188 



FOREST AND STREAM 



[Sept. 11, 1890. 



WHITE PLAINS TOURNAMENT. 



White Plains. N. Y., Sept. 4.— First Muerock and live bird 

 tournament of the White Plains Gun Club, held on the North 

 End Driving Park. White Plains, N. Y., to-day. 



On account of Mr. A. C. Dittmar's death on the first day of onr 

 shoot, Sept. 4, at 11 A. M , the boys did not show up as expected, 

 and this also accounts 'or the poor scores of some of the intimate 

 friends of Mr. Dittmar; the deceased being one of the most 

 prominent shots in Westchester county, and one of the finest men 

 we had around us. 



Mr. M. P. L ndsley, Sup'f of the American Wood Powder Co., 

 was in no condition to shoot, as Mr. Dittmar and Lindsley were 

 almost like brothers, and the latter would not have shot at all 

 only on account of helping us out, there being such a poor crowd. 



We all feci Mr. Dittmai \s death greatly, and trust the nest shoot 

 we have will not be broken up so by such bad news we bad on last 

 Thursday. 



Following are the scores in full for both days. American Shoot- 

 ing Association rules governed all contests: 



Event No. 1, 10 bluerocks: Collins 7, H. Law ton 8, Smith 6, T. 

 Ward 5. All ties div. 50, 30 and 20 per cent. 



No. 2, 12 bluerocks: T. Bassford 6, Collins 9, Lyons 5, Halpin 5, 

 T. Ward 8, W. Ward 9. 



No. 3, 9 singles and 3 pairs bluerocks: Halpin ft. Smith 8, Lyons 

 9, Collins 13, W. Ward 12. T. Ward 9. 



No. 4, IS bluerocks: T. Ward 13, Lyons 7, Smith 11, Collins 14. 



No. 5, 20 bluerocks: Collins 17, T. Ward 15, Lyons 14, Smith 15, 

 W. Ward, 16, Thompson 10. 



No. 6 at 12 bluerocks: T. Ward 9, Collins 10, Halpin 9, Smith 8, 

 W. Wnrd 7. 



No. 8, at. 16 bluerocks: Collins 15, T. Ward 11, W. Ward 11, Smith 

 9, Sutton 7. 



No. 9, at 13 bluerocks: Collins 10, Halpin 8, Smith 10, W. Ward 

 8, T. Ward 7. 



No. 10, Jersev sweep, at 4 live birds: Collins 3, J. Thompson 4, 

 Lyons 2, T. Ward 4, T. Bassford 2. 



No. 11, same as No. 10: Collins 4, T. Ward 3, W. Ward 3. 



No. 12, at 3 live birds: Collins 2, J. Thompson 3, T. Ward 3, T. 

 Bassford 2. W. W T ard 3. 



No. 13, 15 bluerocks: Collins 14, T. Ward 10, W. W T ard 10, Halpin 

 12. 



No. 14, 10 bluerocks: T. Ward 9, Collins ?, W. Ward 7. 

 No. 15, 10 bluerocks: Collins 9, T. Ward 8. 



Second Day, Sept. 5. 

 No. 1, 10 bluerocks: Collins 8, T. Ward 6, Austin 5, W. Ward 7. 

 No. 2, 12, bluerocks: T. Ward 10, Lindsley 8, Collins 10, W. 

 Ward 9. 



No. 3, 9 singles and 3 pairs: Lindsley 8, Collins 8, Welsh 7, T. 

 Ward 10, Austin 6. Nichols 9. 



No. 4, 15 bluerocks: Lindslev 13, Collins 9, T. Ward 14, Nieholls 

 11, W. Ward 9, Betti 9, Manlev 11, G. Bassford 5. 



No. 5, 15 bluerocks: Collins 14, T. Ward 15,NicholL 9, Manley 12, 

 G. Bassford 8. 



No. 6, 5 bluerocks: Collins 14, Manley 10, Lindslev 8, W. Ward 

 11, Nieholls 13, Halpin 10, W. Ward 8. 



