The Washington times., 1935-11-05
SeCrefdry's S
Patience
Snaps
BY GINO SINH

~ SCCuA0 OAASV PHSA4AS N4SS3bS -"
Isemann, the much-abused secre-
tary Of the National Duck Pin
Bowling Congress, has suddenly
discovered a flock Of knuckles en-
cased in the velvet gloves with
which he has been handling his
Job.
Baltimore duckpin mogulS who,
since 1928, had been using George
and his national body as door
mat on which to wipe their feet
before entering the temple Of
bigger profits and personal ad-
vancement, had to duck quickly
last week when Isemann swung
. couple Of "haymakers."
One year after the National
Duck Pin Bowling Congress was
organized, the Monumental City
broke up its infant city duckpn
association, formed through the
good offices of the national body.
Repeated attempts to organize
o new association up to 1884
flopped as the duckpin powers
that be refused to make neceS'
sary concessions and sacrifices.
Patiently Builds Again
Nothing daunted, ISemann pa
tiently went about the business Of
trying to organize another Balti-
more City Association this sum-
mer. Hard and conscientiouSly did
he labor, argue, cajol, plead, until
he had Smoothed out differences
between bowling operators as well
as bowlers and made them see
the urgent need Of an efficient,
well-knit organization. He con-
vinced the operators that the way
to promote their profits was by
citywide and nationwide promo
tion of the game.
Since the 1928 fiaSco, Baltimore
bowling circles have enjoyed the
supervision and service Of the
N. D. P. B. c. without refunding
or contributing to its expenses or
advancement.
It costs at least $4,000 a year
to run the congress, what with
Secretary's salary and travelling
expenses (and unaffiliated Balti-
more circles squawk loudly If Ise-
mann does not make regular ap-
pearanceS there), what with the
expenses of running various State
tournaments and swe pStakeS
Baltimore has had more than its
share Of tournaments and sweep
stakes in which ISemann has been
a major promoter>.
Multitude Of Expenses
Running a tournament for a
week means the hiring Of score
keepers and announcerS, paying
heavy telegraph and telephone
tolls, incidental expenses which
cannot be foreseen or forestalled.
Yet, though BaltimoreanS have
enjoyed these things practically
gratis for seven years, after 1se-
mann finally brought them to
point Of permanent organization,
they refuse to vote the national
body its conventional half share
of membership fees such as it gets
from all associations affiliated
with it.
That was too much for even
mild, easy-going, patient George.
Considering the year around per
Sonal service that Isemann gives
the alleys, q half-Share Of the
b0wlerS fee to the association
barely covers expenses.
The infant Baltimore associa-
ton offered one-fourth share Of
the fee, hardly enough to pay for
the filing expenses Of the data
on the bowlerS, and George, his
dander up, remembering his seven
years of hard work without re-
muneration against selfish oppo-
Sition, refused to even consider it.
Thousand Times ':NO!"
"No, o thousand times mol"
George told them grimly, ''The
National Duck Pin Bowling Con-
gresS cannot give you its service
for that small amount. It cannot
accept your offer Of affiNation.
Already Baltimore has been q
heavy expense to the body, with
no return. The national body may
be forced to erase Baltimore COM
pletely off its map, as your asSo-
citation, by its arbitrary action,
apparently desires it to do. No
association can be affiliated with
the national body unless it meets
the same requirement as Is met
by all other affiliated city organ
izationS. The congress can and
may form q Baltimore City ASso-
citation along its own lines, to
safeguard its friends"
Another major city organization
may soon feel the breeze, if not
the impact, Of the knuckles en-