The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-21
'BOWLERS TO DECIDE
ON MANY QUESTIONS
New Ideas for Handling Game
to Be Aired at District As
ISOLATION Meeting.

When the District Duckpin Associa-
tion convenes some time during the
next few weeks to make plans for its
annual tournament to be held earlier
this season than in the past, more
questions will be brought up that are
of vital interest to the game than in
any other meeting in the history Of
the association.
During the last season and the
present developments have taken
place which must be attended to by
the association, In order to have the
game, which has grown in a remark
able manner, run smoothly. A num-
her Of new ideas have been worked
out by various bowling leaders that
deserve attention, and in all proba-
bility some OF them will prove bene-
ncial
Would Invite Out-sf.Tswsers-
John L. vaeth, formerly of Balti-
more and now one of the most promi.
nent men In the local bowling world.
has intentions, it is understood, Of
leading q movement with the object
of creating an out-Of-town tourns-
ment, as we'll as a local event of the
District associations championships.
Vaeth win bring the matter up before
the meeting, and despite the fact that
strong opposition Is likely to be en-
countered, q number are interested in
the idea, and he may receive appre-
ciable support.
Should vaeth and his followers
carry out their plan. Washington will
be the scene of an annual tourna-
ment ranking among the big bowling
events Of the country. Such q tour
nament would attract entrants from
q radius OF several hundred miles
which territory teens with adherents
of the little pin pastime.
Unfair To Locals.
Chief argument against out-of-town
competition in the tournament - that
the various cities would send only
their crack teams and individuals to
participate and roll for prize money,
the bulk of which would be put up
by the local pinspillers, OF whom a
majority would not rank in ability
with the visitors.
Jack williams, a strong supporter
Of duckpins since the game was In
troduced here civilians took part in
the first organized duckpin match stag
ed in this city, only recently
came forward with the opinion that
the District Association tournament
should be run on q handicap plan.
Places All On Par.
He contends that by handicapping
such exceptional combinations and in
dividuals a. the Royals. Grand Cepkrals.
Continentals, etc, and placing them on
q par with other contsnders that the
mediocre bovlers would have as much
chance for the prizes a. the cracks.
which. he says. would stir up more in
terest and benefit things in general
Williams probably will give his
scheme an airing at the association
meeting, but at present he has met
with little encouragement. It IL IN
derstood that q majority OF those on
whom rests the responsibility of con
Quoting the tournament believe that
the system used in the past of classi-
flying the bowlers according to their
ability, as shown by averages, could
not be improved upon.
Unfortunately, the classifying sys-
TEN has one weakness which has been
taken advantage of. Toward the end
Of the season teams and individuals or
class A ability have been known to
purposely decrease their averages In
order to be placed in class and
class C to stand q better show OF
ed d 70 he
regretted, but cannot very well be
prevented.
Just what figures will be used to
rank the bowlers for the various
classes, should the tournament be
staged a. heretofore, will occupy seri-
Gus attention at the meeting. During
the season before last. when the big
So inch ball prevailed. and inflated
averages, the association added one
pin per individual and I'VE per team
to the classifications.
Thus, II all bowlers with averages
OF 104 or better were placed In class
A the season before, when the FIVE
inch ball was in general use, they
needed to average los to make class
A in the big ball event.
New Scale Necessary.
Now that the FIVE and one-quarter
inch sphere has been discarded in
favor OF the old time five-inch ball.
and the new A. c. B. A. pin has taken
the place OF the Baltimore maple, the
association must again determine on
classihcations to meet changes in
the game
Another proposition will be put be
fore the meeting which probably will
be favored. This is that the associa
tion take over the government of the
game in general and Judge of District
records. Heretofore the association
has confined its activities to the an
nual tournament.
Would Control All Competition.
1t is now proposed that all special
matches, such as that between the
Grand Centrals and the Continsntsls