Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-17
j. s. G. A. HAS MERRY
SCRAP AHEAD OF 1T
Demands Will Be Made from
All Sides that Francis Oui-
met Be Reinstated.
MEANS NEW AMATEUR LAW

The United States Coll association
at its annual meeting next month will
be attacked on all sides with de-
mands that the amateur status be
restored to Francis Ouimet, former
holder of both national golf titles. A
large number of delegates, according
to present indications, will present re-
quests to the national governing body
that the suspension be lifted from
the young Boston star. The move
ment at the meeting will simply be
the reflection OF sentiment that has
been general in golhng circles since
last winter that Ouimet has been I'M
fairly dealt with. The Woodland
club, Ouimct's home club, will lead
the fight for the former champions
reinstatement. The lining up of the
Ouimet supporters is reaching such
formidable dimensions that it is rea-
sonably sure to expect that Ouimct
will be competing i'll the 1917 cham
pionship-as an amateur.
The annual meetings of the United
States Golf association are generally
pretty tame affairs. Routine business
is quickly disposed of, courses
awarded for the three national cham
pionships Tor the coming year and
then the delegates tell each other
stories Of the nineteenth hole variety.
The coming session of the national
association will be different. Most Of
the excitement and battling will CEN
ter about Ouimet. At the present
time the United States Coli associa-
ton is deep in one OF the most per-
picking bunkers the royal and ancient
game ever knew. 1t must do one of
two things, tactfully lift the suspen-
sion OF Oulmet or turn cold shoulder
to a popular movement to have the
much discussed youngster restored as
an amateur golfer, which, in the opin-
ion of hundreds OF players, he never
ceased to be- After disposing of Oui-
NETS case, the association will find
it necessary to formulate a new rule
defining what constitutes an amateur,
or, better still, what specific acts
change an amateur into professional.
This is question both the golf and
the tennis associations have repeat
eddy tackled in the past and with
scant success.
Many Have Suggestions.
Many delegates at the golf meeting
will introduce suggestions for a new
amateur rule They have been prim-
ing themselves for the occasion and
undoubtedly some brand new devel-
opments will be brought. Nearly all
the dissatisfaction over the existing
amateur rule converges on the clause
directly or INDIRECTLY connected with
a sporting goods house. What is
wanted is clearer Interpretation Of
the meaning of indirectly" connected
with sporting goods house, a condi-
ton that could separate any golfer
from his amateur standing.
1t was this clause that brought
about Ouimet's suspension Ouimet,
for two years after his memorable
victory over Vardon and Ray at
Brookline in 1918, worked for Wright
& Ditson in Boston. Surely this was
very direct house, but the United
States Golf association believed Oui-
met an amateur. But a year ago the
young former champion decided to
venture in the sporting goods bust
ness for himself-and the United
States Golf association came down on
him like ton of brick. In the as
sociation's opinion, this was an un
pardonable breach Of amateurism and
Ouimet was disqualified from compet-
ing in amateur tournaments.
The majority of golfers have failed
to understand the justice OF the as
sociatlon's action in regard to Oui-
met, and the forthcoming meeting of
the governing body will determine
how matters tand