who use to run that and why did they discontinue it?
Not an expert but just from google:
At first there was the National Billiard Association of America (NBAA) which shortened itself
to the BAA after a few years. Eventually the BAA became the BCA.
They joined up with Brunswick (back then: Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company) who put up all the
tables and probably helped fatten the prize fund.
This was fine for years, but over time straight pool declined in popularity.
It was too long and boring for TV, especially once 9b and 8b became popular.
Quarter tables were invented and nobody wants to pay 10 times to win one game,
so people moved to single rack games. I think this is why the BCA stopped funding straight pool events,
TV loved 9b better and as CJ keeps saying, TV is crucial to the sport's popularity.
A competing organization, the PPPA, also tried to fund straight pool events
but interest in the game just wasn't there so they gave up too.
It looks like they stopped funding 14.1 regularly after the 2000 US Open Straight Pool.
Great article on all of this here:
http://www.billiardsdigest.com/current_issue/aug_05/