The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25

and the changes consequent upon these
has served to show how highly the Presi-
dent regards those who join with him
in the joys OF knocking a ball over a net.
The Tennis abine got it, name from the
Tennis Board. which was the name face
tiously applied 70 what is known as the
Keep Commission. When President Roose-
welt decided that the methods OF conduct
ing business in the executive departments
were obsolete and required reform he APP
pointed a committee OF five officials 10 look
into the matter.
These Ave were Charles Fl. Keep, Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury; Frank II. Hitch
cock, First Assistant Postmsster-General
Lawrence o. Murray. Assistant Secretary
Of Commerce and Labor; James r.. Garfield,
Commissioner Of Corporations, and Clifford
Pinchot, Chief Forester Of the Government.
An Of them were tennis players. Garfield
and Murray we're frequently on the White
HOUSE court, and Pinchot was a constant
companion of the President. Thus the
Keep Commission became the Tennis Board,
and out Of this came the Tennis Cabinet.
OF course. the Tennis Cabinet had 60
~ . tennis court, and ii was with the
completion Of the court at the White House
that the Cabinet had its beginning. Ie in
the finest court in Washington, and the
finest. probably. in the country.
Many workman we're months in making 10,
and it Is n firm ~ rock. but full Of spring
and life. It was laid OF directly behind
the Executive Building. which shelters IL
on the north.
A high fence OF wire netting covered
With green cloth screens it from the gaze
Of the curious who pass along the unnamed
street between the White House grounds
and the State. War and Navy Building.
There 10 q backstop fence on the side near
ct the White House, and a low hedge On
tho remaining or south side.
Here the President and some Of his friends
may be seen nearly every hns afternoon
whsn he 10 in town. There 10 nothing styI-
ish about Mr.. Roosevelt's tennis playing
costume. Usually he wears dark trousers.
an indigo blue sweater with turtle neck and
tan tennis shoes OF the kind that bad boys
call sneakers. In warm weather he dofs
the sweater for a white cheviot shirt with
collar attached.
When darkness interrupts the game Mr..
Roosevelt and his friends 20 20 the Preei-
dents private Office in the Executive Build
ing and remain there until about 7:sO O'Clock.
when the President walks oyer % the White
House 20 dress for dinner. The President
manages tn do some work while his tennis
playing friends are with him.
What goes on in the ONCE at these times
would make interesting reading. The
President and the members Of his Tennis
hin discuss men and events with the
utmost freedom, and IL Ia here that MANY
ideas Of interest are suggested.
Garfield, Murray and the other White
House tennis players were not appointed to
public Office because they knew the game.
GarSeld. who io soon to enter the real Cabi-
net az Secretary OF the Interior, would
probably have reached that high place IL
he had never handled a racquet. The
President was personally fond OF him he
fore they ever faced the net and has . treat
regard Cor his ability.
These White House tennis players are In
the Presidents good graces because he
beisvfs IN them. In mis- opinion they
can 90 things and are honest and coura geo,ss
In the doing. But IL goes without saying
that where men nave common ideas and
common pursuits the association that comes
through athtetic and social rsla brings
them into closer relationship than mere
husipsss Intercourse doe~.
Therein lies the value OF '~membership
IN the Tennis Cabinet. Those who play
tcnnis with the President get 20 know him
inftrnstely; n what Il more TO the point,
be Kets 10 know them quite a. well. What
moro astural than that these consssns