New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-01
DOES M'L0UGHL|N LEAD?
Success Credited More to SIAM
ina than to Racquet Work.
Rated NO. | JUST THE SAME
Many Claimants for First Ten"
Honors in the Lawn
Tennis Rankings.

Is Maurice +. Mclaughlin the strongest
player upon the American lawn tennis
courts to-day? This is the question which
competitors and followers Of the game
returning from the all-comers champion
ship at the Casino at Newport have dis
cussed during the last week. McLough-
Inns victory was distinctly popular one.
Stir. tho c.ose students OF lawn tennls
are ready 70 accredit the success OF tho
brilliant wielder OF the racquet from the
Pacific Coast more TO his splendid phys
Heal powers than to his skill with tho
racquet There is not u question in the
minds Of these critics but that in two
Trying ordeals McLoughlin's careful train
lnE carried him over the crises They
pointed first 10 his match against the phe-
uomcnaI u. Norris Williams, in which the
youngster played Mclaughlin In the sixth
round practically 10 a standstill. How
ever the Californian was quick 10 see the
fading powers OF his young adversary,
and by sheer force OF physical strength
ne was able 10 beat Williams off in the
.hfth set To score the match at % 81,
Ga. 3-6. Go
To a slight degree McLoughlin's stann-
ina aided him against william J. Clothier
I'm the semi-tinal II was not To any ex|
tent comparable with the final match for
tine championship honors. however, in
which Wallace =. Johnson proved himself
the COMPLETE master Of Mclaughlin 80
Hong as his strength lasted The young
Californian. VINO now wears the crown OF
william A. Iarned. revealed his weakness
in his repertOry OF strokes during tne
first two sets 81 tnis match. That was ~
far as Johnson could go under the straln'
and the Calfornian's careful attention 10
this physical welfare made f. possible Tor
him 10 win As the PLAYERS nave dis"
cussad these matters since their return
from Newport all credit Is accorded Nc
Iougblm for the Spartan-liNe manner in
which no prepared himself. Few players
have ever devoted themselves so assidu-
0uslv t0 physical training When at the
top OF his game th" great Larned did TINS,
and Malcolm u. Whitman was another
who was not TO De. lured aside by the
frivolous entertainments which accom-"
many lawn tennis tournaments The peer
less Anthony T.. WidnV and II. l. Do
bertv. when I'm his prime In England. de"
voted themselves TO rigorous preparation
for their matches. In this respect Nc
roughlin has not sounded distinctly new
note and few believe that stroke for
stroke he stands supreme upon the
American courts NJ this time
IN po sense is there wish 20 detraet
OPP tarnish the laurels which McLorsh'i"
has won. lie VIII stand az the No. on
lis
81 rating the players already being under
way hv the committee, cohsisdn- - Mics
( Cba~locl. George r. Adee and Charles
N Bull. jr The rankings this year arc
being systematically AMI scienuhcal!
worked out but the fact that McLouShlih
stands unbcaton. q record only equaiie"
. by Whitman when at the pinnacle Of ms
game gives the top position in the nsl OIL
one hundred players 20 the Californian
lie displaccs William 4. Larnsd' VINO nae
held the place Of No continuously siAco
iq- Larned because Of his retirement
win mot appear on tho list this year. an"
with the single exception Of 1873 "heh
: Larued was one OF the Rough Riders In
. tho SDanish War, % is the first time th@O
the old champion has not appeared aH""s
n the FIRST ten IN twenty years.
or course, I'm the discussions among inc
PLAYERS the question is uppermost 40 l"
ID VINO will follow McLoughiin. II Is IN the
"a pl.cing OF the other nine OF the honor
p r,u that "A number of the leading men are
o Inclined 10 disagree The list as named
Pr most often takes tho men ia the lohoWihs
+ ,rIsr. No , Wallace L. Johnson; No. q,
'- p Norris williams No. 4. William j.
Ciothier; No. .. Thomas c. BunCy' No y
% Nathaniel W. Niles; no. 7, Raymond ~
't rittIe. No. ) Karl II. Behr, No . AZ
IT fred IL. Dabncy, and No. TO- George fe"S
e body Gardner il. OF course several
K. o,l,..r mon are always named as having n
chance at the first ten. Gustofc L. I"I-
n chard leads I'm this respect. but IouehAr'
- has Welded 10 80 many this year 1t ID no'
u considered possible for him TO get place
FL Indeed. the opinion prevails that TouchaII
j has passed the pinnacle OF MS game e'
pccially as his ideas Of training DO NOT a.
J. all conform with the rigorous methouS
adopted by Mclaughlin.
;. Naturally there IS some discussion as 10
, whether or not Johnson or Williams Is en-
titled 10 follow the new champion In mo
:; nlaca of No. . Those who favor john
10 son's chances quote the declaration or the
y ranking committee that Tate season form
- il to count for moro than early perform
ances" Upon such a basis II would ap@
z near that Johnson must be the No. >.
= true. az the beginning OF the tournaments
!. he was beaten By Williams in the final OK
tho PENNSYLVANIA state and I'm the ma
- tional clay court championship But
"a Johnson more than made good, as he got
r into the swing Of the season, by outplay-
,, ing the brilliant Williams at Go, GO In
a memorable match on the turf of the
Meadow Club. 1T southampton, Long ISL
and williams has been the sensation or
p the present season. No less an authority
+ than Tom Petit declares that he is sure
10 be ready i'm another year or two for the
% alI-comers' crown. His strength OF wrist,
y BY which he brings off his great shots-
the quick and dazzling ones-is certain To
50 make him formidable. and he has taken
= a high place i'm his initial year upon the
= American courts.