Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-07
'B0WLERs SEE NEED
OF AMATEUR RULE
Many Primers Already Refuse to
Compete Against the So-Called
Professional.
OPEN TOURNEY ON DECLINE
Cordes Thinks Sooner Dividing Line
Is Established the Better for the
Game-Valcntinc Doubts Adyisu-
biIity OF IIasty Action.

Before many weeks have passed II is
highly probable that n sharp line Will
be drawn between the amateur and
professional bowler. Practically the
only sport In the United States which
the moneycd brigade and the man who
rolls for pure fun Is bowling. The
time Is ripe however. for. that line. to
be drawn. and, as the wish Is father
TO the thought, the opinion Of several
OF the leading opponents of the game
may be taken as criterion to future
bune.
Conditions In tho game Of tenpins
have reached n stage where those bowl
crs rolling for fun absolutely refuse to
measure their strikes and spares
against others who may have n more
mercenary motive in rolling in the
section of the country. The situation
accounts largely for the decline of
expressed in unmistakable ways for
such affairs as are commonly designed
CLOSED"
Some time ago expressions Of opin-
ion were published to the effect that
the idea of giving cash prizes was not
In keeping with the best interests Of
scheme was eliminated from tenpins
the better the game would be. The
reason is obvious: in that cash prizes
attractsa certain class of bowlcrs which
In the realm OF strictly amateur sports
is not at all beneficial or even dcsir-
able.
COrdcS IL Record.
Ten years ago William Cordcs. who
has served since that time as president
Of the Eastern Alley owners Associa-
toin. went on record that 1t would only
Dc n matter of time when bowling con-
dltions would absolutely demand a dis
tinguishing line between professional
ana amateur Several days. ago Cordcs
reiterated his belief that the sooner a
dividing line was established the bet
ter Il would be for the game.
mere rs no question In my mind"
inn hnu 49,.
stage where It must fall in line with
Al a. OF the other nigh class games
throughout the country and establish
Two classes. 1T may be too soon TO
eliminate money prizes, for 1t has been
long established custom, and mas
much amateur athletes and Others,
are not incapacitatcd thereby Il is well
enough to let 1t go on for another sea-
son or
Would Eliminate Cash PrIzcs.
Il really think, however, that tho
sooner the cash ARRANGEMENT Is elm
mated the better Il VIII he for tenpins
As regards the alley owners might
say that the elimination Of the present
system of giving dollars for nothing is
= =. consummation devoutly To be wished
consider that the alley owner Is max
Ing fortune out Of the game. and al
though he is not in business for his
health. he is. none the less. entitled TO
some consideration. There are many
OF us who might be out Of the business
II appreciate the fact bowling Of
Is bound to be a vexatious question
because the defining Of a true amateur
Is so diihcu!t. | have read with great
interest the latest agitation in golf
circles with regard to the definition of
an amateur. and proftinG somewhat by
mat experience think it would be
Wen Tor the bowling Legislators to first
OF Al dchnc professional"
william II. Valentine, president OF
the New York Bowling Association,
when Informed OF the idea of Cordes
declared that IN the main they were
correct but doubted the advisability
OF putting them into effect too hur-
riedly. He took occasion, incidentally.
TO declare his belief that the old
style club formation in bowling cir
cies was proper and that, although In
diEidual registration would undoubt-
cdly be maintained so far as the bow
Ter himself was concerned. II would not
alter the fact that man was not
worth recognition unless he was n
member of some club devoted to the
interests Of tcnpins.
As matter of fact, Valentine with
out saying so, really concurred in tho
idea that the dividing line should he
established. and ut not far distant
gate. between the amateur and the
professional Several other bowlers
VINO, Tor obvious reasons, preferred NOT
TO be quoted. We're in entire accord
Win the foregoing views expressed
but some Of them even went further
ana Indicated what in their opinion
are the qualities which should make
Tor professionalism