New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-14
CLASS LEGISLATION
IN LAWN TENNIS
Western Delegates Declare
Proposed Rules Aim at
Just That.
LOOK FOR STORMY SESSION
Much Sentiment Voiced by
Players and Officials Be-
fore the Association
Meeting.

raroinoters indicate A stormy session al
.hc thirty-sccond annual meeting OF the
nitoJ states National Lawn Tennis AS
ISOLATION. which will be held this after
noon aud evening at the Hotel Martin
iqua Those opposed 10 the new rules 10
b.. offered declared last night that II was
nothing short of class legislation. Con-
raG Young and Harry kock. Of the Omaha
Field CLUB: Or T. W. Stevens. of Inc
Pittsburgh Athletic Association: Harry
Seymour. Of Pittsburgh. and q number oi
local officials met at the knickerbocker
Hotel and carefully rehearsed their cam
paion to defeat the proposed rules to-day.
I'VE intend TO break the shackles ny
which the rich and socially prominent
have SO long ruled lawn tennis. Inc Ire
mcndous growth of the game demands
that il be administered alike for rich and
poor and that it be made Impossible LOT
Tho national association officers 10 become
A self-perpetuating body. We are armed
with the ammunition, which We oeileNe
Will cffectually dispose OF the rciculo"S
rules proposed" So said one OF the oeiS-
gates. The official then produced lettef
credited 10 Thomas c. Bundy, of Callfor-
MIA. and holder with Maurice h. NC
Loughlin of the national doubles chdh-
pionship. which in part was as Iollo"S'
Mclaughlin and were talking II over
lust the other day. and We agreed thd'
the real UNDERLYING motive OF tGoSe I"lh'
ing the new law must lie 10 Keep '"e
rcorer class of nobodies, social'A anu
financially. from becoming well known III
tennis. The game OF kings 'ahu h''''0"
aires literally. What rot
"of course. il wouldn't do 10 nave
founders coming into prominence n"' our
theory is that they hardly eau uh"t' en-
istinc conditions. No clubs or hotels are
,u,lv ia invite the undcsraoles ana
there is no chance FOL them u UNIV ~
this game. Accepting the Aosplt'il'! Vi
a club or hotel because one Is soOu
nlayer is surely not Synonymous Win
making ores living by playing the game
california owes its very lawn tennis ne
10 the fact that the hotels have Worhen
with the association 20 encourage 'ne
game and the players. Few OF the state
hest PLAYERS in the last decade "ou'u
have been able 10 compete ana oeNe'op
had not the financial stress been iesseieu
Iv the clubs and hotels.
Another statement from prominent
Californian read:
...rhoso ,,l,o are familiar with the cohdl-
tions governing lawn tennis in CalllorIIa
know fun well that the passing VI '''9
amateur rule will prevent Cahioriila III
vasion. the statement OF the revision com,
,nittce TO the contrary The gate derived
f,on the Southern California matches
rro,idcs the funds Tor the sendihs o., vi
plavcrs to the East, where tile! ~ ia'
i.ave been successful in establishing t,eir-
elves as champions. incidentally these
same PLAYERS have materldl! sWVhVu I'0
cat. receipts at Newport ana al loI'S
wood. Few OF the Eastern touild"lcli'
holders have SO fal seen ii 10 eNtei,u az!
rourtesies in the way 81 eNleIsea ~ l. ' ,,s
Cslifnrpans and under the proposed laws
would moi bc allowed 10 do so even were
The desire apparent at any time.
According TO q Cincinnati oi1cial. J. % .I
aware that the power. both lcSisiatiNe
and executive. of the national ASSOCIATION
& lodged in a small majority oi the eA-
,cutive committee. Yet | cannot imagine
heir being so narrow minded ana uii-
sportsmaniike as 10 pass Jaw M.icn
night eliminate from future competition
me present holders Of every national
championship except the clay court. u
they should do such q thing the lawn Ken
mis- world would say they leSislGted OH
The court those whom they could not beal
on the court
Another speaker AT the meeting last
night characterized the whole set of rules
As rubbish. 10 declared that they had
neon framed from the Eastern STANDPOINT
Tor Easter players; that II MAS nc
longer a secret mat the feeling against
aoldne tho tournament Al Newport was
Gaining in strength so that the tourna
nent would be played elsewhere. Class
legislation was aimed al. he declared, but
tho lawn tennis players were not 10 u
fooled this time and were stronger than
they had been in the past
Henry w Slocum. chairman OF the re-
v!siou committee. steadfastly declined 10
discuss the charges brought against the
proposcd rules lie said that the meeting
Today would thrash them out completely
al Of Tho followers Of the game concur
IA tins opinion and expect stormy ses-
sion and l,u.th' one.