No. 7, 10 bluerocks: Collins 9, T. Ward 8, Lindsley ft, Manley 8, 

 Nieholls 9. 



No. 8, Jersey sweep. 4 live bird: 



Halpin 2020-2 T Bassford 2000-1 



Nieholls 1222-4 Collins 1211-4 



T Ward 1112—4 E Ward 2020-2 



Wnlsh 0012-4 J Thompson 1201—2 



Mauley 1222—4 E Thompson 1100—2 



Lindsley 2201-3 



No. 9,10 live birds: 



( lollins 11122221ol-9 Manley 2121122222-10 



T Ward 1121110120-8 .1 Thompson 0221012H2- 8 



Lindsley 1011112221-9 Nieholls 0202121102- 7 



No. 10. Jersey sweep, 4 live birds: J. Thompson 4, Lindsley 3, T. 

 Ward 4. Sutton 2, Collins 4, E. Ward 4, Halpin 4. 



Chas. P. Rowley. 



NEWARK. 



NEWARK. N. J., Sept. I —East Side Gun Club, weekly shoot' 

 all ties div. unless noted. Sweep No. 1, 10 standards, 50cts. entry : 



C Von Lengerke. ...1111111111-10 E Hague 1001101001- 5 



H Koegel 1011111 ill— 9 A Koeler 0110111000- 5 



P Schilling 1111101111- 9 F Hillfers 0101111000- 4 



R Barr 0101111001— 6 C Laubenstein 0000011011— 4 



P Schork 1011101001— 0 J Fisher 0000010100— 3 



PLongstaff 0100111101- G FPerment 1000000000- 1 



Sweep No. 2, 5 standards, 25cts. entry. 



Von Lengerke 5 Hague 3 



Koegel 5 Schork 3 



Barr 5 Ulbricht 3 



Longstaff 4 Schilling 3 



Sweep No. 3, 10 standards, 50 cents entrance: 



Barr 10 Von Lengerke 7 Hillfers 5 



Koegel .. 9 Langstaff 7 Reach 4 



Fisher 8 Hague 7 Perment 1 



Schilling 8 Schock 6 



Sweep No. 4, 5 pairs, 50 cents entrance: 



Hague 7 Perment 5 



Von Lengerke 5 Schock B 



Koegel 5 Hillfers 4 



Second shot off and won by Von Lengerke. 



Live-bird sweeps, 4 birds, $4 entry: 



R Schoeft 1111—4 Richards 1100—2 



Koegel ; 1111—4 Langstaff 1005-1 



Hillfers 1110-3 Schock 000 —0 



No. 2, same as above: 



Schoeft 1111—4 Perment 1101-L 



Koegel 1110—3 Hillfers 1010-3 



No. 3, same: 



Koegel 1111-4 Perment 0101-2 



Barr 1111-4 Hillfers 1000- J 



Schoeft 1101—3 



No. 4, 4 live birds, S3: 



Koegel 1111—4 Perment 1101—3 



Hillfers 1111 — 1 Schilling 1101-3 



Barr 1111—4 Ulbrecht 0000-0 



No. 5, same as No. 4: 



Koegel 1111—4 Perment 1U0— 3 



Barr. UU-4 Hillfers 0H0-2 



No. 6, same: 



Koegel 1U1-4 Perment 0111 . 



Barr 1H1-4 Hillfers 00U-3 



No. 7, same: 



Barr 1111- 4 Koegel 1110-3 



Perment 1110-3 



Foxhide. 



DEATH OF ARTHUR C. DITTMAR. 



On Thursday morning last Arthur C. Dittmar, eldest son of the 

 late Lieut. Carl Dittmar, died suddenly at his home in this city. 

