The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-06-09
SWIMMING meet
MAY Be CANCELLED
A. A. U. Meet To Consider the
Secession Of Kahanamoku
From Amateurs

At meeting of the local branch Of
the Amateur Athletic Union held yes.
terday afternoon in the office of w. T.
Rawlins, the matter of the proposed
visit to Honolulu of Perry McGillivray,
Ludy LANCER, H. Vollmer and +. Cam,
the crack mainland swimmers, WINS
taken up. Nothing definite was done
and the meeting adjourned until half.
past three O'Clock this afternoon.
1t. had been the intention of ,hs A..
n. L. to stage a big swimming meet
here next month, at which the .pen
water national championships recently
granted to Hawaii would haze been
features Of three nights program.
The reported decision Of Duke Ka.
hanamoku Jr, to turn professional, up-
act the plans of the A. A. u. however,
for it was considered improbable that
rhe quartet of athletes namei wuLd
come to Hawaii if they learned that
the island champion had signed pro-
fcssional contract.
Duke was not present at yesterday g
meeting, although an invitation to be
present had been addressed to him as
follows:
Dear Sir:-As you are aware, the
100 yards national championship for
open water has been awarded 70 Hn-
Eaii-the meet 10 take place in July.
Furthermore, in your presence at Chi
ago, arrangements were made by Mr..
hhwlins for the national champions 10
-ome to Honolulu to take part in that
meet and also in 220 yards and 500
yards open water contests, competing
against you and any others who would
wish to enter. Since your return TO
Hawai-, you know that our association
has been preparing to finance the meet
and arrange to bring from the main.
land the champions for these distances.
The object of our obtaining the meet
was primarily that you should have the
chance to meet these champions on
your own ground and defend the cham.
Pionship of the Islands.
We have heard, however, in the
public press that, without acauaintinp
any of our officers with the facts-aE
though You well knew we were arrang-
ing this meet and depending upon your
competing therein-you have signed
contract with a man namrI Benjamin
20 become n professional. The officers
Of our association have had various con.
'ersations with you, but have been un-
1ble to obtain any information as to
the terms of this contract SO that we
can Judge whether or not it renders You
ineligible to take part in this meet.
"Will you, therefore, please attend
meeting of the Board of Managers of
the Hawaiian Association of the A. A.
U. to be held at the Office of william
/. Rawlins at four clock on Wednes.
lay afternoon, June 7, and bring with
you any writing, contract or agreement
you have with Mr.. Benjamin. Our
association does not question in ahy
way your right to become a profession.
al, If you so desire; but we think that
In fairness to- us and in view of the
taet the association has stood behind
you through your entire career, and
also in view of the fact that we have
arranged this meet with your knowl-
edge primarily that you might compete
win these champions in open water and
nave arranged to incur expense of
over $1,000, to carry on the meet sue
oesstully, you should acquaint us fully
with the terms of your arrangement
with Mr.. Benjamin."
Duke States His Terms
At the meeting John Soper said that
he had secured from Kahanamoku n
'oPy OF his agreement with K. b. Benin
am, which reads rs follows:
May II, 1915,
TO Il. b. Benjamin, Young Hotel.
Honolulu, T. H.
Dear Sir:-l am willing to enter
INTO professional business under the
management Of yourself and Mr.. vii.
liam +. Hoppe for the period of one.
two or three years on condition that /
receive one half Of the money / am
booked for Qess expenses), and my
minimum salary to be two hundred and
fifty dollars weekly.
Will leave the management en-
tlrely into your hands and will be pre-.
pared to begin operations when called
upon and on receipt of my full trans.
portation and travelling expenses.
lSgd) DUKE Z. KAHANAMOKU."
Girls Swim June II
The A. A. y. have come to the con.
clusion that there is nothing in the
agreement to prevent Kahanamoku
swimming in the July tournament, but
II Is feared that if the mainland swim.
mCrs are brought here, Duke, according
70 ms agreement, may have to 60 to
the Coast, without staying for the
championship meet, which would mean
hat the $1,000 expended to bring the
swimmers to Honolulu would result in
! heavy loss being sustained
1t was decided to hold the open swim.
ming races at so and 100 yards, for
girls, in the naval slip, June II.
Present at the meeting were: Lorrin