j ULY 29, 1911.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
179 
Milwaukee Upholds the Sportsmen. 
The Anglers’ Club of Milwaukee, under 
whose management the National casting tour¬ 
nament was to have been held in August, has 
refused to go further with the arrangements for 
the affair. 
The reason for this decisive action is that the 
chib’s arrangements have been interfered with 
by the president of the National Association, 
and that the club's executive committee refuses 
to accept his construction of the National Asso¬ 
ciation’s new rule relating to so-called pro¬ 
fessionals. 
The Milwaukee club was one of the first or¬ 
ganizations to propose that the original rule of 
the National Association relative to so-called 
professionals be abrogated, and that instead all 
contestants be classified according to their skill 
in casting. This proposal was rejected by the 
executive committee of the National Associa¬ 
tion at its meeting in Chicago three years ago. 
In 1909 there was no quorum. Last year a new 
rule was passed, as follows: 
‘‘Any one engaged in the manufacture or sale 
of fishing tackle who promotes his commercial 
or business interests or those of his employer 
through his abilities in or in connection with 
tournament casting to promote the sale of his 
or his employer’s wares, or in any other way 
links commercialism with the sport of tourna¬ 
ment casting. 
“Any one violating the spirit of clause 7 
shall be deemed guilty of conduct unbecoming 
a gentleman or sportsman and shall be barred 
from participation in any tournament. 
“The committee reserves the right to refuse 
or reject any entry or entries.” 
The vexed question, the delegates present at 
the meeting thought, had been settled, for the 
good of the association and its affiliated clubs. 
Later on, however, rumors were current that 
the “machine” proposed to draw still more 
closely the dead line against its terrifying 
bugaboo, the trade; that the delegates had been 
neatly hoodwinked, and that the bars were to 
be strengthened and heightened. 
Now comes a statement from the Anglers’ 
Club of Milwaukee, showing its position with 
regard to its members, the members of the 
numerous other clubs affiliated with the Na¬ 
tional Association, and sportsmen in general. 
These statements are embodied in a report of 
the executive committee meeting, held July 12, 
and in a letter from President M. A. Beck to 
the president of the National Association. The 
committee report follows: 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING, ANGLERS’ CLUE OF 
MILWAUKEE, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 12, I 9 II 
Meeting called to order at 8:30 p. m. by the 
President. M. A. Beck. Present: Tolfson, 
Rhine, Wegner. Toll, McBride, Schoenlaub, 
Williams and Lahmann. 
Reading of minutes of last meeting approved. 
Reading of communications to the secretary: 
Before calling for the reading of communica¬ 
tions to the secretary, the chair stated that the 
principal business to be considered and acted 
on this evening relates to the old and arbitrary 
question of professionalism and the barring of 
those so classed from taking part in the Na¬ 
tional tournament. 
As you are well aware, an effort was made, 
for several years previous to the last tourna 
ment, to secure fair treatment and standing in 
tournament casting for so-called “profes¬ 
sionals.” The old clause defining those so 
classed was unsatisfactory and created a great 
deal of hard feeling. The majority of amateurs 
felt that the rules were a disgrace and that all 
honorable anglers who were good enough to 
fish with, and cast with in the local games, and 
who contributed largely to defray the expense 
of the National tournaments, were entitled to 
fair treatment and consideration. 
The constant agitation of this question finally 
resulted in the old clause being dropped and a 
new clause—fairer and broader in its scope— 
being adopted in its stead. The new clause 
proscribes certain commercial and business 
activity in connection with tournament casting, 
and an additional clause provides a penalty for 
its violation—all of which is just and reasonable. 
The wording of the new rule and the fact that 
the rule is followed by a penalty clause in case 
of violation is so clear and unmistakable as to 
preclude all doubt as to meaning and effect. 
That the clause should call for an interpretation 
such as is given it by the President of the Na¬ 
tional Association, as you will note from the 
letter which the secretary will read to you, is 
hard to understand. 
Letter from PI. Wheeler Perce dated July 8, 
1911, read by the secretary: 
Chicago, July 8, 1911. 
Mr. M. A. Beck, 294 Greenbush St., Milwaukee, Wis. 
Dear Mr. Beck: 
Yours, dated 4th inst. came to hand Thursday, and 
this is the very first opportunity I have had to reply. 