 Young Dittmar on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 3, inhaled the 

 fumes of some acids he was mixing in the nitre room of the works 

 at Baychester. He did not feel any immediate bad effect from 

 the breathing in of the acid vapors, but on his return home from 

 the works late in the evening he had a sharp coughing spell. A 

 physician wa» called. No specially serious symptoms were mani- 

 fested until the next morning, when a sudden turn for the worse 

 brought on death about 11 o'clock. The interment was on Sun- 

 day last in Woodlawn Cemetery, and the frnieral, from his late 

 residence No. 72 East 108th street, was attended by a very large 

 throng of friends and admirers of the universally respected young 

 man. 



He was in his 28th year, but had already won for himself a name 

 as a very clever chemist in the line of explosive compounds, and 

 was a worthy successor as a scientist to his father, who, it will be 

 remembered, was the inventor of Dualliue, the high blasting 

 preparation, and of the Dittmar wood powder, the first powder o :' 

 its class introduced into this country, the predecessor ot many of 

 the smokeless powders now so much in vogue. Upon the death of 

 Dittmar, Sr., some seven years ago, the young man, then scarcely 

 out of his teens, took charge of the factory and carried on the 

 business with credit and success, and the blasting powder output 

 had a v»ry high reputation in the trade. Arthur was an enthu- 

 siastic sportsman, an ardent yachtsman, a very quick field shot 

 and an expert trap shot, and had won many matches both at live 

 birds and at inanimate targets. He and Milt F. Linrisley. the 

 popular trap shot, were fast friends and companions, and the 

 sudden death of his boon comrade has completely upset the pop- 

 ular representative of the wood powder interest. At the funeral 

 the floral tributes to the memory of the young business man and 

 chemist were many and rich, and his sudden demise has been the 

 text for many kind words of appreciative sorrow at every meet 

 ing of sportsmen and shooters since the news became known. 



Laubenstein 2 



Hillfers 1 



Koeler. . . 1 



Fisher 2 



Laubenstein 3 



Fisher 3 



time, and evidently saw nothing to take their appetites or courage 

 away, for they came back quickly and called for the match. The 

 White Haven boys were ready and the match bagan. The day was 

 exceedingly warm and the shooters stripped for their work. 

 Much to the surprise of every <me, White Haven took the lead 

 from the start and it looked as if the invincibles were to be beaten 

 at last, and if Cramer and Bishop of the White Haven team had 

 walked out with their last 7 straight they would have won the 

 da$; but when Dean, Cramer's running mate, broke all his birds, 

 and Cramer knew he must, too, it took his nerve and he dropped 

 his last four and lost the dav for White Haven. Miller finished 

 for Springfield with 7 more straight, and Bishop, now thoroughly 

 demoralized, added three more 0s to White Haven's score and 

 gave the match to Springfield by 6 birds. Cramer and Bishop can 

 shoot, but they have not the nerve to hold them when everything 

 depends on what they do. As it was, they tumbled and Springfield 

 won and went home with the opinion that if White Haven had a 

 little more nerve they would make somebody hustle. Following 

 are the scores, 7 men on a side, 25 Keystones, unknown angles, 

 Association rules. Jacob Pent/, and S. K. Large official scorers. 

 Return shoot some time in October at Claremont, N. J.: 



White Haven Team. 



Anderson 19 



Cole 18 



Guromere 31 



Stout - 20 



Chamberlin 19 



Cramer 17 



WHITE HAVEN, N. J., Sept. 5.— The Springfield team, which 

 was billed to shoot a match with the White Haven Club to-day, 

 duly arrived on the morning train and weve escorted to the club 

 grounds, where they indulged in sweepstake shooting till dinner 



Springfield Team. 



Sickley 18 



Pudney ..23 



Sayre 18 



Terry 10 



siegler 31 



Dean 31 



P Jpanneret 3 



Matzon 3 



Meyer 2 



Klees 0 



E Collins 3 



Stettler. .... .1 



Bishop 20—134 Miller 24-140 



H. 



