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Women`s groups take Augusta issue to Congress
Washington, Apr 02: US women`s groups are keeping up their pressure on the all-male Augusta National Golf Club to admit women as members. They are now pushing for a Congressional resolution criticising elected officials and political appointees who hold membership at the famed home of the Masters Golf Tournament.
Washington, Apr 02: US women's groups are keeping up their pressure on the all-male Augusta National Golf Club to admit women as members. They are now pushing for a Congressional resolution criticising elected officials and political appointees who hold membership at the famed home of the Masters Golf Tournament.
"If you are responsible as members of Congress, members of the judiciary and other federal appointees are for insuring that Americans are free from discrimination and you turn around and join a club that excludes half the citizenry -- what kind of statement is that?" Martha Burk of the National Council of Women's Organizations told a news conference in Washington, DC on Monday (March 31).
The Council is currently seeking through the courts a place to protest outside the gates of August National Golf Club during next week's tournament.
Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney, a co-sponsor of the Congressional resolution on criticism, attacked the club for not distancing itself enough from the Ku Klux Klan, which recently announced its support for Augusta.
"I have to point out that among Augusta's most prominent defenders or one of Augusta's most prominent defenders are the Ku Klux Klan and members don't seem troubled about the calibre of their supporters. This resolution is not just allowing women to join with men in a few fancy clubs, it is fundamentally about achieving the American ideal of an even playing field in which merit and talent determine success-not sex or race."
The United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, William S. Farish, was the most prominent member named by the women at their news conference on Monday.
Burk said Farish responded to a letter from the group saying he sympathised with their position -- but he did not say anything else.
"William Farish sent us a letter stating his desire that the club change its policy, but he made no move toward saying he would work for that change and nothing about his willingness to resign the club if they don't change," she said.
Augusta National Golf Club was founded in 1931. With the sport's popularity growing and The Masters producing lucrative television revenues, critics say it shouldn't be viewed as a private club but a public business, subject to the discrimination laws of any other.
At least two prominent members have resigned their membership in the club because of the controversy. US Treasury Secretary John W. Snow is one of the latest. CBS chief executive Thomas H. Wyman quit last year after 25 years as a member.
Due to advertisers' and sponsors' concern about negative publicity, the Augusta National Golf Club will televise the tournament without advertising, losing millions of dollars in revenue.
Referring to their court action seeking a place at which to protest against the club, Burk said: "We ask originally for space for 200 folks. They gave us an unacceptable location, remote, away from the club. We're still negotiating with the sheriff and we hope we can reach an agreement. Part of what we would be willing to do would be scale back the numbers some in order to get a better location."
Bureau Report
The United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, William S. Farish, was the most prominent member named by the women at their news conference on Monday.
Burk said Farish responded to a letter from the group saying he sympathised with their position -- but he did not say anything else.
"William Farish sent us a letter stating his desire that the club change its policy, but he made no move toward saying he would work for that change and nothing about his willingness to resign the club if they don't change," she said.
Augusta National Golf Club was founded in 1931. With the sport's popularity growing and The Masters producing lucrative television revenues, critics say it shouldn't be viewed as a private club but a public business, subject to the discrimination laws of any other.
At least two prominent members have resigned their membership in the club because of the controversy. US Treasury Secretary John W. Snow is one of the latest. CBS chief executive Thomas H. Wyman quit last year after 25 years as a member.
Due to advertisers' and sponsors' concern about negative publicity, the Augusta National Golf Club will televise the tournament without advertising, losing millions of dollars in revenue.
Referring to their court action seeking a place at which to protest against the club, Burk said: "We ask originally for space for 200 folks. They gave us an unacceptable location, remote, away from the club. We're still negotiating with the sheriff and we hope we can reach an agreement. Part of what we would be willing to do would be scale back the numbers some in order to get a better location."
Bureau Report