New-York tribune., 1912-01-21
SAYS DRAW WAS SEEDED
Or. Dwight Makes Amazing Ad-
mission in Lawn Tennis.
ALL-COMERS RE-ARRANGED
Newport Likely To Be the Scene
Again of Big National
Championship.

So many progressive movements are 10
be launched at the thirty-first annual meet
ing Of the United States National Lawn
Tennis Association that even now, three
weeks before tho session in the Waldorf
Astoria. on Friday February O. the dele
gates and followers Of the game arc en-
deavoring to decide their position upon the
more important questions. Strangely
enough. that old bone of contention. the
government Of the ali-comers national
championship. has been scratched MP again.
But most amazing Of all, DR.. James Dwight,
president Of the national governing body.
now admits over his signature, in the cur
rent issue Of American Lawn Tennis" the
official publication. that the draw Of the
players was seeded at Newport on I'VE oc~
casions This, despite tho fact that any
pre-arrangement of the competitors has
been a violation OF the rules for many
years.
The reason for the seeding question being
brought forward at this time is because the
English association desires 10 standsrdize
the rules, and has recently passed drastic
legislation against the practice. IL Is de-
sired that the Americans DO likewise.
Henry w. Sloclrfn, Oliver s. Campbell and
Robert d. Wrenn declare against seeding
stating that they have no knowledge OF
such practice at Newport On the other
hand. Clarence Hobart admits knowledge or
the practice which he believes to be wrong.
Frederick r. Alexander epitomizes the
seeding puzzle as follows:
1. Seed the draw and make the holder
play through. and you discourage the
coming player, though you do well finan-
cially.
.. Do not seed the draw and make the
holder play through, and unless the gods
are with you, you chance horrible hZzie
and a large financial loss
8. Do not seed the draw and let the hold
or stand out, and you give the holder dis-
tinct advantage II his opponent has chanced
TO hit the "hard side Of the tournament.
4. Seed the draw and let the holder stand
out. and the conclusion is the same as Nos.
/ ard combined.
Nos. ], and seem TO be detrimental 10
the future of lawn tennis In the Unteo
States. No. is, perhaps. detrimental to
single man, namely, the winner OF the
Tournament Summing up all that Alex
ander says. he stands for anything tnat
Will bring out and encourage the younger
players in this country
Another matter which Ia TO be made an
,sg,e will be the increase OF the executiNe
co,,,r,i,tee from thirteen TO nineteen mem
hers. It is pointed out that the CROWN OF
the game has been such as 10 make
larger sectional representation essenusi 10
the welfare of the sport. TWO years ago
this matter was pushed TO the 'front.' oniy
90 he defeated at that time
After all. the two burning quesuohS arc
Where will the next all-comers De oeciue''
and will the entry list be limited?
The Casino, at Newport, h l., VIII De inc
scene of the thirty-second all-comers' next
Arouet From a careful investigation OF
the forces which favor and which stano
against Newport, It is certain az ,i'is uiiie
thot anv change is most unlikely. 1t is
even doubtful II the opposition 10 newport
xy,u he as strong as it was year ago,
THAT the entry list for the championship
,rm he limited to probably fifty players al
,.a rex, holding appears a certainty. some
one of a number Of systems VIII DO put Li'o
oooration SO as to make class quahhoa-
.,on necessary. This will make for d rap
,dIv moving and interesting tournament
,hst may easily be played to conclusion
g. one week. Anyway. the championship
"a the pivotal point in the dehDeratioia
hitch promises TO interest every foho"er
% .he game in this country. The other
~-on,eros are largely considered as sloe