New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-02
PLEADS FOR GOLF PRIZE
CaIkinS Wants Deed of Gift of
ChaunCey Trophy Changed.
THINKS TRAVERS WILL WIN
Shield Would Then Pass Out of
Competition Sooner than Ex-
pected or Intended.

Leighton Calklns. president of the
Plainiield Country club. sent an open let
ter yesterday TO Frederick II. Thomas.
secretary Of the Metropolitan Golf Asso-
ciauon, urging that the executive COM
mlttee of the association, of which Cal
klns formerly was a member. alter the
conditions governing the deed of gift of
Inc CEauncey trophy, so that ii will be
come prize for permanent competition.
1t seems that jerome D. Travers, Of
the Upper Montclair Country Club. has
won two legs on the trophy presented by
Daniel Chauncey to the winner OF the
metropolitan championship, conditions
providing that IT shall be won three
times and then become the property OF
the club from which the champion has
entered
Calkins expresses the belief that TRAY
ers is likely TO win the trophy this year
at Fox Hills for the third time. conse-
quently the Upper Montclair Country
club Will own the handsome prize and
take II out of competition sooner than
was expected or intended. In his appeal
for action 10 make the trophy perpetual
Calkins ventures TO say that he has no
doubt that both Trayers and the club VIII
readily agree in view OF possible greater
achievement in future and takes occa-
sion TO commend a man who can accom-
plish what Travers already has done.
Calkins's letter is as follows.
To o. in@ 4. Executive Committee Of the NJ
When Daniel Chauncey. i'm 1895. gener-
ously presented a magnificent champion
snip trophy 10 the Metropolitan Golf As
ISOLATION. he Enthusiastically RETAINED
from imposing conditions. preferring 20
leave the terms of the deed OF gift 10 the
executive committee OF the association
At the time II seemed unlikely that any
player representing the same club on cdcn
occasion would be- successful three times
100 View OF the rapid increase in the num-
Der OF players of the first rank But the
possibility OF such an occurrence was not
overlooked. and those of us who Were
members of the executive committee In
that YEAR were unanimous in our decision
10 leave open an avenue OF escape. We
thought the trophy was SAT" enough Tor
ten or fifteen years. that the conditions
would suffice To prevent n from passing
prematurcly out of the possession OF the
association. and that the question or
making IL a perpetual trophy could safely
pC entrusted 10 our Successors.
After only seven years Of competition
t!is fine trophy has all al once acquired
AN excellent chance OF becoming the per-
Uaucnt possession Of "A club whose name
was not on the shield until TWO years
ago. II Will Doe splendid achievement 20
score three successive victories. and none
who knows the present champion game
and nerve questions his knack Of pro-
duc.uc the goods in pinch tie viii be
harder Goo beat than ever this year.
Nevertheless. the trophy should be
made perpetual looking back ~ seems
clear that 10 ought 10 have been mad"
perpetual az the beginning instead of re-
serving the riEht To do $50 later IL ~
unIqu' Iu drsisn and Of quite unusual
artistic merit Historically and seuu-
mentally 10 ls OF little or uo worth to-day.
whereas o. value 300 than respect hun-
bred years hence would be incalcuiablc.
II should not be denied its chance for
antiquity. carry ing the Metropolitan Golf
Association along with ~ into an honor
able future under the strongest kind Of
incentive for holding the local association
together as am organization.
J am sure Mr.. TraVers himself VIII IN
dDr-e these views. and the Upper Mont
clair club also. for ii u acquires pcrnla-
mont possession OF the trophy tins year or
next year. that viii Dee a little thluE Ill
deed compared with tho opportunity OF
scoring many other wins ln the years u
come. aud of again seeing the trophy on
its walls perhaps generation hence.
pointing back with pride 10 It's earlier
vIctorice and Ia the noteworthy achieve
m,uts OF "a former champion whose name
quite possibly may then appear Inscribed
uu lf NOT only three iliilfN lN Hu'ffNNl'l
hut many more. and more often. perhaps,
than that OF any other of a host oi cham
pioua
That u was not expected that the pres
cut contingency would arise, at least 80
soon. ls seen from the size Of the silver
shield or plate for the inscription of
names. II would seem that in the interest
OF the game advantage should be taken
of the express provision iu the decd Of
gift that the conditions may De changed
or altered in future years II deemed ad-
Visablc Tor any reason with the unant-
nous consent OF each and every member
Of the executive committee of the assOcla-
ton at the time" This provision was In
serted 10 meet precisely the present stu
alton II really never was intended that
this trophy should be Withdrawn from
competition. II f. to be hoped that the
executive committee viii act promptly.
rs the next championship Is barely
month away. and the opportunity VIII
tfcn have passed. II the question Is put
mp 10 the Upper MontclHir club and 10 its
famous golfer who are the parties most
concerned. / have no doubt what then
answer will be. Why should they even
wish 10 withdraw the trophy. 80 long as
they have q player whose youth and SIKH
can be- depended upon To make II and
himself and his home club far more
famous If IL remains I'm competition
LEIGHTON CALkINS,
Lob