The sun., 1916-12-16
COAST TENNIS MEN
READY FOR FIGHT
Draw Up Statement in Which
They Declare Themselves
on Amateur Question.
WILL SUPPORT STARS

IEoHu Nv CACNostNC
OF the United States National Lawn
Tennis Association that clubs on the Pa
cihc coast are not united In the protest
against the proposed amateur rule which
would make Ineligible some of the lead
Ing players In this state. ~oflcials In this
section to-day declared that the protest
10 well nigh unanimous. Al a meeting
Of the Pacific Coast Tennis Association
IN Oakland last week preparations were
made for n fight against the proposed
legislation and there were new rumblings
Of revolt.
A committee composed Of Or. Sam =.
Hardy. former coast champion, and 8.
r. Marvin was appointed TO draw up a
statement Of the Pacific coast associa.
tion's stand in the matter. A copy OF
this statement. which will be transmitted
to George 7. Adee and the other national
ofhcials in New York, was obtained to-
day.
The statement concurs in some details
with the trainers OF the proposed anna
teur rule, but In so far as Maurice +.
Mclaughlin. Billy Johnston. Johnny
Strachan and Tom Bundy are concerned
the coast body apparently intends TO
stand by them to the end. All four are
connected with the sale OF tennis and
other sporting goods. which will be SUI
ficient to disqualify them from amateur
tennis competition II the new rule II
passed at the annual meeting in New
York in February.
Raise Another Objection.
Another objection registered By the
local association il the proposed amend
ment providing for the control by the
national executive committee of a clubs
right to make money out OF the game. q
privilege heretofore resting solely win
the officials Of zach club.
In answer to these two proposed rules
the statement by the Pacific Association
says In part:
I'm regard to the FIRST subject. the
executive committee has proposed a new
amateur law. which reads as follows
An mateur tennis player Is one who
plays tennis solely for the pleasure and
physical benefit he derives from his asso-
citation with the game: and also an
amendment stating that a player shall be
disbarred for being engaged in the
handling. buying or selling of lawn ten
mis- goods after April 1. 1919
1--WE agree with the spirit OF the pro-
posed amateur law but feel that its
wording Is not sufficiently definite and
therefore suggest In Its place the follow.
Ing An amateur lawn tennis player 10
WV INV aSNo ~ 80
benefit from his association with the
game
Advantage IL Cnavoidable.
W. use the word direct because an
Indirect benefit IL sometimes unavoid.
able.
1T cannot be denied that given a ma.
fiona reputation In Town tennis. golf OF
any other sport a mar starts out in any
m raar ha IL ,,adirina Ian ~. anx. linz nj
business. with a distinct advantage ovei
his less we'll known competitors. but THU
advantage Is unavoidable and Is due moi
only 4 the advertising which his fame
has brought him but also to those quail
ties OF success which he has developed
and which have more than any other fac.
tor made him preeminent In his sport.
THE executive committees chief OBJ
5ect In proposing these rules Is to make
II possible for them 20 disbar a player
whose relation with a sporting goods irn
Is illegitimatc and who Is trading on hi.
reputation as a means Of making none,
with little or no attempt at a genuin,
compensatory return.
such a relationship we condemn ant
heartily agree that n man in such {
position Is n menace to true sportsman
ship and should therefore be d!sba rred.
Put the committee claim that II Il
necessary. in order TO reach this guilt,
person TO disbar all those engaged in tn,
Ennis goods business, and II Is her,
that We differ from them.
Tendency 20 Enter Business.
"That there Is a growing tendenc.
among lawn tennis players to enter tn
sporting goods business Is the result o
natural growth in both the sportinI
goods business and In the popularity O
the game itself.
"The second radical change in tn
policy of the national association-th
control OF clubs in making money out o
the games-ls expressed In the following
proposed amendment, which states tina
r. player shall cease to be an amateu
by playing in a team or exhibition
match where gate receipts are charged
unless permission TO hold such mate
shall have been previously obtained fror
the executive committee or from a sub
committee appointed by the c~xecutiv
committee
w believe that IL Is legitimate for
club to hold exhibition or team matche
where gate receipts are charged. an
that lawn ennis can In no way suffe
from such a practice, There Is no es
sential difference beIween q club holdin
q tournament and. with the help of othe
clubs, making money out OF the gam
and two or more clubs combining I
make money out Of the game by holdin
team or exhibition matches.
THE national association Ii desirou
Of. keeping clubs out OF any partnershi
for the purpose Of making money. bl
We hold that since 1t In necessary fo
the maintenance and development Of
club to have money II IL right for
club to follow the established custom {