New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-24
WEST FAVORS ROTATION
At Least Or. Hawk Indicates
Such Is the Case.
LOOKS BAD FOR NEWPORT
Crusade for Change of Big Lawn
Tennis Fixture Gathering
More Strength.

Western lawn tennis players unexpected
~ plunged into the discussion as to whether
or not Newport is the best place for hold
ing the national championship tournament
Mahan, who are the leaders OF the move
ment, have counted upon having the West
with them. and they are not likely to be
disappointed. An open letter from DR.. p. 3.
Hawk, based on the details OF the clay
court championship Of the United States,
which the West carried after so much
heated discussion last year. makes IT evil
dent that the West is in favor OF changing
the place of holding tournaments from
time to time.
Since their experience Of a year ago the
Western clubs and organizations have been
busily engaged with a propaganda oy
which they have secured nearly enough
proxies to swing the balance of power at
the annual meeting, with some small help
from the Eastern insurgents. Mr.. Mahan
admitted this yesterday when the ques-
ton of DIR. Hawks letter was brought be-
fore him. DR.. Hawk says in part:
II believe that the best interests " lawn
tennis in the West and South demand that
the clay court championship shall not be
made a fixture at any one point. but that
IL shall rotate from member to member Of
a small group II cities which possess the
facilities for properly staging the cham
pionship. Omaha wishes TO have the tour
pa nd ,
IS decided that it is proper that the cham
pionship shall be placed on this basis, then
Omaha, to my mind, is a suitable place for
Il. Certainly no tournament was ever more
satisfactorily conducted from every stand
point than was the clay court champion
ship Of 1910, which was held upon the
courts of the omaha Field Club.
My plan would be to select a few I'M
portant lawn tennis centres, such. FOR ex-
ample as omaha, Cincinnati, ST. Louis
Pittsburg and Atlanta, and let the cham
pionshp rotate among them until the
singles cup is won outright. In the pur-
chase Of challenge trophies the several
cities IN the group could contribute equally.
thus insuring elegant trophies at a nomi-
nal cost, which would not be possible TO
any individual club.
THE suggested plan Of rotating the
championship is no new or novel one. In
fact the golf championship is on just such
basis. except that the trophies are not
bought as suggested here. If the plan is
put into practice ] believe We will find that
a friendly rivalry between the various
clubs will result and that the game will
be greatly benefited. The commercial Side
OF the rivalry-that is, the attempt to Guido
the other fellow I'm the lavish use Of money
will be obviated through the trust method
OF purchasing trophies believe that the
plan should be given careful consideration,
freely discussed and properly disposed Of
at the annual meeting.
simply because none Of our important
championships has ever been placed on
a rotating basis is no reason why such
scheme would not work out satisfactorily.
In certain states the rotation of the state
meeting has proved "A good plan. notably
the championship OF Tennessee
II do not desire that shall be msunder-
stood In my position regarding the rota-
tion Of the clay court championship. 1t Is
in no wise reflection on Omaha. as
have before said. In fact. in correspond
ence with those in charge OF the lawn
tennis affairs of the Omaha Field Club
| have stated the matter practically as |
have given IT above While they desire
the tournament Us a fixture, they are at
the same time ready TO stand by the de-
cislon OF the association in loyal manner
| quote an extract from a recent letter
from prominent lawn tennis man OF
omaha:
The board OF directors OF the Omaha
Field Club desires 10 secure the champion
ship az "A permanent fixture, though | quite
agree with You that, providing other clubs
of high standing wish the event and can
give as good "A tournament or better than
we can, IL might stimulate and encourage
the game OF lawn tennis more IL champion
ships were rotated as you mention I'm your
letter than II they were kept in one place
The clay court championship was inaugu-
rated To promote the game, not the To-
salty