Evening star., 1932-12-08
HE'S IDEAL CAPTAIN
FOR TOSSING SHIP
Backing Him Now May Pay
Big Dividends-City As
Sociation Lax.
BY r. ID. THOMAS.

nomic knockout to slow
George Isemann.
The secretary of the Ma
tional Duck Pin Bowling Congress
is carrying on as though pockets
were as we'll filled as ever.
There has been no curtailment
of the Congress annual program,
nor will there be any.
The only effect upset conditions have
had on the games livest wire has been
to infuse him with higher voltage,
which Is as it should be. In time OF
prosperity the bowling business is not
strongly In need of a promotion man,
which Is Isemanns true status.
At present that worthy is engaged on
q national tournament for boys Is years
old and under, and one for Juniors with
an age limit Of l8
NEXT on his program will be the ma
IN tional sweepstakes, and after that
the Congress teams, doubles and
singles tournament.
Isemann is always busy. What time
can be spared from his national projects
Is spent helping other promoters OF
bowling events, such as city associa-
tions, alley managers and newspapers
throughout the East.
Because Of economic conditions some
duckpin leaders challenged the feast
bility of holding the national sweep
stakes this season.
I'VE will have a sweepstakes and 1t
Szyill ha q uoOd Tournament announced
1semann.
Moreover, he refused to lower the en-
try fee, which is $50 and the largest
levied in any bowling tournament in the
country. No backward step for George
the Go-getter.
INSTEAD of abandoning the classic he
i set about finding means to raise ex-
penses for prospective entrants.
There aren't many bowlers who can
afford $50 entry fee," Isemann ad-
but you'll find plenty who will put up
. dollar or two for a chance to win
his fee"
From this idea have sprung many
tournaments, in some of which SO bowl
ers are putting up a dollar each or
Is kicking in with two bucks apiece,
winner to take all The alley owner
with sizable establishment who doesn't
60 for this scheme isn't on to his busi-
ness, and in many instances even the
little fellow can put over s1ch tourna-
ment and boot at least one days re-
cefpts.
Unlike many others to whom bowling
yields livelihood, Isemann Is hooking
beyond present difficulties. He be-
heves that some alley folk have gone
tyA f~vs Tn1r Ne
Germ is over the things done, or left
,mdone, at this time that viii affect
the future of the sport, sport to i'm
prove which Isemann has striven
arduously and sacrificed much for q
period Of more than 20 years.
TT may be said to have reached its
i highest standard just before the
business sky clouded over. Since
then alley owners have made mistakes
in efforts to stimulate business. In
this city they have tanpered with
equipment inadvisedly, nullifying years
Of campaigning by bowling leaders to
standardize the game; they have fought
each other where formerly all worked
in unison to better the sport and they
have shown no regard whatever for
the constituted authorities Of the game,
Duckpin Bowling Congress and the
Washington City Duckpin Association.
They formed an association of their
own here, which quickly went to pot
when misunderstanding" developed.
It seemed most proper time for the
Washington City Duckpin Association
to assert itself when the alley owners
raised cutters. After all, the bowler
pays the freight and is entitled to a
say in such things. But the city asso-
ciation hasn't even seen fit to call a
meeting for several years, although its
constitution orders an annual election.
IT'S looseness may have left the way
i open for another bowling war such
as split the ranks of duckpinners
nearly decade ago and left many
scars. That scrap was over business
accruing from the city associations
annual tournament
Peace was restored when the tourna-
ment was placed on circuit of estab-
lishments and allotted several years in
advance. The last tournament ended
one OF these series, and when the city
association meets again it will be called
upon to name an alley for the tourna-
ment next Spring Wisdom would have
dictated that this be done at least q
year. ago. The situation then would
have been far less potent with strife.
ISEMANN, as diplomatic as he is en-
j terprising, is doing all within his
power to keep the ship under safe
headway through heavy weather.
When prosperity does return, he
hopes the game will be ready to march
on at the same tempo of sanely man
aged affairs. And it's plenty safe to
say that bowling would be abe to do
Just that If alley folk and other lead
ers would put their trust in him and
push on in the direction he points, even
though they be called upon for an occa-
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