Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-24
CLAY COURT TENNIS IN OMAHA
Tennis Experts Have nj Last Aroused
the East 60 Recognition.

the East 60 Recognition.
NEW YORK, oct. 23.-In many ways It
is evident that there is a growing dis
position among lawn ennis players TO be-
come pioneers along lines which have
heretofore been little explored or not
penetrated at all. Among the followers
Of the sport the continuance of the lawn
tennis prestige, class and control to a
limited numbers of players I'm the east
has appeared unfortunate. Yet this group
OF men, by position of office and playing
skill. had made themselves the dominant
factors, IL has heretofore been impossible
to fairly align against them adequate
reasons for changes, except insofars as
their loose methods of upholding the rules
and of enforcing tournament management
were concerned.
But the players OF the middle west have
at last taken a stand which promises In
some ways to change the lawn tennis
man of this country. These players in
tend to hold an earth court national cham
pionship tournament next season. we
years ago they promulgated the same
idea, but without success. Under able
leadership, however, Of such men as DR..
p. D. Hawk, now OF the University Of
Illinois at Urbana, ILL.,; VIII NJ. Wood Of
the Omaha Field club. Omaha, Neb., and
Ralph Holterholt Of the Ohio Lawn Ten
mis- association OF Cincinnati, O., 1t is safe
to predict that the plan Of a national
tournament upon the hard earth playing
surfaces will surely be decided and under
tho sanction and objection of the United
States National Lawn Tennis association.
1t must be admitted that the appearance
Of the Californlans among eastern lawn
tennis players treated a ripple that has
stirred every follower of the courts
throughout the country. Their perform
ance awakened especially the middle west
to the fact that it was quite possible and
probable that among its clubs and courts
we're young players who needed but the
inspiration to bring forth men approach
ing the skill, courage and hardihood OF a
Mclaughlin or a Long.
They argued as they did two years ago
that, whereas, 1t was impossible for many
OF their western players to move on to
Newport, and there experience the dis
heartening uncertainty of the difference
between the earth playing surfaces and
turf, 1t was quite possible for the situa-
ton to be reversed and the west, or mid
die section of this broad country, where
earth courts abound and where glass
ANS 10 a rarity W uOiu u
national championship of their own under
reasonable circumstances and conditions
which would be of material benefit to the
game In every way.
At the time that the project was brought
before the National association two years
ago at its annual meeting Of the waldorf
Astoria, the idea was fairly we'll sup
ported by argument, It being made evident
that the request was quite within reason
able scope, because a national ehampion-
ship tournament was held upon turf. as
at Newport, another was held indoors
upon boards at the national indoor meet
ing on the Seventh Regiment Armory
courts, and that whereas the greater part
Of the playing in this country was upon
other surfaces than turf, It was quite
reasonable to promulgate such a tourna-
ment. Frederick B. Alexander, the inter
nationalist last year. who has always been
regarded as the peer Of all players upon
the dirt courts, was in favor Of this cham
pionship, and It was, as has been said,
fairly well supported except by William
A. Larned, William J. Clothier and a few
others.