Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-08
INUSRGENCY IN TENNIS
Western Devotees of Game Rebel at
East's Rules.
PROBLEM FOR THE ASSOCIATION
National Organization Left on Limb
by the Attitude of New Follow
ers of the Clay Court
Contests.

NEW YORK, May THE fascinating
theme Of lawn tennis and its national
aspects, from the American standpoint, re-
Gently produced a lively and entertaining
debate between two devotees OF the game
who also hold positions as club officials.
without intending any criticism of the
United States Lawn Tennis association for
its share in past lawn tennis history" said
one OF the expert players. ut Is certain
that It's position toward the game will be
put to the test during the coming season
From all sections OF the country and espe-
cially the west, where the newly Instituted
clay court championship OF the United
States has served as Inspiration there Is a
marked increase in the number of those
seeking the pastlme OF the courts Now
the question that comes into the minds of
some OF us Is: Is it to be shown that the
laws and rules of the game mean some
thing and are to be observed. or are they
to stand as only something to be inter
preted or violated according to agreements
between friendly competitors?
Power to Westward.
There is no evading the fact that the
national association and the active MEM
bers of the executive committee are to be
more closely judged by their acts this year
than In the past. 1t is not shooting wide
OF the mark TO predict that another year
more power will be vested in representatives
from the west, and even the Pacific coast.
The time has arrived for the governing
body TO face the conditions squarely and
realize that no longer is lawn tennis the
favorite game OF a select few in the east
ern states. but is sport played ardently
by upwards OF 100000 of our population
from Canada to the gulf, and from the At
lantlc ocean to the Pacific.
The determined attitude of the western
players at the last annual meeting stands
as the handwriting on the wall. DR.. p. b.
Hawk, who IL leader in that section of
CT the country. and the others associated
with him, have declared that there the
rules viii be strictly observed. SO the east
may not do otherwise. Altogether players
here have been dissatisfied with the en-
forcement of rules upon one special court,
or In a special match of tournament,
and all others decided in a haphazard
manner. II rules apply to one group of
players or match, all should be so gov
erned and judged. The unfairness OF MAX
ing one player the especial victim OF a
foot-fault judge, and allowing others to
go free, has already provoked to outbursts
OF excusable anger. The opportunity for a
general enforcement of all the rues-and
lawn tennis is remarkably free from the
manifold technicalitles surrounding other
sports-ls I'm the hands OF the national as
ISOLATION. Several of the executive com
mlttee In the past have endeavored to place
the burden OF infringements upon the clubs.
Certainly the clubs are I'm a measure re-
sponsibe. but their Iaxity carried 40
penalty for fragrant infringements. and 50
nothing is accomplished beyond ar I'M
pleasant discussion that ends nowhere"
Growth Due to Merit.
The continuance OF the discussion EN-
phaslzed the belief that with the wide
spread growth OF the game throughout the
eountry-a growth due solely TO merit, and
not to the boom of promoted fostering
that conditions were to be materially i'm
proved this season. Among the most inn
portant clubs there is concerted effort
toward enrolling an adequate staff OF UNI
plres and llncsmen before the actual com
petitions of the tournaments begin.
Underneath the subject of rule enforce
Enent and the position the national asso-
citation may take in governing crops out a
spirit OF intense rivalry, AT last the west
looms as a menace to the supremacy Of
the east upon the courts. Westerners have
declared. in no spirit OF boastfulness, that
in tournament management they exceltd
the east. Then the west has SCI itself the
task OF building up premier championship
lists that will surp1ss other sections of the
country. Their implied challenge has
stirred not only the players OF this section.
but the national association As a eonse-
Quence the tournaments about TO begin ar
ford early evidence of exceptional sport