The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-22
TENNIS PLAYERS GIVE
AMATEUR HIS STATUS

NEW YORK. Jan. 21.-W-hen the
annual meeting of the United States
National Lawn Tennis association
takes place here on Friday, February
I4th, a number of important matters
viii come up for consideration, IN adj
dition to the election of officers and
the usual routine of the winter gath
ering. The most notable of these is
the presentation of report from the
special committee on the revision of
the constitution and bylaws, author
ICED by vote at the last annual meet
ing, The proposed constitution con-
tains seven articles. as against six in
the old document.
Great interest viii be manifested
and a. tremendous amount Of discus
sion undoubtedly will be heard over
section 4 of the new bylaws, which
is an entirely new definition of an
amateur. This section reads as fol-
lows:
Section T. An amateur is one who
l. Has never entered competition
open only to professionals nor played
for a money prize. public or admis-
sion money, or entrance Zee.
2. Has not played, instructed, pur~
sued or assisted in the pursuit OF ten
mis- or other athletic exercise as a
means of livelihood or for gain or any
EN- olument.
tain membership In any tennis or
athletic club OF any kind because of
any mutual understanding. expressed
or implied. whereby such membership
would be of any pecuniary benefit to
| the member or the club.
/ 4. Is not connected with the sale
of tennis goods, nor with firm man.
ufacturing or selling tennis goods, ex-
cept when such connection shall be
of a general nature In q firm manu-
featuring or selling general athletic
| goods and the person so connected
| has to do with tennis goods to no
greater extent than with any other
| line of goods.
! s. Has never accepted, from any
hotel. club or similar organization. at
which or in connection with which q
! tennis tournament la being held,
transportation or board, lodging OF
other general living accommodations.
or money to cover any or all OF the
same. or any secret or exceptional re-
duced rate In connection with which
a tennis tournament Is being held.
transportation or money for transpor-
tation or board. lodging or other gem
eral living accommodations, or money
to cover any or all OF the same, or any
secret or exceptional reduced rate in
connection with such tournament.
The Interpretation OF this rule shall
vantage of reasonable special rate
from such hotel, club or similar or
gantEat4on. If such special rate is
properly announced and is open TO
anyone entering the tennis tourna-
ment.
6. Has never sold, pledged or other
wise converted into money any prize
won in a tennis tournament, or con-
verified any prize so won into any ar
ticle or articles, commonly known as
necessities, such as food. ordinary
clothing, etc, or accepted as prize
any such article.
I, After doing or committing any
| of the foregoing acts has been rein
stated as an amateur by the execu-
tive committee of the u. s. N. L. T. A.
The execns3~s committee of tha y.
/ S. N H.. IT. A. shall, be the tribunal
TO decide whether player Is a pro-
! fessional or an amateur.
Note. Any infraction of the above
rules previous to February Ia 1913
shall not constitute a player a pro-
| fessional unless such action would
also have been an infractlon or the
! laws in force prior to that date.
| For purposes of comparison the
present rule is appended:
Section 4. An amateur is one VINO
has never violated any of the follow
| ing conditions:
| i. He has never entered competi-
! ton open to professionals, nor played
| for stake. public or admission
money. or entrance fee.
.. He has not competed with or
against a professional for prize.
8. He has not played, instructed,
pursued or assisted III the pursuit OF
| tennis or other athletic exercise as a
means of livelihood or for gain or
any emolument.
a. His membership in any tennis or
athletic club of any kind was not
brought about, or does not continue,
/ because of any mutual understanding,
expressed or implied, whereby his con-
tinuing n member OF any such club
would be of a pecuniary benefit to
would be of a pecuniary benefit TO
I him or his club.
/ S. IT connected with any sporting
goods house, such connection was not
brought about or does not continue
because of HIS proficiency In tennis or
any other form of athletic exercise.
I The executive committee of the as
ISOLATION shall be the tribunal to de-
eide whether a player is profession
al or an amateur.
Regarding the proposed new anna
teur rule. American Lawn Tennis says
editorially:
1T has been very carefully framed
/ and with full knowledge of its revolu-
tionary character: and presumably.
therefore, IL has very strong back