New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-24
Tennis World Depl0res
Barringof Miss Cassel

case. Having been on the stage az one
time. Miss Cassel feels that her sAat-
ing last winter and this sumner. N
indoor Kinks. comes under the head OF
a theatrical performance, and there VII
be many 20 agree with her.
While on the Coast this summer
she engaged IN several tournament
matches. notably against Mrs. Thomas
L. Bundy, he former May Sutton.
Each tine, before she started play. she
received a telegram from Mr.. Ades,
asking her % refrain from playing
Miss CaSsel put the matter up TO the
Pacific Coast Association. she says,
and was told 20 20 ahead. and she did
She freely admits she WAS tOrcwsrned
by hr Adee. although believing che
matter would have 20 be thrashed OUT
a. a regular meeting Of the national
association committee, AZ which she
would be requested 70 put IN an ap-
pearancc The shock. therefore. when
she was summoned from the court by
telephone message from Mr.. Adee
IN the middle Of match. was all the
greater.
Il is question with a great many
PLAYERS Of the game whether lawn
tennis will be benefited by a rule so
Cassel 20 lose her amateur standing.
The feeling is widespread that as long
as the athletic exercise" mentioned -
n no manner connected with the game
o, tennis. pursuing IL as means OF
livelihood should not debar player
from competing as an amateur on the
courts.
Yet the great game must be kept
free from all suspicion of profession
alism in the ranks Of the players II u
Is 20 continue 20 hold its present high
place in the world Of sport. To the
writer u would seem the part or
wisdom 20 consider each case ind
vidually, sitting out those who trans
crossed the spirit OF the law and leaV-
ing unmolested those who were as pure
amateurs az heart as the white sheep
OF the flock.
No Alternative.
Regarding the case in the abstract.
Mr.. Adee was undoubtedly only doing
mis- duty in taking The action ne did
Miss Cassel had directly violated one
OF the bylaws Of the national associa-
ton, he had warned her upon more
than one occasion and had 6naIly taken
summary action. He could hardly have
had any alternative
In discussing the case yesterday the
president Of the 4. 5. \. L. I. A. SAID
he regretted exceedingly the inevitable
publicity that must attend the incident,
but that he was powerless 10 do other-
wise than what he had done.
The ruling is perfectly clear and the
issue is not beclouded," he stated.
when Miss Cassel was appearing on
the Coast this summer I sent her tel
egram and asked her not 20 play IN any
tennis tournaments, as the association
considered she had sacrificed her stand
ing as an amateur BY accepting money
FOR skating instruction. She ignored my
request and competed in several tour
naments IN the West.
THE matter had 10 be brought 10 an
issue somewhere, and when | learned
Miss Cassel was competing in the New
Jersey State championships | called her
on the telephone and insisted that she
withdraw"
Asked II he did not consider that
Miss Casseps skating came under the
head of theatrical performances. Mr..
Adee declared the cases were not SINH
lar az all. and that what the player IN
question was doing constituted a plain
violation Of the bylaws.
Referring 20 the status OF several
Of the prominent men PLAYERS OF the
country who make their living by en-
gaging in the sporting goods business,
Mr. Adee stated that this matter would
be taken Up az the annual meeting OF
the association in this city next FEB
ruary. when an amendment 20 the
present bylaws apperta ming 20 that
particular violation OF the rules will
be offered The passage OF this amend
ment would enable the association 10
handle such cases specifically.
In the meantime the great army OF
lawn tennis players will await with
interest the final chapter in the history
Of Miss Cassel's experience with the
powers that rule the courts ana those
who play thereon.