RUTHERFORD, N. J., Aug. 30.— Boiling Spring Gun Club, blue 

 rocks, five traps, American Association rules gold badge: 



Coe OlOOOUOOOllOOOOOOlllllOO-lO 



Meyer 11011111)0111011011111101-20 



Blauvelt 1111111111110111001111111-22 



Lane. HlllOOOOOlllOOllllll'000-15 



peek or J 1.1 .:!■:.)■ oioiowiiio- v 



R Chaffee 111101011 OD1UI01001D010— 17 



C Collins 1001100010100000011001010— 9 



Klees 1010111101 111100111100110-17 



r; i 0 1, '' ■ ■ J :, J 1 1 — i - 



E J eannere t 01 010001 10 1 1001 1 011011100-11 



P Jeanneret 0010001000101101 110101010—11 



DuBois 0100001000100011001000100— 7 



Sept. 2 —First sweep, four live birds, S2 entrance, four moneys, 

 ties divided, 3 ground traps, 28 and 29yds. rise, 80yds. boundary: 



Lindsley 4 Matzen.... 3 DuBoiB 1 



Van Riper 1 Blauvelt 4 C Collins 2 



E Collins 2 Klees 3 Peck 4 



Meyers 3 P Jeanneret 3 Morris 3 



Post 3 GVatgs 2 Hagen 3 



Wanda 2 Lawrenson 4 



Second sweep, same conditions: 



Lindsley 4 Vagts I Matzon 3 



E Collins 3 Post 3 Morris 1 



P Jeanneret 1 Peck.... 2 DuBois 4 



Van Riper 1 Stettler 2 Lawrenson 3 



Wanda 3 Lane 2 Klees 4 



Hagen 4 Blauvelt 4 Meyer 4 



Third sweep, same conditions: 



L'ndslev 4 Hagen 4 



E Collins 4 DuBois 3 



Wanda 4 Lane 2 



Van Riper ...3 Post ;...3 



Peck 3 Stettler 4 



Fourth sweep, mis" and out, $1 entrance; 



Post 3 Hagen 2 



Lindsley 3 Peck l 



Van Riper . . . 0 DuBois 2 



Birds shot out: Lindsley, Post and Collins div. 



Sept. 6.— Last shoot during eight weeks for prizes, at 25 blue- 

 rocks, 18yds. rise: 



Meyer 01 11011 Oil 1 1 11 110 1101 0110—18 



Chaffee 1011011110111100111000010-15 



Lewis Lane llH111110i:iin00llll01i-21 



P Jeanneret OOllOOOlOOlOllOOOllOiOOOO- 9 



R H Peck 01100001100110U001010110-10 



E Jeanneret 0011001100011011001010110-12 



C Collins no! ioino.1 J 11011000- 9 



Blauvelt 0110111111100111111111110-30 



FiTst prize of series won by Meyer; second, .Lewis Lane; third, 

 R. G. Chaffee; fourth, P. Jeanneret; fifth, R. H. Peck. 



CLEVELAND, O., Sept. 4.— The following is the result of the 

 shoot at the East End Gun Club grounds this afternoon, 50 birds 

 being shot at: 



A B Jones 45 Kilby 36 Alexander 43 



Sweetman 41 King 45 Mack 31 



LO Jones 37 Kohh 32 Haycox 42 



Frederick... 39 Joseph 37 Wherry 39 



Hebbard 38 Knight 40 Williams 42 



M Bell . 4 - 38 Baker 43 Wilson 35 



Brockway 36 North 47 Cavell 45 



The first badge in the club shoot whs won by North and the 

 second by A B. Jones. Owing to the lateness of the hour the ties 

 for the gun were not shot off. 



CLAREMONT SHOOTING GROUNDS, Sept. ll.-Ten blue- 

 rocks, 50 cents entry: 



1 % k 



Lindsley , 4 8 8 



Thompson 9 8 8 



Collins 9 7 10 



Albee 5 .. .. 



