New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-26
Tendency Strong to Put
Business End of Sport
in Background.
w. KIRK CRITICISES
FREE TOURNAMENTS
Former Head Of N. B. A. Blames
Them for Games Failure to
Win More Popularity Here.

now going on the the world Of tenpin.
There were few who attended the reesn,
convention Of the National Bowling Az.
ISOLATION in Atlantic City and were m
the inside who did not discern
strong tendency 20 remove from the gov.
srnmentaI affairs Of the sport those con
nected with the business end OF tenp,ns
Ten years ago the business interests
were almost dlsregarded, but tho real
reason why the so-calIed amateur elsmsn,
has preferred 20 remain in the back.
ground vet not the least diminished In
number, Is because the era Of the star
performer was az hand. As a result n.
setback has begun.
William Kirk. former president OF the
National Bowling Association, undoubt-
eddy spoke the sentiment Of the majority
Of those influential IN the government Of
bowling when he declared that something
was radically wrong in New York. and
asked, pointedIy, What Is it?'
II ask that question through no ~ VIII
whatsoever. but with an earnest desire
for a wise and profitable solution ~ a
vexing problem said Kirk. In city
whose bowlers number. under a conserva-
tive estimate. two hundred thousand men.
we have only meagre one thousand or
so enrolled In our ranks, and Of this
number only about two hundred com
peted In the national tournament, within
three hours run. Why?
This is By no means an attack on
New York and must not be 50 construed,
but Is an honest effort 70 ascertain Why
thousands OF active men who are bowlers
IN New York and cannot become MEM
bers OF a national association. having as
its aims the bettcrment Of this greatest
Of all indoor games The association GER
tainly has not been recreant 70 It's trust
unfair in its rulings nor otherwise I'M
worthy Of the confidence OF all bowlers.
we cannot accomplish anything b. Idle
talk. but We cannot tin fertile soil until
first We have diagnosed the case and
found a remedy. The solution Of the
problem is beyond me. but think New
York has brains enough with Us thou
sands Of bowlers 10 accomplish anything
once the purpose IS fixed. Yet there can
he enumerated few Of the contribu-
tory causes
zone prolific source OF evil and harm.
a veritable sowing of the wind winch
is now reaping its whirlwind OF disap-
monument at this tournament and regret
over the lack OF growth in New York
L.
open tournaments the bowler Is allowed
roll free. At first glance this seems
small matter and an innocent concession
but analyzed evil is more apparent.
First. Il tends TO keep out Of the open
tournaments all bowlers except the So
called cracks. thus defeating one OF the
cardinal principles OF all competitive ten
pins-namely, TO develop new material
II tends 20 the promotion OF an unae'
sirable class and the corresponding us
couragement OF the man who rolls Tor luh
Secondhand this is q more insidious
evil. which attacks the very principles OF
good workmanship and which uncon-
sciously but surely develops in the bower
a spirit OF petty gratis the unWiiiis'
ness OF many 10 participate IN any CON
test unless his expenses are PAID oy tne
alley owner. Nowhere and at no tine ~
the recent history OF the game has ths
been more clearly proven than IN the Ne"
York entry at Atlantic city this year
This can only be corrected by deYelopihs
a sufficient personal appreciation OF the
game 10 make n bowler pay his own way
for no appreciation can come from taa
which is free.
Again, I believe another serious rea-
son for New York's failure 10 advance
comes from its failure 20 accept INC
spirit OF personal registration and con-
seauent failure by each one TO assume
personal obligation to develop ne" lie
and new energy within his own ciro's
whether It be in the strong ties OF frieno'
ship or in the splendid sentiment WIZ"
exists in bowling clubs.
Yet again. while New York acceP's
the letter OF the law regarding persona
membership. II gives the indivldual pro.
tically no representation in its local gov
eminent and loses all the combined IN
fiuence for good thar would come uOn
the activities OF those who do pay 'nsD
own way and are the real financial suP'
port Of the game.
Somehow the complete spirit OF ai"H-
ton with the national body Is lacA'ns
There can be no question OF the ioya'F
of the New York officers, but sone"ne''
the fault is in the method We
reotify all this II all will pun 'oe',
without semblance Of maAce S ~.
earnest, open and friendly discussion -
highest aims and the greatest are "'"
too good for bowling ,,.
Talks with various bowlers IN the -
nament hall at Atlantic city revesleo
fact that the sentiment expressed o'
was not at all confined to leW' ,hs
considered that in the abolishhe" s,s
loaded. or "dodo," ball a great s'eV .rd
been taken I'm the right direeuon' go,
there are those who freely pre''0' ,r,v
once the New York alley owners ca" ..s
petty jealousies and personal preiei ,ss
aivinu the man who rolls for iun
greater consideration. the sooner Idly
ornamental tenplns be far more
effective. both locally and nauoh"". row
II was pointed out that there az IN
lac than dozen open tournament .lv
greater New York, while there 81 ,hs
Atty OF the closed variety ~ne az, con.
game for the games sake is the mrs. -. no,
sIderation. The closed bowlers az. liner
as yet in the fold, and nave 'aush s.
through their own desires or "io-'siasd
noranca Of the real Issues
somewhat aloof
Co. Daubert's Men.