The sun., 1916-12-09
OPEN TENNIS EVENT
IN DOUBLES LIKELY
Executive Committee Discusses
Institution Of New Method
Of Deciding Titles.
TO ISSUE RANKING TODAY
ny DANIEL.

Members Of the executive committee
Of the United States National Lawn
Tennis Association gathered In annual
session at the Waldorf Astoria yes;er
day and transacted n mass Of Business,
the volume and importance o. r'h;ch had
never been approached at u similar
meeting. The CONTEMPLATION was started
early In the afternoon. and In the wee
sma' hours this morning the solons were
still busy ut their task. As the session
was g,cret only a hint AR, arl there
gave an inkling as to what was going 'n.
The committee approved III, RANKING
list for 1916 as submitted by the ranking
committee. headed by Clinton l.. childs
OF Pittsburg. No definite news as t. the
personnel OF the first ten could he OBJ
tained. The list and other data passed
on will be issued to-day by Paul WIN.
Jams. field secretary OF tn. 1850 -'ation.
1t was regarded as somewhat sicniii.
cant that Of the twenty members OF the
executive committee only nine. all Eas'-
erncrs. appeared. They wee George r
lAdee. president: A. l.. Hoskins. vice.
president Edwin +. Torrey. secretary
and Richard Stevens. treasurer: Palmer
Il. Presbrey. c. Frederick Watts m.
Julian $. Myr!ck. Craig Biddle AMI Wat
son NJ. Washburn. DIR. Sumner Hardy
CT the Pacific Coast Association. whp
was expected to attend for To-, purpos,
OF opposing the proposed amateur rule.
was conspicuous by his absence
A New Doubles system.
The committee argued long over the
proposition to abolish the precen: sys-
ten of deciding the national doubles
It'll, 2nd institute a tournament sim la.
tSDsAt in singles. I. was said hat the
mc.hbers had decided to submit I've NV
idea to the annua meeting OF the asso.
ration here In Feb uary. II tt- change
Is made 1t will mean the abilit!ol of the
sectional doubles and the chalieng.
match for the championship, which has
been played In conjunction vito the sin
giles tour: Il ment.
Arguments similar TO those which
brought about the playing through sys-
tenn IN the national singles were ad-
vanced BY supporters Of the new doubles
proposition. IL Is conceded that doubles
play in this country Is in need Of a ire
mendous impetus and that that feature
OF tennis has been neglected sadly. An
open tournament for the doubles title liz
likely to develop greater stability and
permanence in the make up of teams. II
u the continual changing OF partners
more than any other factor that is re-
tarding doubles progress.
II the delegates do not accept the
open doubles idea they will be asked to
create new divisions for sectional
doubles. However. the old doubles sys-
tenn is doomed-thatis almost a fore
gone conclusion.
Precedent for Rating Jap.
II was reported that in pursuance OF
. ruling by President Adee that Ichiya
Kumasae. the japanese conaueror OF
Billy Johnston. was eligible for rank
Ing. the committee had placed him on
the list, and that he was numbered
among the first ten. While 1t was
pointed out hat in 1903. the Dohertys
and DIR. PIN were not ranked. even
though they had great success here and
Hugh Doherty won the national title.
precedent for the rating OF foreign play
srs existed.
The first foreign expert In the Ameri-
can ranking list was NJ. +. Goodbody OF
ireland. who was beaten by Bob Wrcun
Tor the title IN 1894 and was rated third.
In 1897 w. V. Eaves, H. A. Nisbct and
". s. Mahony ~ England. after a cam
paign here. were ranked among the first
ten. Kumagae will very likely be found
In seventh place. behind Dick Williams.
Johnston. Lindley Murray. George NJ.
Church. Watson VI. Washburn ard Joe
Armstrong
The committee had a lengthy struggle
with the foot fault rule and final decision
in that matter will probably rest with the
delegates at the annual meeting. Will
lam A. Larned proposed that the present
rule he retained. hut that the foot fault
Judge be given the option Of calling a
fault a let. II would then rest with the
Judge to use his discretion as guided by
the importance OF the match.
Amateur Question In.
whether the committee had made any
radical changes in the proposed anna
teur rule could not be learned. but in
substance the change will very likely be
similar to that announced some time ago
by Presid7 mt Adee. No matter what
the executive committee thinks OF the
proposition it can do nothing final,
Adoption OF such legislation requires the
vote OF the association as a whole.
II is known that new n frmer pro-
test against the cause which would
make incllg BILE those who sell tennis
and other sporting goods has been made
by the Pacific Coast Association. That
body Is evidently determined to stand
behind Mclaughlin. Bundy. Johnston
and Strachan. who would b. affected.
Julian $. Myrick's set OF regulations
20 govern entrance into the national sin
giles was talked over at length. Myrick
would permit all players who have been
ranked. those who have done Wi. in AT
least three tournaments under the d.
rection OF the national association and
foreigners whose entry Is sanctioned by
the national body to play for the title.
While the officials are loath to do away
with the "all corners" feature of the
national singles they are confronted
with "A situation that demands immediate
action, for championship fields have be-
come unwieldy.
IntercIty Junior Matches.
Extension OF the Junior tennis propa-
Ganda came In for considerable atten-
ton. As a further impetus to develop
ment of tennis among the younger play
ers II has been decided TO try a series
OF interci,y matches.
Fred Alexander has been busy ar
ranging "A series between the juniors OF
New York and Philadelphia. and a home
and home competition may he arranged.
1he youngsters OF the Quaker CITY were
given attention by the larger clubs long
before the Junior idea was spread in this
locality. Alexander has been particu-
larly prominent In that branch OF ten
mis- encouragement
In addition to passing on various i'm
portant matters the committee arranged
the programme for the annual meeting
here next February. There are rum
blings OF an attempt to take the ma
tional championship tournament away
from the West Side club, but no reaIlv
Formidable rival appears on the horizon