New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-23
CRITICISE POLO
ASSOCIATION FOR
CHALLENGE HINT
" Unsportsmanlike " the
Charge Which Circular
Letter Brings Forth.
PROMPT DENIAL or
ALLEGED MOTIVES
Officers of Controlling BODY
Disdain Desire TO Force
Early Matches.

Early Matches.
So many British polo players have
been killed or wounded in the war ana
Great Britain has been so drained OF
rolo mounts that circular letter sent
last week 10 clubs and playing mem
hers from the Office OF the Polo assoc
alton stating there will probapI! De
challenge for the international cup a.
soon as conditions warrant such ac-
ton" has been criticised in some quar-
tiers as unsportsmanlike.
This action is disclaimed by those
familiar with the motives OF the foio
Association. II. l.. Herbert, president
Of the organization since its INCEPTION
IN 1900. did not come to town yester-
dav. but that there is any desire 20
hurry consideration Of a challenge was
Indignantly denied by polo men IN the
city. H.,
Instead. until such time as the Hurl-
ingham club sends an intimation that
polo has been again placed on a hrm
foundation no move will be made oy
the Polo Association, they asserted
The explanation is that the circular
is meant TO bolster up interest IN inc
American polo championships. whleh
fell fat last season at Narraganset'
Pier, and TO call attention 10 cohdi
tions that need adjustment IN ms
country to maintain interest IN ne
fixtures, the senior, junior and open
title tournaments.
This IS the text Of the letter:
"The committee wishes 10 bring TO the
attention Of all the clubs in the assoc
alton and 20 all playing members 'he
fact that the association has taken
over the grounds OF the POINT Juo'I"
Polo Club. Narragansett Pier, K. L.
and will hold tournaments there IN
July and August of each year for the
purpose of encouraging polo and rais-
ing the standard of play among mem
bers Of the association.
The committee also wishes 10 point
out that there will probably be chal-
lenge for the international cup as soon
as conditions warrant such action. and
that these tournaments will give an
opportunity to judge the play OF posSl-
ne candidates for such an lnterna-
tional challenge team.
1T is especially requested that west
ern players will make an eHort 10
come 70 Narragansett Pier and sho"
their abilities "a candidates Tor such a
team. as the committee wishes 10 90
everything possible to insure the pest
nossible selection, if such a challenge
is made.
ut is plain that their Judgment
would in the main be based on play
of the summer before the match, as II
would be practically impossible 20 nave
nractice matches before leaving for
Enclard in the spring The committee
also hopcs that the various CLUBS VIII
make an EFFORT 20 send teams TO Mar
racaDsett Pier and make the as2oci-
alton grounds there what the COMMIT
zee desires to make them-a recreatloh
ground and meeting place for all play
ers in the association. >,
III /. HERBERT, Chairman
Early IN 1918 the Polo Association, II
was then stated, had taken a long lease
with an option to purchase, OF me fo!hI
Judith Polo Club grounds, when m
Guided .hree fields and room enough
for racccourse if certain plans
mooted in regard to one should ma.
torialize. The Randolph estate, or
Philadelphia, owns the property ana
much land adjoining, and while +. ;. r.
Randolph, sr., was willing TO close lhe
deal, his sister, co-helr, would onI!
agree TO a lease. The purchase was an
investment of the Unexpectedly large
profits realized from the international
nolo games at Meadow Brook. 1t mad
the favor of the polo committee, ana
was in contamination of ng-cherlshed
Mans TO maintain the grounds as the
centre OF American polo american
Hurlingham.'
The national championships have
beeu held there since the Point judith
Polo Club look over the grounds from
the nearby Point Judith Country Club,
ten wears ago. and decided on the ma
tional plan. The leaders in the enter
prise were II. p. Whitney, W. A. Haz-
ard. l.. Z. Stoddard. p. S. P. Randolph
and Joshua Crane. and the active head
of the plan was Joseph b. Thomas. Polo
managers from England were brought
over each season and visits Of teams
from Ranelagh and other British clubs
arranged, besides promoting the club
and championship tournaments on a
national basis. Mr.. Thomas was the
most Jealous in the sport and worked
with more energy than any of the hired
experts in polo.
Mr.. Thomas has given up polo since
/ his marriage, and last year, when the
/ Polo Association had direct charge Of
U Il a
all There is no discomfort over the
/ acquiring Of the grounds among the
I polo clubs. and last seasons slump was
: laid to the re yation consequent on
the loss Of the international cup ind
other reasons that kept many Of me
4 players out of the saddle But Il is
/ admitted that the Polo Association has
no sinecure ahead 10 instill national
support this season for the American
championships and club tournaments
d during the two months claimed for The
game ar tho Point Judith Polo Club.
The grounds and any selection Of
cup players. for that matter, are now
under the control of the Polo Associa-
ton committee, made up Of August
Belmont, II. p. Whitney. ". A Hazard
and II. l.. Herbert, of New York: W p.
Stewart and Alexander Brown, Of Phil
odelphia; Joshua Crane and Dudley T.
Rogers, Of Boston, and A. r. Primm,
. representing the West.
Points OF prejudice against coming 70
/ the national grounds by Western and
/ Eastern teams Of minor calibre is tina.
there IS more fun for them near home
/ with less trouble and expense, and
: that there IS too much waiting between
games II beaten in the early rounds OF
a cup event. Besides, to play on the
second field to a gallery" faced the
other way to watch the championship
polo on the adjoining field becomes dis
p!ritinG in the long run. The Canada
team at the pier in 1913 expressed the
same disgust at getting the cold
shoulder"
Points in favor Of the polo com
4 mittee's efforts are the popularity OF
the grounds for summer polo by the
bulk Of players about Boston, New
York and Philadelphia, particularly if