Mon«y 6 0 ft 



Hunt 8 8 5 



Johnston 8 9 7 10 8 8 



Connors 4 8 



Hathaway 7 0 4 7 4 8 



Craft 8 8 8 8 7 8 



Live-bird sweep, 4 birds, S2 entrance; 



Albee 1111—1 002-2 Thompson 1112—4 



Collins 1111-4 110-2 Money 1111-4 



Hunt 2201-4 112-3 Wanda 0113—3 



Lindsley 1111-4 020-1 



Ties on first money shot out, 3 birds each. 



BOSTON, Sept.. 3.— More favorable weather conditions could 

 not be desired than prevailed at the range to-dav and several 

 clean scores were made. Mr. Bowker was an easy winner in the 

 diamond pin match. He also won the gold champion medal, 

 which he will hold until the next shoot, wben it will be contested 

 for again. The following gives the winners and their scores in 

 the main event of the day, the diamond pin match, at. 20 single 

 Keystone targets, Keystone system of firing, and 5 pairs standard 

 targets: 



Keystones. 



Bowker 11111111001111111111-18 



Hosmer 11110111010111111111-17 



Parham 00111100111110111101— 14 



Brackett 11111111011100111011-16 



Gale 11101101 01 1 001011101 - 13 



Curtis 011 111101 111 11010011 -15 



Nichols 110111101011111 001 10-14 



' or. i. U 1 ■ J 



Brickett 1001101001 0010110110-10 



MILLERSBURG, Pa., Sept. 2.- The most excitiug pigeon match 

 that has come off here for years was shot to-day between Ike 

 Thompson, of Tower City, and G. Wall Hepler, of Steelton. The 

 birds were trapped and handled for each other; they_ were strong 

 and quick on the wing. The match was for $100 a side, and with 

 several side bets the stakes amounted to fully $1,000. There was 

 a marfced contrast between the contestants, Thompson being 

 6t. 3in. in height and about 40 years old, while Hepler stands 

 about 5ft. 7in. and is not quite 20 yen re ol age, although he handles 

 the gun with deadly precision, killing 13 birds in bound, 3 dead out 

 of bounds, gun snapped on another, which might have won the 

 match. Another match will be arranged. Match at live pigeons, 

 1 trap, 21yds. rise, 60yds. bound, one barrel, with gun below the 

 elbow, snap to count miss: 



Thompson.. 110110111110110110-13 Hepler 110110101111011110—13 



5 



5 5 

 8 8 

 7 10 



5 9 



4 3 



6 5 



5 6 



7 9 5 4 6 3 



210—3 

 221—3 



Standards. 

 00 11 01 10 11—6—24 



10 10 10 10 00- 4—31 



11 10 10 10 11—7—21 

 10 10 10 10 00-4—20 

 00 11 11 11 10-7-30 



00 01 01 10 10-4-19 



01 11 00 00 01-4-18 

 01 11 10 10 11-7—16 

 0J 10 10 11 01-5-15 



RACING RULES AND STANDING SAILS. 



TT'OR nearly five years the standing sail introduced by Mr. E. H. 

 JJ Barney on the Peeowsic has been a fruitful source of argu- 

 ment and discussion to American canoeists. Sufficient ink has 

 been spilled to lay out a three mile race course on, and enough 

 wind has been wasted in meetings and beside camp-fires in arguing 

 the pros and cons of this weighty subject to sail an "unlimited" 

 race. At one time about a year sinpe the Question of prohibiting 



all standing sails had got beyond the preliminary stage of general 

 discussion, and was actually submitted to the executive com- 

 mittee of the American Canoe Association, receiving a negative 

 vote. At that time opinions were greatly divided, many who were 

 opposed to the standing rig on principle being at the same time 

 against any prohibitory legislation, believing that the evil would 

 in a short time correct itself. 



With the negative vote of the executive committee the matter 

 dropped, all discussion was at an end, and the subject was dis- 

 missed from the minds of canoeists. Not a word was heard during 

 the first ten days of the meet, and it was with a shock of surprise 

 and almost consternation that the news went through the camp 

 at the close of a meeting of the executive committee that all 

 standing sails had been summarily abolished after the present sea- 

 son. 



