The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-26
l ALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS
NEW YORK, March 20.

I
TN the realm of politics the theory
of government b. dictatOrs seems
70 have lost some Of its original
charm with citizenry, but in sports
the practice is growing. From now
on the administrative currents Of
professional golf will flow through
the imperial fingers Of one Albert
r. Gates of Chicago. In all matters
pertaining 10 the sport as 1t is inter-
preted by the hired hands in this
country. Gates is 10 be permitted
the decisive yes or no, as the off,
ciaI sentiment may be, his position
corresponding in power to that ex-
ercised by Judge X. M. Lands in
baseball.
while there Is no hint Of revolt against
the amateur ruling body Of golf In an
uouneement OF Gates appointment and
the accompanying outline Of his duties,
which you are told. viii treat with sqeh
and concerted drive against worm casts
II is generally known that the pros are
not wholly In sympathy with some OF the
listing procedures. and sooner or later
this condition wiz be materiaii1ed into
very deafening squawk.
To begin with, the status Of the pro
offer has changed sharply in the last
ten years. The popularity OF the game
fas spread enormously and the pro has
Course. few years back there we're only
three tournaments Of any Importance IN
which the pro could compete-the ma
P q. A.. a match play test. Today there
gre twenty odd such tournaments ranging
% cash rewards from $4,000 to $4,000.
TOR example, 21-year-old Horton
L Smith has just finished a
winter campaign Of golf which
Yielded him close to $4,000. Pro-
iessional golf has become a big
business. and the skilled members
of the craft are apparently de-
termined TO toroe a more generous
recognition
imagine 10 time the pros through their
new set-up, will attempt to share in the
rate receipts at the national open. the
most pretentious Of he championship
events.
ance Of more than $4,000 at the Winged
foot Club In the New YORK district laSt
summer. hall Of which vent 70 the Us y; 81
priez Of a mere $500 to the leading pro
iessionsl
Some Of the young men did not look
entirely equitable, the point being raised
that inasmuoh as they as competitors lured
the crowd. more sizeable part of the swag
should have been distributed among the
PLAYERS.
OF course this is sordid viewpoint and
entirely lacking in appeal to the artlStlc
ducts these tournaments and charges gate
admissions the element Of commercialsm
Is going to occupy conspicuous POSITION
HOWEVER. my sympathies are
II not wholly with the pros in
this controversy. 1t so happens that
at the current writing the best
golfer in the world is an amateur,
and being just that he is likewise
the best gate attraction in golf. OBJ
vicusly, I refer to Bobby Jones.
have a wholesome respect for a great
number Of pro golfers. but an open tour
nament without Jones as starter would
be Just another Scott-Sharkey fight to
thousands Of persons and all Jones ever
gets out of winning the professional event:
do his Law business any harm-is gold
medal. and a good time
II Is probably true that Jones as an
amateur has done more for pTotessiona!
Toif than any body else In the game and
until the salared players are able TO de-
velop some one capable OF getting MIN
down and keeping him there am AFRAID
thusiasm for the threatened professional