The Washington herald., 1914-07-26
Billiard STARS
TO PLAY HERE
Washington Issued Franchise
In League Which Is Tour
ing Country.
HAVE NINE EXPERT MEN
All Members Playing in Tournament
Have Held Worlds Championship.
Burton Mank Manager.
HAVE NINE EXPERT MEN

washington has just been granted a
franchise in the new Champion Billiard
Players League
This means that the famous cue art
lists Of the world are to be seen here dur
ing the season in exhibition matches and
.championship games. The first match. is
to be played about the first week in
October, and other matches will follow at
Intervals Of several weeks until all Of the
champions have played contests In this
city.
A new era in the ivory ball game has
been inaugurated by the league. Nine OF
the most famous players OF the world
have been banded together under the
management of Burton Mank for an ex-
tended tour Of this country. The primary
object Of the league is the general ad-
vancement Of the game and to furnish
championshfp matches by the real cham
pions to the smaller cities; that is, cities
other than New York. Philadelphia, Chi
cago, Boston, St Louis, and Pittsburgh
Have All the Talent.
With the organizing Of the league, it is
the first time in the history Of the cele-
brated game that any such aggregation
Of talent has been combined for amusing
the public or displaying the wonderful
technique that is required for establish
ing high runs and playing the game as
these champions can.
The remarkable feature of the league is
the fact that every member has at one
time been worlds champion, with the
execution of Jake Schaefer, who at this
time Is displaying such form as TO indi-
cate that before he arrives at the age OF
tveuty-one ne will have shared the hon.
ors of having been a worlds champion.
The members of the league are Willie
Hoppe, Calvin Demarest, Koji Yamada-
George SIosson, Ora Morningstar. George
Sutton, Harry Cline, Albert Cutler, and
Jake Schaefer.
The league was organized for the ex-
press purpose Of touring the United
States in such cities as have heretofore
had no opportunity OF witnessing cham
pionship matches or exhibitions by the
worlds greatest players. They will trav-
el in teams and play exhibitions in $50
cities. All of the champions will appear
in those cities that are accepted for the
league during the season. which is sew
en- months. commencing October !, and
continuing until April 30.
The teams will appear about six weeks
apart.
Burton Mank. president and manager
of the league, has made a thorough can
vas as to what cities would doubtless be
most interested and learned that the
small cities averaging 15,OOo to 1900
would offer more liberal patronage owing
10 the fact that the champions have
never been seen in cities Of that size.
Hold Title Matches.
In addition 10 giving the exhibitions.
ARRANGEMENTS have been made to hold
eight championship matches between the
players Of the league in eight different
cities, q championship game to be held
each month. which will doubtless create
quite an interest throughout the United
States.
Although all the champions are asso-
ciated in the league, these championship
matches win be played with Just as much
rivalry as heretofore. as Il is known
fact that the billiard players can be
friendly when not playing, but the mo-
ment they step 10 the table to play bill
lizards and their regulations are at stake
they cease TO be on friendly terms.
Large sums Of money are being ex-
pended by those backing this enterprise,
and from the general outlook at this time
the venture should prove a phenomenal
success, as the names Of all the players
in the league are well known throughout
the country and should draw large
houses, owing to the popular prices that
will be charged. theatrical people win
doubtless watch this venture very closely,
as II viii no doubt prove a counter al.
traction TO that OF the show business.
Burton Mank, president OF the league.
has decided on this city for a franchise,
and the billiard fans will doubtless well
come this good news and anxiously await
the arrival Of these celebrated cue sx-
Derts.