The Washington herald., 1914-09-13
R. Norris Williams, William J.
CIothier, and Wallace F.
Johnson Represent Quaker
City's Supreme Court Ex-
pertS.

Philadelphia, Pa, Sept. 12.-Philadel-
phia now is supreme in the tennis world.
R. Norris Williams complete victory
over Maurice E. Mclaughlin in the ALI
Corners Tournament at Newport last
week placed the Quaker City in a posi-
ton where she does not have to bow the
knee to any other tennis community in
the whole world. And this is as it should
be. With her army of tennis players,
variously estimated at from 10000 to
1000, and her seventy-five clubs holding
championships each season, Philadelphia
is entitled to the front rank in the popu
lar outdoor game.
But the principal reason for our su-
preme position in the tennis world is
Philadelphia's big Three'-R. Norris
Williams, William ]. Clothier, and Wal
lace F. johnson. In every one Of the six
important tournaments held in the course
of the present season PhiIadelphia's trio
was most feared, and emerged from the
Nassau, Westchester, Seabright, South
amptOn, and Longwood Journeys and the
national championships at Newport with
records which cannot be matched by an
equal or greater number of players from
any other city or community in the
States And. while the big Three" were
the final tests, they were not the only
young men from Billy, Penns domains
who displayed extraordinary ability.
A First Line of Defense.
Richard Harte. B. C. Law. and Sidney
Thayer formed a first line of defense for
Philadelphia which did much to bring
honors to this city. They were players
who took part in more than one of the
big tournaments. Unfortunately, and
principally, because We do not support
the National Lawn Tennis Association
with memberships in proportion to the
number of Philadelphia players and
clubs, we never are given a tournament
of either national or sectional import.
with, of course, the exception of our city
and State championships. For this rea-
son only few Of our players are In a
position to devote the time required to
play in the Blk. SoX'' sanctioned meet
ings
Now, to get right down to the facts
which will prove my contention that Phil
adelphia is entitled to the front rank
in the tennis world, let US look at the
records of the players mentioned, starting
with the Nassau invitation event. This
was played at Glen Cove, L. l., and was
the first of the important meetings which
the Davis Cup Committee was to watch
closely for material for the defending
team. Williams just had won the Penn
State and Philadelphia district meetings
and wisely decided to rest to get in con-.
dition for the big events TO follow. John
son also did not play at Nassau, being
ordered TO take part IN the Delaware
State tourney at Wilmington. Clothier
did play, however, and won the title,
defeating with ease Leonard Beekman. c.
NJ. Bull. and George Church, three Met
ropolitan stars without the loss of a set
and, In the finals, disposing Of T. r. Pell,
to whom he lost one set
Makes brilliant showing.
At the westehester Country Clubs In
vftation Tournament. the following week,
Clothier stayed out, but both williams
and johnson made "a brilliant showing
johnson defeated Alfred Dabney, the Bos-
ton crack. but lost to r. L Murray, Of
California Williams went through the
tournament, defeating on the way. Gus
Touchard. George Church and Harold
Hac<ett. allowing this star trio only ten
games In the finals, he defeated the