The motion which was made by Ex.-Com. E. B. Edwards, 

 present as proxy for Vice-Corn. White, of the Northern Division, 

 and seconded by Vice-Corn. Brokaw, Atlantic Division, was as 

 follows: "After the present season the regular sailing races of 

 the American Canoe Association shall be confined to canoes whose 

 sails can be. readily lowered while afloat." The members present 

 were Com. Stanton. Sec'y Dunnell, and Messrs Gage, Putnam, 

 Brazer. Rnappe. Jaques, Brokaw, Dorland, Haviland, and 

 Edwards and Schuyler as proxies. Mr. French of the regatta 

 committee was also present. No formal vote was taken, but 

 after a long discussion the motion was declared carried- 



The meeting was the usual one for the election of officers and 

 any other business which might appear, and was held at head- 

 quarters, only the officers being present. The men in camp were 

 gathered about the hospitab'e camp-fire of the Mohican C. C, 

 awail ing the result of the election, with no idea that any other im- 

 portant matters were under consideration, and when at the end of 

 the meeting the news went quickly around there was a buzz of ex- 

 cited comment among all who heard it. Some who were discussing 

 other affairs, or had wandered off, did not hear of the new rule 

 until next morning, but before the white flag had announced 

 breakfast the whole camp was full of excitement over the matter. 

 The drift of popular opinion was all one way, the action of the 

 committee was dissapproved as hasty and sudden, even by the 

 strongest opponents of the standing rig, while the friends of the 

 rig were opposed both to the matter and the manner of the change. 

 To any one who listened to the comments heard on every hand, it 

 was clear that the sudden action of the committee had awakened 

 a feeling of doubt and mistrust among canoeists which has at- 

 tended no previous legislation of the Association, and that what- 

 ever the intrinsic merits of the case might be the mode of action 

 had exerted a most undesirable influence. 



Leaving for the time the question whether or not any legislation 

 was necessary, the first point that presents itself is that up to this 

 time all changes of rules in the Association have followed a defin- 

 ite course, partly by law, partly by custom. The early changes by 

 which the constitution, by-laws and racing rules were perfected; 

 the rnanv changes which have proved necessary from year to year 

 in the race programmes; the creation and subsequent abolition of 

 races with limited sail and ballast; the development and final adop- 

 tion of the Division scheme, have all gone through a course of open 

 and public discussion; and we can recall no case in which a change 

 of even secondary importance has been submitted to a vote of the 

 executive committee without due notice of the same being given, 

 informally but none the less positively, to all members of the As- 

 sociation. 



It is true that such notice is not compulsory in the case of the 

 racing rules, though it ts with the constitution, but at the same 

 time it has always been given, members knew in advance when 

 any important matter was to come before the executive com- 

 mittee, and not only that but they were at liberty to be present at 

 the meeting and listen to the discussion, though of course having 

 no voice. 



Further than this, the amendments to the racing rules have 

 generally followed a well defined course, indicated, if not positively 

 prescribed, by the rules. It is the positive duty of the regatta com- 

 mittee, at the expiration of their term of office, to make a report 

 to the Association, and this report should embody the conclusions 

 which they have drawn from the races at the meet, as well as all 

 suggestions of changes in the rules. Acting on this report, the 

 new executive committee is supposed to make such changes as 

 it deems advisable. There is nothing to prevent the regatta com- 

 mittee from making a recommendation at anytime, which the 

 executive committee may act. on, but few if any cases have arisen 

 in which such a course was necessary. 



In the present case there is not only no reason at all why the 

 prohibition of standing sails should be hurried through without 

 a word of warning and at a closed session of the committee, but 

 every reason why so important a matter should be carried out in 

 the regular course, and with the greatest deliberation and pub- 

 licity. If the regatta or executive committee were desirous of 

 restricting standing sails, the proper course of procedure would 

 have been for the executive committee at the recent meeting to 

 have put on record its opinion that such legislation was necessary, 

 leaving it for the regatta committee to make as strong a recom- 

 mendation as it deemed fit in its coming report. With these two 

 opinions before it, the new executive committee when it meets in 

 November would in all probability have made the change unless 

 the sentiment of a large majority of canoeists was manifestly 

 against it. There are many who are strongly opposed to any such 

 restriction, and a certain amount of opposition is to be expected, 

 but a due regard for therightsof all demands that such opposition 

 shall be squarely and openly met, and not dodged by any sudden 

 and unexpected action of the committee. 



