes. the well-known Brook
lyn bowler. has devised a practical
scheme TO bring the matter to head.
He has organized an all-professional
team, and during the next month intends
to make a tour of the country with this
of stars and roll the best
teams that can be secured in all towns
and cities between New York and Chi
cago. The main object Of this trip will
be an endeavor TO organize a profession
al league, patterned after the big base
ball circuits. An organization Of this
kind would provide a field for the expert
and leave the amateur in clear posses
sion of the open leagues and tourna
ments.
Probably the national tournament. TO
be held at Paterson, n. J., next March,
viii be the last ever held in which en-
tries will be received from all bowlers
without restriction as to amateur and
standing.
Manager John Fitzgerald, OF the Pas
sale County Bowling Association, was In
the city last Wednesday to attend the
Board of Trade convention and to confer
with Congressman William Hughes. In
connection with extending an invitation
to President Taft to be present on the
opening night Of the tournament Mr..
spoke enthusiastically OF the
coming National Bowling Association
and predicted that the same
would be the largest ever in the history
Of this organization.
Au revoir, Van. and good luck.
Funny how some people hate to hear
the truth.
That double defeat by the CAROLS and
the hanging up OF a new mark for team
score. must have ranked deep in the