New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-06
Slocum Leads Fight for
Newport, with Behr
Heading Opposition.
PROMINENT PLAYERS
JOIN IN DISCUSSION
Wrcnn collected President by
Unanimous NOte-NO Chal-
lcnge for Davis Cup.
By FRED HAWTHORNE.

The West Side Tennis Club. At For
O., Hills. Long Island, was awarded the
national lawn tennis championship FOR
,-c wear 1915 at the annual meeting OF
ne United States National Lawn Ten
MS Association In the Na.doT'-As'ofia
last night
The coun. was l2o votes for the West
SIDE club as sgaus, li9 for Newport.
The triumph OF the West Side CLUB
was only achieved after serles o. the
mos, bitter debates that were ever
heard in p meeting o. the national as
ISOLATION. and so closely were the woes
distributed that the definite result was
10. known until the te!ierS had gone
carefully over the Inst
nv the votes Of the delegates a. last
nights meeting the West Side club gets
the national singles championship, the
national interschoIsstic championships
and tho challenge round doubles. three
o. the biggest features IN the Amer
can lawn tennis world.
Karl H. Behr. the internationa st.
who has fought the fight so brilliantly
for the tennis players committee
which favored taking the tournament
from Newport. led the Oratory for ms
side. and proved himself as able on the
debating platform as on the courts.
Henry ". SIocum, who. away oacE
In 1855. held the national title. opened
the debate for the Newport CASINO. ana
ne was followed by K. Norris Williams
tho present national champion; VIII
lam !. Clothier. a former title holder;
c 2 Gardner. IT,. Edwin Fuller Tory
and others Of the Rhode Island clans.
The result O. the delegates vote
creates the greatest upheaval IN the
history Of American lawn tennis. For
-hIrtv-four years the Newport CaS.ho
has held the national tournament, ana
many believed its influence was 100
strong 20 be broken. -,
Ru' Behr. for the West Size CUB
was .nelsten. that the issue between
The two rivals for the honor should
be clean cut. and he pointed out that
Ecvpo~, was stalking its all on the side
Of sentiment. whereas the local CLUB
was making its fight, for the good OF
the game and for the benefit q the
greatest number Of players and fol-
lowers Of the sport.
After the routine business had been
disposed Of A. the afternoon meeting,
dinner was served 20 the delegates and
,u rivalry vas laid aside for the time
being. Toward the end Of the dinner
however. one Of the negro musician,
took the floor, and while his fellow
members of the orchestra swung int
INC strains Of "Tipperary,' he began
10 MARBLE. .,
II was the tune only OF the British
battle song that the negro sang. The
words that greeted the ears OF th'
delegates We're a. follows:
.I.- a I..g org vav 10 Newport.
De-. a '1.s way 60 -.
".,' tradition las eaiearei g.
better place know
.. t.s Nc.f ~.. We can ar s.
A.. ses The champions p.sF.
.. long 'org way II. Ica. 90 Nf"p'r-
cell y1'e Way. Nav
THIS dirty. the authorship Of which
WA no, admitted, marked the end Of
the truce and the delegates got ready
Cor ,re more serious business ahead.
Edwin Fuller Tory, the secretary o.
the national body, called the meeting
90 order. and then Mr. Slocum ros,
from ms seat and made the opening
speech for Newport.
81 am going TO be frank with YOU
men" said Mr. SloCum, IN starting
land state the plain facts He ther
launched into MS argument. and lnsln
rated that the West Side Tennis Clut
was seeking the national tournament
fur lts own selfish ends.
"l admit gladly that sentiment sway
wr u TINS matter" said the speaker
Every time passed through the gate!
Of the Casino for the last thirty year
Twas affected by the beautiful grounds
and the beautiful women IN the stands
I've played on every court in IN,
Casino, and I've been licked on ever!
court there. TOO, but ] never lost ever
single point by reason of the crowd
moving and talking, which is one o
the points our opponents have raiset
against the Casino. Speaking for my
scf, ! would like 10 see the champion
ship remain in Newport forever"
Bchr, who had been sQuirming in hi
rcat in his anxiety to answer Slocum'
remarks, then strobe 20 the front AM
GOT down 20 the pertinent facts a
Cuce. After stating that he approached
the argument IN the most friend,
manner. Behr threw restraint to tn
tour winds and ripped Slocums argu
ucnts 10 shreds
He said the national championship
tournament belonged not to Newport
rot 20 the West Side Tennis Club. Blu
10 the whole country. New York wa
selected for the Davis cup matches, h
,aid. because everybody realized
would be absurd 70 award the inter
rational contest 20 Newport, and Their
vas no favor done I'm the matter.
Growing more heated in his srgu
ucnts. Behr said: 81, too, have playe
q, Newport. and perhaps with q NOR
serious purpose than Mr.. Slocum."
He next attacked the actions Of IN
Newnort crowds and their lack OF N
terest in the game and referred sal