As it is now. a serious opposition has quickly grown up and taken 

 shape in the form of a petition to the executive committee for 

 the repeal of the new rule, among the signers being men who 

 have never used or approved of the standing rig. It is a question 

 whether any prohibition of this rig was necessary or desirable, 

 but granting that it was, there were many who would oppose it in 

 any case, and there will be more who will do so under the cir- 

 cumstances attending its adoption. 



Had the matter been mooted about camp for a week, had the 

 members present been aware that a question which all considered 

 dead for the time was to be reopened, the feeling would have 

 been entirely different, but as it was, with a change so radical and 

 important in itself, and so utterly unexpected, coming out of the 

 darkness and into the sudden blaze of the bright camp-fire, the 

 moral effect so far as the respect and regard for the governing 

 powers of the Association are concerned, was of the worst. 



The regatta committee of last year, with the same chairman as 

 now, carefully refrained, as all previous committees had done, 

 from commenting in any way on standing rigs and sliding seats. 

 What has caused this great and sudden change, why the commit- 

 tee should recommend in such a hurry the abolition of the stand- 

 ing rig, has not yet been made clear, and canoeists will look with 

 more than usual" interest for the report which will soon be forth- 

 coming from the regatta committee. This report, by the way, 

 which is called for under Chapter IX., Section 8 of the By-Laws, 

 constitutes one of the most important duties of the regatta com- 

 mittee, and is, we regret to say, the one most neglected. It should 

 contain not a mere statement of moneys expended and prizes 

 given, but the committee is in a position to acquire most valuable 

 experience and data concerning the development of racing and 

 the changes which become necessary with almost every season. 



Although the full discussion before the meeting has not been 

 made puolic, in fact, no complete report was taken down, we 

 understand that when the point was raised of the expediency of 

 the proposed act ion the remark was made by one member that the 

 executive committee possessed sole power in the matter, and that 

 it could do what pleased it, in spite of all opposition. This, as it 

 happens, is very true, the sole power to make changes, and to make 

 them without previous notice, is vested in the executive 

 committee, though we believe that this is the first, certainly 

 the first case of any importance, where they have used it. 

 As the rules now stand it is possible for the executive com- 

 mittee to meet just prior to the races at any camp and to pass a 

 resolution that no standing seats shall be used, that all center- 

 boards shall house within the canoe, or that drop rudders shall 

 not be allowed. Of course, any such sudden and extreme 

 legislation is not to be looked for, but if it should prove that 

 any members of the executive committee are possessed of the idea 

 that they are vested with supreme power, to be used without 

 regard to the possible interests of the constituents whom they 

 represent, a few amendments to the racing rules may be necessary. 

 In any case there aTe two amendments to Rule XXIL which can 

 do no harm and may sometimes prove useful. The rule now reads: 

 "These rules may be amended by the executive committee on 

 recommendation of the regatta committee." We would suggest 

 in addition the clause now existing in the constitution, "Provided 

 the amendment receive the votes of at least two-thirds of said 

 committee, and has been published in general terms in the official 

 organ of the A. C. A. at least two weeks before being voted upon, 

 or by a writing signed by the commodore and two-thirds of the 

 members of the executive committee after similar publication." 

 In addition to this should be added: "No amendment shall be 

 made in the period between May 1 and the meeting of the execu- 

 tive committee in October or November." 



Such an organizat ion as the American Canoe Association, whose 

 Btrength lies partly in the encouragement and promotion of racing 

 and at the same time in the judicious restriction of all over.devel- 

 opment of the sport, has need of a capable, intelligent and. strong 



