New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-15
Larned RelinquiSheS Honor Al
ter Holding Place for
Five Years.
PASSING OF THE VETERANS
Williams Second in Ranking Of
First Ten Players, Johnson
Next and Clothier
Fourth.

inttee OF the united states NdtloIldi
Lawn Tennis Association. The clean
sweep which the Californians made on
the courts is fully acknowledged, as
Thomas c. Bundy takes sixth place on
the singles list and stands at No. in the
doubles, along with Mclaughlin. 1t is
the first time in the history of the Ameri-
can game that these honors have depart
cd from the holding of Eastern players.
Mclaughlin supplants William A. Lar
ned after a persistent campaign OF the
courts that has continued through four
years. on the list as issued he is fol-
lowed for the honored first ten by r.
Norris Williams. Wallace f. Johnson,
William J. Clothier. Nathaniel w. Niles,
Thomas c. Bundy, Karl II. Behr. Ray
mond d. Little, George P. Gardner and
Gustave +. Touchard. Ninety other play
ers are rated In classes of ten each. In
the first class following the honor roll
George NJ. Church. Alrick II. Man, jr.,
+. IL. Harris and Dean Mathey find
places. Altogether, the passing of the
veterans is emphasized, for the younger
men have received greater recognition of
their skill than in any past season.
Aside from the remarkable performance
of Mclaughlin and his place on the list
which was formally issued by George T.
Adee, the secretary of the ranking COM
mittee, from his office, at No. SS Broad
street, the most momentous thing that
lawn tennis players will notice is the
passing Of the name OF William Augustus
Iarned from Its accustomed place either
as leader or among the first ten.
For five years previous to this Iarned
had held the position Of No. l. In 1906
he was No. s to William J. Clothier. in
1905 No to Beals c. Wright and Hol-
combe Ward. in 1904 No. 8 TO Ward and
Clothier, and the three years previous TO
that he held the place at No. l. From
1sS2 10 1900, with the exception OF the
season Of 1898, when Larned was a
trooper with the Rough Riders IN the
Spanish War, he held a place among the
first ten.
There is a touch of the irony Of fate in
the appearance Of LaTned's name at the
bottom Of the entire column, fanked by
the phrase mot ranked, on account OF
data" The absence of the
great players name from the head Of the
column indeed marks the passing of one
Of the foremost figures in American lawn
tennis history.
In the singles list as numerically placed
ny the ranking committee, which in
Guided Miles 5. Charlock, of the Crescent
Athletic Club. chairman; Charles NJ. Bull,
ir. and George r. Adee, there was an in
clination among a number Of the experts
yesterday to question the placing of Will
Jams Of Philadelphia, No. to McLough-
lin and ahead 'of Johnson, also Of Phila-
delphia. at No on the list
Mclaughlin went through the season
winning in turn the Pacific
states title, the Western championship,
he historic Longwood cup at Boston, in
which he defeated Clothier in the final
and Edward p. LArned in the challenge
match. Then the brilliant Californian
moved on TO the New York State cham
at the Crescent Athletic Club
courts, where he disposed of Williams in
a great fve-set match at C., 60 81
-, Ga. Then came the browning
achievement so far as Mclaughlin was
as in the semi-finals at New
port he dashed Clothier's hopes by win
ming at SIS, GO, So, O.. only TO pull
out a wonderful fve-set battle by his
superb physical powers for the national
against Johnson by the
score Of SIS, 1-6, Ga, O.. 60.
Those who are inclined to place johnson
at No. and drop Williams back a num-
Der point to the fact that johnson only
Welded TO Williams In the Pennsylvania
State championship final early in the sea-
son. 60. 6-1, Is, while at Southampton,
Long Island, practically on the threshold
Of the American championship, johnson
smothered Williams to the score OF e.
So Furthermore, he played McLough-
lin completely off his feet at Newport
his game only waning when he became
TOO fatigued to deliver the stroke which
would have placed him champion.
Those who favor johnson also point 10
ne fact that in all previous years it has
been the custom to rank the runner-up in
he national championship second 10 the
winner of the tournament or the cham
Johnson undoubtedly played a
wonderful game through the season, his
in the Middle States at Orange
was a splendid triumph, and he at least
.omes back more strongly intrenched In
scientific lawn tennis TO No. 3, the place
he held in 1909, next TO Larned and
clothier.
Unheralded and hitherto unheard Of on
American courts, Williams at a bound
takes a place next to the champion. This
youth OF twenty, trained upon Cont
mental and English courts by the best
of the day, has been the
wonder and amazement throughout the
season. His winning Of the Pennsylvania
state and the national clay court titles
were easily his most brilliant perform
anccs. Holding TO the same form, he is
certain TO be McLoughlin's most dan
gcrous rival next season, for Williams is
uossessed of an infinite variety OF strokes,
by a thorough scientific knowl-
edge Of the lines of offence and defence
Ia he game such as few American play
ars can count in their equipment lie is
not new. however, 10 championship
honors. for in the summer of 1911 he
won the Swiss title in a field bristling
with European class, and followed il up
nv capturing the French covered court
championship from the great Laurentz.
Williams was born in Geneva. Swltzer-
land I'm 1901 lie began playing lawn
tennis at Geneva when he was twelve
vears old. Later he obtained some good
practice in the Mediterranean tourna-
nent. al Nice. but it was at the school
If Chateau dick that he obtained his
first real pounding and ideas OF the game