Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-28
4 RMY OFFICER
IN TRIBUTE
TO POLO

Lieut.. Col. Henry T. Allen, general
staff, was a guest at the annual din
Iner -of the Sportsman's Club held at
the New willard Hotel inWashingt on
April 2. as was noted last week. and
In response to the toast to POLO
made an interesting address. saying,
in part:
Polo is one Of the most attractive
subjects in the whole domain Of sport.
How greatly the sentiment Of the
country has changed in respect to this
game! A number Of years ago, when
il few Of Ms were struggling 70 implant
and develop this wonderful game In
the Philippines, we were caricatured
one and all as pink tea men. This
was in the face Of our strenuous hikes
through and across the larger islands
of the Visayas. along untrayeled lines
with frequent close-in jungle fighting
against the most insidious Of enemies.
No past, however Eirile and heroic It
might have been. could atone for par
ticipati0n in polo. Since then the
game has marvelously grown In the
islands. especially In the army, until
now Manila stands out as a polo CEN
Ter surpassed By not more than one or
two places under the shadow Of the
Stars and Stripes.
Possibly this is q fitting moment,
in the presence of such a representa-
tive gathering Of sportsmen from all
parts Of the country, to justly give
credit for the great growth of polo in
the islands to the present governor
general, known to his old polo coli
leagues and classmates as Cam
Forbes. Governor Forbes has not only
been a consistent player, in spite of
his exacting and burdens0me official
duties, but he has generously construc-
ted for the Philippine Polo Associa-
ton two fine polo fields-One In Ma
Mia. the other al the summer capital.
Baguio.
THE spread of polo In this country
rs hardly less remarkable than in the
Orient 1t has taken deep root in ev-
cry mounted army post on the main
land as well as In the outlying de-
|pendeneies. The Hawaiian islands, for
|eazmple, have at least three good
teams, one Of which is q military one.
C0incident with the estab 1ishment of
country clubs, most Of our larger cit
les and q number Of smaller ones, have
started polo. But, until four or five
years ago, polo playing was so con-
Quoted in ali parts of the United
States that there was little encourage
|ment for the average player unless he
remained at home among his own.
Whenever there was tournament ii
was under the conditions then eisting
chiefly for top-notthers. 1t became
evident that II the game were to be
made more popular the English sys-
TEN or some methods approximatiag
that system should be adopted. BY its
very nature polo could never have az
many devotees as games like baseball
and tennis; hence the importance Of
making special provisions for increas-
Ing the number Of those who could
participate. No one recognized that
fact earlier or has done more to bring
about the changed conditions than one
of our committeeman and crack
sportsn1en, Joseph B. Thomas. After
bringing about the highly satisfactory
system now In vogue at Point Judith,
where good, bad and Indifferent play
efs may equally enjoy the game, ne
has been selected to do the same val
liable service Tor the welfare OF polo at
Plping Rock. The same policy is now
IN vogue at Coronado. at Aiken. at
camden and other polo centers. The
game Is making tremendous strides in
popularity. Piping Rock will this year
be the Headquarters for the British
team that comes over intent on carry
ing Dack the challenge cup. / regret
we nave not here that high class
sportsman who so ably captains our
team-Harry Payne Whitney. In
thinking OF cup defenders, such as
H1tcncock, CoWdin. the Waterburys,
Crane, Asasslz. keene. Stoddard, Ste
yenson, Won Stade and others, we