New-York tribune., 1912-01-21
RALLY ROUND THE FLAG
Amateur Billiard Players Hear
Call to Arms and Unite.
P0GGENBURG IN THE LEAD
Climbs on Association Band
Wagon and Withdraws
Resignation.

Amateur billiard players have rallied 20 the
support Of their favorite game in 10 uncer-
tain manner and, led by Wilson L. Foss
former national champion, they proved yes
terday that the governing body was TO he
upheld The criticism focused upon the Ma
tionaI Association of Amateur Billiard Play
ers because of its determined stand TO pro-
tect the amateur players against masque-
rading professionals reached its crisis last
week. 1t was the test of the amateur or
ganization, because open threats Of disrup-
tion were made. Foss however. came ont
boldly for supreme amateur government,
and so did Arthur r. Townsend. As a re-
suit the entry list for the national anna
teur Glass \ 1872 balkline billiard champion
ship tournament closed yesterday with
nine aspirants for the honors-a larger
number than in any previous year
Because Of the unusual conditions that
prevailed the list was not finally closed
until yesterday afternoon by Morris D.
Brown, Of the Hamilton Club. chairman Of
the committee. and Harry +. Mollenhauer.
chairman of the committee Of the Hanover
! club, Brooklyn. where the tournament will
! opol Monday night, January % -Four
| former champions. Wilson p Foss. OF
! Haverstraw; J. Ferdinand Poggenburg. of
the Liederkranz; Arthur r. Townsend Of
! Brooklyn and Charles +. ConElin. OF Chi
cago head the list
PoggenburC reconsidered his hasty action
/ of last Tuesday i'm Withdrawing from the
] NTat - -
Players and from the tournaments. In.
! fiuential friends pointed out to him just
what a break with the amateur governing
body meant. 1t did not take long for the
former champion and president Of the asso
citation to realize his error of judgment. and
his resignation and withdrawal were i'm
mediately recalled.
Besides the four champions are included
Percy Collins, one of the younger marvel
who has recently come forward in Chicag,
and who promises to be another Calvin
Demarest: Joseph Mayer the Philadephi;
champion; DIR. Walter +. Uffenheimer alst
of Philadelphia; DIR. Walter G. Douglas. o
the Amateur Billiard Club. of New York
and Morris y. Brown. of the Hamilton
Club. Brooklyn. In no previous year ha
such an extraordinary list OF players beel
assembled for the premier amateur cham
pionship Of the United States. There viii
be a meeting tomorrow night, January q
at the Hanover Club. at which Morris d
Brown and Harry Molenhauer. respective
ly the chairmen Of the tournament and Clul
committees. and William II. Klenke. tn
president of the association. will confer a
to means by which the thirty-siX game
required by such an entry list with the in
ternational championship, scheduled 70
early next month at the Liederkranz
It was said by an officer of the associa
ton yesterday that the test had been mad
over the coming national championship a
to whether or not the National Association
was TO control the amateur billiard players
He said that, despite storm of vitupera
tive criticism from those outside of tn
association, the sentiment Of the associa
tion had BEEN practically unanimous as T.
the proper course TO be pursued. and that
while things had been tempestuous for
brief time the fact that such men as WI
son p. Foss and Arthur r. Townsend VIII
had practically retired from CHAMPIONSHIP
competition, were willing to again tax
their places beside the table was ampl
and sufficient proof that the championship
SO ably conducted in the past were not {
be easily wrecked.
The plan to hold national thrce-cusho
billiard championship tournament. probabl
late I'm April. has created more enthusiasm
than II was generally supposed would b
the case While not on the committed
Poggenburg has come out strongly for thi
tournament, and stated yesterday that
would unquestiOnably bring to the front
considerable number Of new players, VIII
| would be welcomed to the amateur ranks
| Poggenburg has been of great assistance I
the committee and under his guidance ci
! forts are being made 10 locate the tourna
ment for its initial year in one Of the cite
OF the Middle West. The committee ha
| already had some favorable correspondent
| with two Of the prominent athletic clubs /
! that section OF the country. \ member q
the committee said yesterday il was mor
! than likely that sections of the tournamen
would be distributed through at least 81
cities and arrangements made that III
winners i'm each division would meet I'M tn
, finals. and that the legitimate travellin
expenses OF these winners would be pal
and secured from the receipts Of the d
,isiou tournaments. The committee
charge of this tournament includes Josep
Naver Peter Doelger jr.. ID. T. SPUR
Frank Airy and William Schickcl
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