Evening star., 1917-01-09
j. S. c. A. ACTION LEGAL
Accusation of So-Called Star
Chamber Methods in Cell
Is Explained.

month ago one of the western goif
magazines took occasion to criticize the
United States Golf Association. and
narticularly the executive committee.
in no uncertain terms. referring to the
governing body as the star chamber
and asserting that II obtained ITS ends
in ways which. although strictly consul
tutional, nevertheless were against tho
high principles which the publication
claimed should govern the actions o. a
body appointed 10 iesisia'e i" Wv
game of golf. .
One OF the assertions made by this
periodical referred to the action OF tne
United States Golf Association IN re-
gard to payment OF dues OF ciups ~",r"
either sent representatives to the an
nual meeting or else gave their prozles
to some man who was to attend Inc
claim was made that by reason or the
fact that the meeting TOOK place er.y
i'm the wear and that no club which had
not paid its dues was able to vote
very few voting members would pe
present at the meeting, az rev ciu"s
are paying their dues on time.
The action of the l.. s. q. A. IN re-
fusing to allow members of clubs which
had not paid their dues the right 10
vote is entirely constitutional, put tno
difficulty Is bridged in another way.
When the member of "A club which mas
not paid is dues stands up TO record
his vote he is allowed TO sign SIP
making himself responsible for tne
dues of the club or clubs he represents
The whole procedure is constiiutionai
and without risk TO the delegate After
the slip is signed he is permitted TO
vote.
Who can accuse the L. S. @. A. OF
"star chamber" methods when IL
provides a loophole such as this for
voter who under the constitution. has
no right to cast his bailotg
So much has been written on the va
rious petitions sent out by the WOOD
land Club that aN attempt to set down
these facts would be merely a work of
reca pitulation of statements which are
known to the majority of golfers the
nature of the quarrel between the
Woodland Club and the United States
Golf Association lies in the fact that
the Massachusetts, organization 10
fighting for the particular point of JUS
tice which has involved three persons
belonging to IL, and the national body
is declaring and strenuously upholding
a principle which takes into no con-
sideration Individuals. but IN satisfied
with carrying out the principle for
which II stands. About the outcome
there can be but a reasonable amount
of doubt.
Frank L. woodward of Denver. presi-
dent of the United States Golf Asso-
citation. arrived in New York yesterday.
according to a dispatch from the me-
tropolis. When interviewed at his ho-
tel last evening he refused to discuss
the amateur question. declaring any
statement published as coming from
him would be a pure fake.
A ticket pledged to work for the re-
instatement of the three barred golf.
ers. Francis Ouimet. Paul Tewksbury
and J. H. Sullivan. jr.. has been dled in
opposition to the regular list Of nomf-
nations for officers and members Of the
executive committee Of the Massachu-
setts Golf Association. which will be
acted upon at the annual meeting Of
the association January II. It is stated
that Webster Thayer Of Worcester has
been named for president, Ralph Alden
Of Springfield for vice president, wal
ter Clark of Wollaston for treasurer,
B. K. Stephenson of Winchester for
secretary. and that Henry H wilder Of
Brookline and l.. B. Patton Of Home
stead are two of those named for the
executive committee. The nominations
on the regular ticket are:
President. Henry H. wilder. Drook.
line: vice president, Paul r. CLAY. Nsr.
rimack Valley Country Club: treasures.
Joseph b. Russell. jr.. Dedham Country
and Polo Club: secretary. b. K otophe
enson. Winchester Country Club cree
utive committee, Rodney W. HROWa
Meadow Brook Golf Club; J. n Chaee
woodland Golf Club; A. d. LoelcA DF0os
cheatnnt Cn.a SIs Hlil cot cot c ~ r.
stsrne. Mercsstax cex1 GA