The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-19
u. s. G. A. TO BLAME
FOR THE GOLF WAR
Trouble With w. G.. A. Easily
Could Have Been Avoided,
Says Max II. Behr.
BROKE MANY PROMISES
Advises One Membership and
Shows How East and West
Can Pull Together.
BROKE MANY PROMISES
ny MAX II. BEHR.

listing between the West and the East Is
most regrettable. To the unintiated in
the history of golfing government in the
United States the proposed action OF
the Western Golf Association is mex
cusable. but to the Initiated the caiious
disregard of the United States Golf AS
ISOLATED TO the true interests of golf has
been criminal to the extent OF precipi-
tating the present predicament.
1t Is absurd to look upon the proposed
action OF the Western Golf Association
as a periodical upheaval or a new ad-
venture. It is nothing of the kind. 1t
Is merely the contamination OF certain
steps 1t has already taken and which II
was the bounden duty of the United
States Golf Association to prevent Arti-
Gle II. Of the United States Golf Asso-
citation constitution in part reads:
This association has been formed
and exists for the purpose Of promoting
and conserving throughout the United
States the best interests and the true
spirit of the game of golf as embodied
in its ancient and honorable traditions.
To this end the objects of this associa-
ton are:
ITO adopt enforce and interpret rule
or test of amateur standing
ITO adupt. enforce and interpret rules
for the playing of the game"
Now when we consider that the
w. G.. A. has already adopted its own
Interpretation of amateurism and has
refused to play the game according 10
the rules Of the u. S. G. A. by barring
the stymie. and, further. that the
L. C. "a in having allowed this con-
dtion TO exist, Ia fact having never
raised a finger to alter It, IL must be
evident that It has been faithless to the
trust imposed upon 1t by its founders
and to the objects of It's existence.
Regardless of the fact that we may,
in our hearts, condemn the proposed
action Of the w G. a. and regret that
the L. S. C. A. may no longer. in name,
call itself the National Golf Assoca-
ton, this Is no time for partisanship,
bat the time for every true golfer 10
consider the interests of golf regardless
Of his affiliations. Much as one may he
tied b. sentiment 70 the u. S. G. A.,
Il is patent tn0t il has failed in its duty.
and It's duty Was TO preserve the in
tegrity OF the game IN this country
1t was but an instrument for that pur-
pose. il Is. therefore, at this time that
The integrity of golf should alone be
considered; no other question matters.
I implied that the U. S. C. A. was not
entirely innocent OF having created tho
present situation. ! believe the facts
will bear this out. II is to be reinem-
bered that the w g. A. has always de-
sired the elimination of the two classes
Of membership Ia that the active and
voting clubs lay largely in the East
and that Western golf was thereby de-
prived OF proper representation. Let us.
therefore. review the attempts made to
democratlze The u. S. G. a. and judge
whether the West has not shown Just
tolerance.
The first attempt was made by the
late Mr.. II. II. Robertson in 1902. He
was then president. His proposal to do
away with the distinction Of membership
was referred to the executive commit
tee and was subsequently voted down at
a special meeting OF the association upon
May OF that year.
The second attempt was made in 1904,
when a petition 10 that effect was sub
mitted by n number of Western clubs TO
the executive committee at the annual
meeting of that year. The question did
not come before the delegates until the
annual meeting OF 1905. II was voted
down largely through the influence Of
Mr. c. b. Macdonald.
Tho third attempt was made in 1909
1910. The w. G. A. then proposed to
do what II liz doing now, that Is. change
Its name to the American Golf Associa-
ton. &c. It's annual meeting in 1910
was to precede that of the u. 8. G.. A..
The u s. G.. A. succeeded In stamping
out the fire by promising the w. G.. A.
that at its annual meeting a resolution
would be proposed calling for the ap-
pointment of n representative special
committee, chosen from all sections of
the country, to consider whether. II (a)
representation shall continue to be by
clubs. all clubs. regardless of size and
Importance. should have vote. and (b)
TO consider most carefully whether II
might not be .advisa BILE TO reorganize the
association entirely. so as TO provide for
government by constituent associations
or districts instead of clubs. The u s.
G. A. printed this promise and sent Il
out TO its active members. The w. a.
A., being assured of the good faith of
the u. S. G.. A.. withdrew Its proposed
action and received at its annual
meeting that action on the resolution
to amend Is constitution be postponed.
Both Letters Unncknowledged.
The Y. s. q. A. was officially advised
OF this. and the president OF w. @. A.
addressed letter upon the subject TO
the president of he ". s. @. A. Both
letters remain to-day unacknowledged
Why7 Because In the words of for
mer president of the U. S. G. A. when
this promise was to be made good the
y. S. G. A. "as a national body should
not stoop to any conference with any
other organization because the latter
requested IT,"
The w. @. a. had requested no con-
ference II was merely. as an indepen-
dent association. going its own way.
when the Y. S. @. A. stepped In and. by
promise. which Il has still TO fulfil.
blocked an action II considered inimical
&c It's interests.
The fourth attempt was made by Mr..
Frank Woodward In 1et5-19t6. Mr..
Woodward was then ~pi esident of the
! u. S. q. A. and had been president of
the W. q. A. When. however the aues-
/ tion came before tho annual meeting In
I 1916 Mr.. Woodward himself suggested
Z that consideration OF the matter be
postponed. and as Mr.. Balch. then pres
! ident Of the w. O.. A.. offered the mo-
| ton to that effect. which was carried.
| there were hopes that the officials OF
/ the two organizations had gotten to-
gether and wished only time to work
out tho details. II such be the truth the
West was again disappointed. for moth
| Ing came OF II.
Then came the Ouimet question. The
weat was incensed by his dlsbarment
from amateur golf. Consideration OF
the executive committees action was To
Ia. -