The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01
OBJECTS TO COCHRAN
| AS BEING TOO YOUNG
]. F. Poggenburg Considers Boy
Wonder Of Chicago Not
Old Enough.
OTHER VETERANS AGREE
Glass A Amateur Billiardists
| Think He Should Not Take
Time From His School.
OTHER VETERANS AGREE

That Welker Cochran, the phenomenal
boy billiard player Of Chicago, will not
he allowed to compete in the national
class A IS: % baik line amateur champion
ship tournament. which will begin Mon
day night, March 9. seems very prob
able from recent Developments In the
case. Just why the youngster will be
barred Is rather obscure. for 1t Is very
evident that the only direct thing MILL
tating against him Ia his youth.
Indirectly the fact that one so young
should reach such n stage OF proficiency
st the game does not ind favor among
those now In the class a group. These
.xponents of the billiard game feel vexed
to think that mere children no matter
how capable, should be permitted to ruo
elbows with them while striving for the
highest amateur billiard honors In the
country.
When the matter was brought up re-
Gently at the Amateur Billiard Club OF
New York. where the tourney Will be
held, j. Ferdinand Poggenburg. the Amer
lean international champion. said
There Is a feeling among the players
Of the class A division that the National
Association should not encourage boys TO
play In its premier championship tourna-
m.nts II II self evident to- all OF us
that a hoy OF 10 or 16 should be giving
his attention to his educational studies
and thinking Of something other than
winning billiard titles. II Is Impossible
TO imagine a boy OF such an age properly
leaving his schooling for month or
Whereabouts to take part In ha',ohai
tournament
"0reat proficiency In billiards Is sofne-
thing that Is attained later on In life. and
| well can imagine a possible storm Oh
protest and adverse criticism aimed at
the amateur association II 1t ever devil
ates from its course and makes possible
the playing OF infant prodigies In Its
tournaments II Is not n question as 10
amateur status or anything or the Kind,
and what ] am saying Is the matter oil
general policy which I believe Will be
followed"
II the stand taken by the class group
Is wholly unselfish II Is Indeed praise
worthy, but the youngsters In that case
should not be excluded only from the
premier championship tournaments. That
a boy OF lb or 16 years should be gain
Ing education along other lines Is recog-
nized fact but on the other hand. prac-
tically all of the worlds best players
both amateur and professional. started
the game very young.
Whether or not adverse criticism would
be showered upon the amateur associa'
ton n youngsters were allowed to play
| Is an open question. In all other anna
| teur sports there mas been no minimum
| age set and, as a matter OF fact, especial,
| In recent years. there has been notice
| able tendency toward the youngsters sup
planting their elders at the top.
Among the contenders for the title vii
be Edward W. Gardner, former national
| title holder. and Eugene l.. Milburn OF
Memphis. Tenn. who already have sent IL
their entries. Poggenburg who recently
! resigned from the executive committee
| Morris ID. Brown. Joseph Mayer of Phila
| de!ph.a tn. present title holder. and
| others probably will send in their entries
tomorrow.
Gardner has been preparing for tbs
tourney with practise match games
| against DR.. L. L. Mial. while Brown ant
Poggenburg have been getting on edge a
| the amateur Billiard Club and at III,
! Cathedral Club in Brooklyn. Brown hs,
challenged Poggenburg through the Ma
! tional Association TO q match for tn,
| Metropolitan challenge cup. The mattel
will be played at the Liederkranz on Sat
urday. April 4. under the auspices of tn,
| Ladies' Auxiliary Society OF st. Mark
| Hospital. The proceeds OF the match vii
40. az last year, toward the endowment o.
g. bed at the hospital.
Under the recent legislation OF the
! National Association grand average o.
S or Its equivalent Ia necessary this veal
to qualify for the Glass A lS:2 balklin,
contests. The matches. as heretofore, will
/ be OF 400 points.