New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-15
MERRY WAR At LAWN
TENNIS CONVENTION
Old Question of Limiting OF
Proxies Comes Up and Is
Well Argued.
TO HAVE DAVIS CUP TEAM
Delegates at Meeting Agree to
Frown on Hotel Journeys
and Transportation of
Players.

Players.
Lively discussion marked the beginning
OF tho thirty second annual meeting of the
United States National Lawn Tennis AS
sociation yesterday at the Hotel Mar
Unique. 1t began Immediately with the
offering of the new constitution by Henry
W Slocum. chairman of the revision com
mittcc and a member of the Rockaway
Hunting club. of Ccdarhurst. Long ISL
and. Harry Seymour. of Pittsburgh;
Frederick G.. Anderson. a former execu-
tive committeeman: Calhoun Cragin. OF
the West Side Tennis Club. and others OBJ
jected strenuously TO limiting the voting
OF proxies TO five for officers of the asso-
citation and one for accredited delegates.
SO prolonged were the arguments on this
point that after a ballot had been taken
the delegates adjourned for a banquet In
an adjoining room. the result of the vote
10 he announced at the beginning of the
evening session
The United States again will challenge
for the Davis international cup and send
team TO England. The match will prob
ably be decided in July.
Robert y. Wrenn, the president of the
association. called the meeting to order
after 4. l.. lloskins. the secretary, had
duly registered to the number OF 1S5. \
few stragglers came in later. Richard
Stevens. the treasurer, reported that the
association had conducted the internation-
al matches of 1911 for the Davis cup with
a profit of 1921. after deducting the ex-
Of hn 10
of sl.660 had been received from the Aus
tralan gate. and the association had
S.2os 10 in its treasury. Miles S. >Charlock
reported for the ranking committee, and
a. L. Hoskins as secretary.
The delegates devoted their attention TO
the report of Henry W. Slocum They
welcomed tho arrangement of membership
into three classes as clubs. active asso-
Citations and allied associations. Many
were against the methods of voting ac-
cording TO clubs or associations, but this
clause of the constitution was finally
adopted They were greatly in favor Of
the division of the country into ten sec
tons. as New England. Middle States,
Middle Atlantic. TTi-Statc, Southern,
Western. Northwestern. Southwestern,
lntcrmountain and Pacific States
The first real and strong opposition de-
vcloped over the old proxy question,
which has wrought UP the delegates in
other years. f.. +. Torrcy, of the execu-
tive committee. stated that he was in
favor of any member or officer voting as
many proxies as might be intrusted 20
him. Palmer IL. Presbrey, OF the Long
wood Cricket Club. declared that it was
undignified for members to collect proxies
by wholesale. as had been done in the
past, and that some method of limiting
voting in this respect should be adopted.
Harry Seymour retortcd that any one
who attempted to jack proxy out OF
Nassa .husetts. which is Presbreys terri
tory. would find It hard work. After a lot
Of heated discussion in which most Of the
delegates came out fatty against limit
ing voting as provided. the only remain
ing clause i'm the constitution was bal
Iottcd on. the result to be announced at
the beginning OF the night session, at
which the amateur rule will come up.
When the delegates went into session
after dinner it was found that the vote
was le6 to Is in favor OF allowing dele
limitation.
Then tho amateur rule contained IN the
bylaws was taken up. Henry W. Slocum
introduced the rule by saying: Don
consider that in framing this rule that
there have been serious breaches in the
last regarding lawn tennis amateurism.
But as time goes on the finger Of sus-
picion may be pointed to lawn tennis
players. just as has happened in other
branches of sport. We believe we offer
what is TO the best interests OF the game.
Our aim is entirely in the interest OF
warning tho poor man as to what stand
ard he shall adopt 1t should be in Keep
ing with the standard of the athletic
bodies of the world. The regulations arc
aimed to protect the poor man. Should
We not say TO him in plain terms there is
q certain standard and there is line
beyond which YOU shall not go?'
The FIST three sections Of the rule,
which were along the usual lines. were
adoptsd without discussion. Arguments
began when the clause prohibiting players
from having employ ment in sporting goods
houses was taken up. The majority of
the speakers were against making it pos
siblc for any PLAYER to secure employment
because of his skill at the game. II was
admitted that so far there were only
isolated instances. but the game was rap
IDLY increasing and the matter must be
provided for.
The vote on the rule prohibiting any
PLAYER from being employed by sport
ing goods house was l07 TO A.
Few OF the delegates were in favor OF
the clause which prohibited clubs from
entertaining players as they saw iit e. F.
Torrey, Harry Seymour, OF the Pittsburgh
Athletic Association. and W. b. kurtz,
Of the Germantown Cricket Club, said that
the clause was against the liberty of the