You will note that under Section 4, Article IV 7 ., of the 
N. A. S. A. C. Constitution that it is the duty of the 
president to interpret all rules and regulations in the 
interim between the annual business meetings. Under 
this clause I was called upon by the president of one of 
the affiliated clubs to interpret the new rule regarding 
professional : m, and as there had been many distorted 
interp. etations of said clause, and some little misunder- 
satnding, I deemed it wise to cover the matter com¬ 
pletely by means of a circular letter to the officers and 
members, a copy of which I enclose and have marked 
paragraph in relation to the subject. 
There is no question in my mind as to the spirit and 
intent of the new rule, and it most assuredly does bar 
manufacturers, dealers and salesmen of fishing tackle, 
either as principal, agent or employee. 
As regards the “letter” of the rule, I have the verbal 
opinion of two legal members of our fraternity to the 
effect that the “letter” of the rule coincides with the 
“spirit.” 
I do not know how T can state the matter any more 
definitely, and the question remains thus until any 
future annual business meeting may see fit to change 
conditions. 
In regard to this matter of professionalism, I wish to 
offer for your consideration a matter that has come up 
in the past, viz.: A quite general criticism of the nam¬ 
ing of tackle dealers as judges, or other officers of more 
or less authority in connection with tournaments. At 
two of the tournaments in the past much complaint was 
made, and in one instance I was asked to use my 
cffices as a . member of the tournament committee to 
prevent the appointment of one particular party, and 
under the circumstances I deemed it right, fair and 
advisable so to do. 
It should be no great difficulty to appoint as judges, 
etc., men who are entirely disinterested, or against whom 
no suspicion, either founded or unfounded, could attach, 
and at the same time give no offense to those with com¬ 
mercial interests by simply not asking them to serve. 
I simply offer this in view of what I know from ob¬ 
servation, and as it is a matter easily adjusted there can 
be no objections to carrying it out. 
I note in your program that you announce the dates 
of the committee and annual meetings. This is a matter 
not yet decided, and it may develop advisable to call the 
meetings for some other dates. Notices in regard to the 
same will be sent out at the usual time. I presume it 
was thought that these dates are fixed, but such is not 
the case, and meetings have been called in the past with 
a view to the convenience of those expecting to attend 
and to producing the best results for each individual 
tournament. There is some probability that the annual 
business meetings will be called for Wednesday evening, 
Aug. 1G. 
Trusting this will put you to no very great inconven¬ 
ience, I remain, with very kindest regards. 
Yours fraternally, 
H. Wheeler Perce, Pres. 
The Chair: Before taking any action on this 
letter I wish to state that several letters were 
received asking if so-called professionals would 
be allowed to cast. I saw nothing in the new 
clause which could be construed as barring 
them from the tournament, and so stated in my 
answers. I stated that I would get Mr. Perce’s 
interpretation of the rule and as soon as his 
letter reached me the matter would be placed 
before you for such action as you might take, 
and that they would be advised accordingly. 
The entire matter is now placed in your hands 
for consideration and action. Among other 
things you will have to consider is whether you 
can consistently solicit and receive contribu¬ 
tions to defray the expense of the National 
tournament, from anglers and others who are 
barred from taking an active part in the games. 
If you cannot approve of such unsportsmanlike 
conduct on the part of amateurs, because of the 
president’s ruling, then it will be necessary for 
the tournament committee to consider other 
means of raising the necessary funds for medals, 
trophies and other items. 
Moved that it is the sense of this meeting 
that the interpretation of clause 7 of Section 5, 
of Article II. barring all honorable anglers en¬ 
gaged in the manufacture or sale of tackle from 
participation in the National tournament is un¬ 
reasonable, unwarranted and unsportsmanlike, 
and that the executive council of the Anglers’ 
Club of Milwaukee express its absolute disap¬ 
proval of such interpretation by dropping all 
work connected with the tournament scheduled 
for Aug. 17, 18 and 19, 1911. Carried unani¬ 
mously. 
Moved that all funds collected for advertis¬ 
ing in the general program be returned to the 
donors, and that a letter explaining that the 
Anglers’ Club of Milwaukee is blameless in the 
matter of soliciting such funds from manufac¬ 
turers and others who—by an arbitrary ruling 
of the president of the National Association— 
are barred from casting or otherwise taking 
part in the tournament. Carried unanimously. 
Moved that the minutes of this meeting be 
printed and a copy sent to the president of the 
National Association and also to the secre¬ 
taries of each of the angling and casting clubs 
to whom the advance programs were sent. 
Carried. 
Meeting adjourned. 
C. L. Tolfson, Sec’y. 
