New-York tribune., 1910-01-16
LAWN TENNIS FIGHT
WAR CLOUDS GATHER.
C1ay Court Followers Want a
Tourney for National Title.

The threatened fight for control of the
United States National Lawn Tennis Asso-
citation has begun between the Western and
Eastern clubs, as indicated by the receipt
of an open letter by lawn tennis followers
in this city yesterday. signed by DIR. p b.
Hawk. Of the University of Illinois. Urbans.
Ill. He the ambassador Of the West
ern and Southern clubs to the national ex-
ecutive committee meeting held at the Wal
dorf-Astoria the last of December.
In no uncertain manner DR.. Hawk stated
that the Western players were of the opin-
ion that the national association had con-
fined its usefulness mainly to the Eastern
clubs and that the West wished 10 hold
a national clay court championship in a
most representative manner at Omaha, St
Louis or Cincinnati But members of the
executive conmittee-A. l.. Hoskins. Rob-
ert D. Wrenn, William A. Larned. William
j. Clothier and Palmer E. Presbrey-de-
clared their opposition to the wishes Of the
West.
DR.. Hawk, at the time. called attention
to the insistent letters from NJ d. Nc
Donald of the ST. Louis Amateur Athletic
Association; John T. Bailey. of Albion.
okla, and w NJ. Wood. Omaha Field Club;
also stating that three executives-Ralph
Holterhof. Cincinnati; L. ID. Scott, At
lanta. and L. II waidner. Chicago
had favored the proposed championship
The threat of the West and South to with
draw from the present association unless
the championship was awarded them as
national meeting and the sport given ade-
quate supervision IN the future failed 70
move the committee.
That the West is aroused and expects
to come into the annual meeting next
month with sufficient proxies to control the
situation is evident from the letter DIR.
Hawk has issued. The Westerners' count
upon the support of several influential East
ern clubs Also and review OF the associa-
tion membership by prominent follower OF
lawn tennis appears to give them slightly
more than half the votes that may be cast.
In the estimation OF several Eastern
PLAYERS the national association Is destined
to reap the rebuke that Its loose govern
ment of the sport has called forth in the
last two seasons. The bitterest fight in the
history of the American game is at hand.
with the certainty that the West and South
will prevail or organize another national
governing body.
The open letter from DR.. Hawk, under
date of January 10. follows:
To my clay court" friends throughout the
United States.
During my recent visit to New York
City on business connected with the rank
ing OF the lawn tennis players of the
made by several of 1o and nde soSTsd a
expression from leading lawn tennis ex-
ponentS In the East upon the clay court
10 the effect that the general sentiment as
expressed at a meeting held at the Wal
dorr-Astor1a was opposed to the sanction
ing of a national clay court champion
ship some of those present being more
outspoken than others
i presented as best 1 could the claims
of the West and South for such a cham
pionship. arguing along lines similar TO
those embraced IN letters in October and
December issues of american Lawn Ten
mis-" l called their attention to the fact
that in certain portions of the country
position to consider that the national assQ-
citation had not given the tennis players
oitod OF these Sc sections a,,Hl square deal then
Donald and Bailey in December issue of
American Lawn Tennis indicating
this spirit Of unrest and dissatisfaction.
L interpreted this sentiment as indicating
that unless the clay court championship
were sanctioned at the. annual meeting
clubs would withdraw from the associa-
ton. ] then proceeded to argue that such
interests OF lawn tennis in the United
States. Following this. / called attention
G s Te fba we're sSs1s IN 1ns sr midst OF
number of tournaments held last summer
under the auspices of the association than
in many of these events were surprisingly
large.
ment of lawn tennis interests, and nowhere
was this development more apparent than
In the West and South. / then called their
when all the really big tennis features
were held upon Eastern courts, and cited.
of Omaha. Cincinnati. St Louis and At
lanta. In this connection I expressed the
opinion that should clay court champion
ship be sanctioned by the association and
given TO one of the above cities, II would
soon become one of the biggest and most
Important of The whole lawn tennis sched-
1 called attention to the spirit OF
hustle prevalent in lawn tennis circles
herents were full of enthusiasm for their
favorite sport, and that failure on the
Alright might resnit in action Wbic6 tGe woS1d Sghs
be a serious handicap to lawn tennis in
this country. ! showed how the perrnis-
sion for holding this clay court event
would in no way interfere with the ma
tional championship at Newport. while at
the same time it would give proper recog-
country, and in this way effectively pre-
vent a scrap and a consequent ''spl1t-'
Eastern friends seem TO believe that we
have some concealed motive in asking for
this clay court event They appear to be
as it seems, and that eventually we may
wish 10 call our clay court event the real
lawn tennis championship of the country.
IF such a sentiment exists 7 must sav 7
am unaware of IT. and so expressed nv
self. In this connection they suggested
that the event be styled "the open clay
court championship" thus eliminating the
word national and the phrase ,''of the
United States" In other words the tour
nament with this name would carry no
title. IL would be an open clay court cham
pionship, but championship of nothing.
| told them | old not believe such a nIan
would meet with Your approval If I did
not correctly express your sentiment you
may so announce at the annual meeting
President Dwight not being present az
the meeting, I went To Boston TO have -
conference with him. He favors our propo-
sition, and Will assist us at the annual
meeting, with the distinct understanding
that the clay court event shall not bs
considered as the real lawn tennis cham
pionShip of the country. I expressed 70
Or. Dwight the belief that should : the
clay court event be voted down there
would probably be split in the associa-
tion Therefore a logical move in order 10
preserve the integrity OF our national asso-
citation seemed to me to be the SECURING
of proxies to vote at the annual meeting
i do not wish this suggestion to Indicate
that | am counsellng a tight against the
national association. / am not a politician
nor "scrapper. / am. however. a lawn
tennis player who dearly loves the noble
game, and who also dearly cherlshes the
lawn tennis traditions OF this country and
a nation. / see that grave consequences
may follow the failure of the association
TO sanction this clay court event There
fore, in order to preserve our association
intact and In order that the wave OF our
national lawn tennis