Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-21
.LANGTRY PLANS
FOR Big TOURNEY
A. B. G. Secretary Prepares for
Largest Bowling Congress
Ever Held.
HIGH SCORES ARE CERTAIN

Grand Rapids, Mich, Jan. 20
Bowlers Of The United States and
Canada expect to hold their first
four week tournament this year
when the American Bowling congress
calls its followers to this city on
March 3. The entry list will close on
February Is. For the last three years
the leases made by Secretary Abe
Langtry for the halls in which the
national tournament has been SEIZED.
uled have allowed him to add an
extra week to the schedule al his
option, and year ago he was forced
to use two extra days in addition TO
the three weeks customarily needed.
This year every prediction made
indicates that Grand Rapids is going
to pile up an extra list OF close to 800
teams, il il docs not exceed that
mark, and that win mean four full
weeks with 200 clubs disposed OF
every seven days Sixteen alleys are
being laid in the Armory building
here, which will allow thirty-two
clubs to dispose OF their games each
day II would take twenty-five full
days to complete the schedule OF an
800-club meet and il does not look
likely that Langtry will crowd the
schedule with three 6ve-men squads
a day in order to gain time.
Too heavy schedule means too
long working hours for his scorers
and pin-boys, and he has had too
many break under the strain OF long
hours in the past to take chance on
having his force undetermined in the
middle Of the big show Few OF the
army Of bowlers who pass in review
before the secretary's Office force
realize how strenuous their work
really is, but list Of the Casualties"
at an ordinary tournament would find
that over one-quarter OF the active
workers are forced to spend day
or two in bed from overwork right
while the noise Of the falling pins is
loudest. II Is general custom for
the more important officials to fee
to rest cure when the last ball Is
thrown and take weeks rest up
from the strenuous work.
City Lends Aid.
One advantage the local officials
here are finding is the support they
are getting from the business men OF
the city. The tournament Is being
held for the first time under the
active supervision of the chamber OF
commerce Of city and it means
that strict business principles are be-
ing used In getting the organization
established. Secretary Lee Bierce
told the congress at Toledo when he
made the speech that won the meet
away from the South Bend bidders,
that II would not be necessary to do
more than put in return chutes for
the balls at his armory, and while the
delegates admitted that he was draw
ing the long bow, yet the floor on
which the alleys are now being laid
Is the most perfect one ever given the
bowlers.
High scores are certain to come and
It will take more than the 1907 that
gave the Commodore Barrys their
victory last year and their 1900 the
year before, that won for them at
Peoria, to win this years laurels. A
solid floor with good heating facilities
will make the pins fall fast and the
armory seems to possess both re-
quirements. Toledo was unfortunate
in being forced to use stove and gas
heat in addition to the regular steam
plant and il made the atmosphere in
the big Terminal hall somewhat
murky at times II was the one big
abb of the bowlers who failed to
cash, but they will have to rib UP a
better excuse this year or take their
medicine.
As predicted last week, all of the
Saturday and Sunday dates have been
allotted by now and the Mondays and
Fridays are being hunted by the later
] entrants, Chicago and St. Louis were
well favored in the weekend dates,
although the Windy City players are
complaining because they got only
about one-quarter OF the cream dates,
about thirty of their expected 100
clubs only drawing the good places
on the schedule.
ShSaBo hntry Large.
Chicago notified Secretary Langtry
last week they had entered eighty
three clubs already for the Grand
Rapids doings, leaving only four more
to come in to equal the mark at
Toledo. A summary OF the list shows
at least twenty OF the regular clubs
missing from the early entry and it
Is certain that the town will aggregate
llO when the schedule Is drawn.
Grand Rapids is nearing the 200 clubs
It promised when ii won the meeting
at Toledo and the home officials are
still setting themselves to beat the
224 mark established by Toledo at
its own tournament.
Secretary Langtry mailed out no.
tices to all city associations last week
that they would have to elect dele
gates to the annual meeting by Feb
ruary 9 in order for them to be eligible
to vote this year, Most of the big
cities have called meetings for Sum
day, February 4, for their elections,
While there are no great questions
coming before the bowlers at the
coming political session yet there is
always the possibility that some one
may spring some radical legislation
on the congress and efforts are being
made to insure large gathering OF
delegates. Senator William Agnew,
the American Bowling congress pres
ident. is said to be candidate for
reelection and the Cleveland man is
the only one who can defeat h;mself
by withdrawing his name. Peoria is
looming as the most logical place
for the next meet, but Cincinnati is
: said to have eoaxed Garry Hermann
back as its bowling leader and IL he