The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-19

vote upon the motion made by the
Woodland Golf Club, and by calling
direct vote upon the question out of
order, when it was perfectly proper 1t
succeeded in preventing any action being
taken upon the question.
wanted New Association.
What happened? A number of gentle
men in the West, South and East. as an
independent body, proposed the forming
of truly representative national golf
association. It's chief spokesman came
to the editor Of prominent golf publ
cation here in the East requesting co
operation This editor seeing the dan
ger to golf, prevailed upon this body to
confer first with the U. s. G. A. before
going ahead with its plans. He sue
ceeded with difficulty, owing to the
affronts which certain members of this
body had received in the past at the
hands Of the u. S. G. A. Then opposi-
ton on the part OF the executive COM
mittee OF the U. S. G. A. had to be over
come. However, in the end a meeting
was arranged which took place at the
Links Club, in New York, IN May, 1917.
The discussion was amicable. but, due to
our having just entered the war; further
discussion was put off until the end OF
the war.
The war has now been over two years.
The w. G.. A. is going ahead with its
original plans, which We're to have been
adopted in 1910. According to Mr.
Brooks, now president of the W. G. A.
II correctly quoted in the papers these
plans were placed before the u. S. G. A.
last July with request for cooperation.
This evidently was refused In that the
w. G. A. has already severed it's aliegi-
ance to the u. S. G. A, through its adop-
ton or ats own ideas as regards amateur
ism ard the barring of the stymie, It's
present action Is immaterial
U. s. G. A. No Longer National.
The historical facts here written are
matter of record. They have never
been denied. The l.. S. G. A. may con-
scientiously believe It IS conserving the
best interests of the game of golf in the
United States by its stubborn refusal to
reconst!tute Itself upon more democratic
lines, but in that II has failed ~ main
tanning Its Interpretation of amateursm
and the integrity of the rules it is no
longer n national body, but an associa-
tlon Of clubs of no more national 'm-
portance thar that which the new AIMEE
lean Golf Association may come TO nave
AS Prof LasBi OF Yale has said ut
Is "A peculiar obsession Of all autocratic
governments that their win has moral
preeminence The wills OF individuals
must be surrendered in silent acquies-
cence before its demands But the dem
ocratic conception of sovereignty lies
not In the coercive power possessed by
It's instrument. but in the fused good
win for which IL stands. Men accept its
toto oft
finds part expression there or because.
assuming the goodness OF intention
which lies behind II, they are content,
usually. not to resist It's imposition. But,
then. law clearly Is not a command. It
Is simply "A rule OF convenience Its
goodness consists IN its consequences
II has to prove itself"
Pays Penalty of Audacity.
II therefore cannot be argued that
the L. 9. c. A. Is omnipotent in n spe-
cial sense. The power the association
exerts Is situate In II not by law. but
by consent, and that consent is, in GER
tain instances. liable to suspension. The
authority OF the u. y. G. A. therefore
obtains prominence over the minor gol.
associations of the country exactly ia
the point where Il Is interpreted with
Sufflctent wisdom 10 obtain general &C
ceptance. and no further Should II ven
ture into dangerous places II pays the
penalty Of its audacity. IT finds its SOW
creignty by consent transformed into
impotence by disagreement.
And that is the position of the gov
eminent OF golf In this country to-day
II has como about naturally through the
lack OF foresight. which the Y. S. c.. A.
has shown in wilfully ignoring public
opinion and. by questionable methods
perpetuating it's ideas in opposition to
II. That the governing board of the
association is pervaded with the highest
ideals no one can doubt, but the one
ideal to-day that stands above all others
liz union.
It would be a crime against the future
OF golf I'm America IL, at this time, every
effort Is not made toward the estab-
lshment and maintenance of one con-
trolling power over the interests of golf
in this country. To every one who loves
the game that one great end must now
dominate above all pride and person.
atty The u. s. a. A. must, therefore.
either find some means of regaining It's
authority or submit to n reconstruction
of itself along more democratic lines
that Il may thereby retrieve It's former
position through the consent OF those
II governs.