The sun., 1916-12-24
Tremendous Development Of
Game Is Indicated Strik-
ingIy by Figures.
SUPREMACY OF PLAYERS
ON COASTS THREATENED

Lawn tennis Is growing by leaps and
pounds In this country. SO II is only
natural that the year 1915 should have
excelied all others. More than 27j tour
naments were sanctioned. an increase Of
20 per cent. over 1915.
In 1915 the ranking committee Nain-
ined the records of 1897 players. This
year the figures were 1906. All incrsease
Of 81 per cent. A large part Of this In
crease Is due to q better system Of OBJ
tanning tournament records, but making
his allowance the figures are surprising.
When II ID considered that these refer
only to players competing In tournaments
oficially sanctioned and take nc ac-
count Of thousands who enjoy the game
but who do not go in for tournament
competition the Increase In noteworthy.
In ~. Louis. for instance. more than
10000 permits were issued to users Of
municipal courts in the parks. Prob
ably not 100 Of these players appeared
in sanctioned events. In Washington.
D.. c.. more than 5000 permits went to
users Of public courts. and in Cleveland
the number was abou $4,000. Such re-
ports from cities so widely separated
show tennis players no longer are col
onized. F'or years the game has reached
its highest development on the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts, but now 1t il sweep
ing inland.
Japs Added Interest.
Although the European Wal pre- vented
Davis cup matches the presence OF
Ichiya kumagac and Hachishiro Mikami
Of Japan gave an International fs vor to
many tournaments In this country. ku-
mayae's remarkable playing resulted in
victories In the Newport. New York State
and Central States tournaments and
ended by his being ranked No. :. Mikaini
went into Class Ill. Of players from 81
To ~. Public interest In Far Eastern
tennis has been further stimulated by
the $1,000 mite trip undertaken by Har-
old Throckmorton and George NJ. Church.
who left here last month to play for the
championship Of the Orient.
The year was marked also by the
", ssing Of a popular figure. when Mau-
ice r.. Mclaughlin OF Los Angeles was
not ranked. because he failed To COM
pete In enough tournaments. This was
the first year sinse he broke Into the
''Elrs, Ten" In 1909 that he did not
win "A place. In 1909 he was No. 6. and
subsequently No. 4. No. ., No. I In 1872.
1918 and 1914 n No. 3 in 1913. AL
though the Comet" probably will play
tennis for years to come. most followers
OF the game doub' that he will be able
to regain high rank.
The big feature OF the season. from
a competitive viewpoint. vas the return
o! the East to the ascendency. Richard
Norris Williams I'd again rose to the
highest pinnacle in American ennis and
william NJ. Johnston Of San Francisco.
who had won the title in 1915. was
forced to take second place. The great
Mclaughlin never got as far az the
semi-nnals OF the titular tournament.
for he was eliminated by George NJ.
Church. who had previously beaten
lchiya Kumagae.
During the past season too there was
much discussion OF the proposed changes
IN the amateur rule. which would pre-
vent a man In the sporting goods bust
ness from competing as an amateur.
This legislation. proposed by the eNecu-
tive committee OF the national associa-
ton. vas accompanied by other sugges-
tons OF great Importance. One OF these
would change the method OF holding the