Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03

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In all respects except tn e
rnediocrity Of its bowlers the Sat
urday Night League hardly can be
SurpaSSed--but in its weakness lies
its strength. It is entirely devoid
of first-claSs bowlers. No member
of the District or National Capital
League, in which are gathered al
most 100 per cent of the city's
stars, is permitted to shoot with a
Saturday Night team.
WHY this bylaw was instituted may
best be explained by the experience OF
one league Of ordinary strength with
we'll known District Lacquer last sea-
son. He took employment with firm
represented in the league and was In
strumental In winning 1t the pennant,
Also, he won all the individual prizes.
There was grumbling on all sides.
No Big Leaguers Here.
Every bowler In the league knew he
was whipped for individual honors
when the newcomer appeared. Interest
slackened. He was Man O. War among
selling platers. In the end he pocketed
considerable coin, and some say also his
pride. But this latter is questionable.
The chap was faced with the nom
sport business Of landing job and the
firm was ambitious to win bowling
remnant Moreover, he was not with
out example. The same thing had been
done many times. Get the cash and
forget the glory long has been q COM
mon policy of star bowlers.
Just who Is responsible for the ban
IN big leaders hasn't been made clear.
The leagues officers are: A. w. Hager-
mann. president; Bernard Hazel. Jr.,
vice president, and Charles Miller, sec
retary-treasuref and official scorer. Be-
inx an alley manager, Stocking was not
an o position to accept ofhce In the
league he organized, even had he wanted
70, which Is doubtful. The former pres
ident Of the washington City Duckpin
Association has announced his perma-
Yent retirement from all direct con-
nection with bowling organizations.
He succeeded, In the instance OF the
Saturday Night League, where others
had failed. All sorts Of schemes have
been tried In the last several years to
line Up bowlers for regular week end
play. In most cases the bait has been
Tor the star.
thesa ventures going. Not one was
even moderately successful. The pro-
rnoters counted upon business being
derived from fans who came to see the
experts perform. Many times the stars
didn't show UP. 1t was difncult to
maintain q schedule.
Teams Flock 10 Circuit.
viewing 1t from a business stand
point, the starless Saturday Night
League has been q pronounced success.
Tight competition Is quite as effective
La developing outside interest as ex-
pert performances. Each Of the Sat-
urday night teams has its supporters
and they stay to shoot game or two
themselves after the league has nm
ished.
The league barely was under way
when prosperity became assured. 1t
was planned for an eight-team loop,
but the entry deadline was ignored to
let In two more clubs. Then four others
begged for franchises.
Stocking who recently became pilot
at Convention Hall, was amazed. He
had been told by others in the business
that the Saturday night stuff was the
bunk: that Saturday was the one night
bowlers always had reserved for any
kind of competition they might desire
and that the Saturday night open date
tradition was indestructible. Somebody
was wrong.