Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-03
TO TENNIS PLAYERS
PRESIDENT ADEE WRITES
ABOUT AMATEUR RULES
if"ss Thnt Dcvotecs OF the Game Main
fnin the High Standard for
Glenn Sport.

10 all ucNOtccS of the game calling
their attention 10 the rules governing
amateurs. He begs that the reputation
OF the game remain unsullicd and kent
upon The high plane it now enjoys. His
letter follows:
ITO the Players and Tennis Officials OF
tho United States:
Lawn tennis, more than any other
game, Is played for it's own sake. I'm
spoitsinanlikc conduct among contest
anus In private or public matches is so
rare as TO be altogether negligible 1t
is the only game in which the contest
ants If left 10 themselves. persistently
ana whole hcartedly and Instantly de-
eide doubtful points In favor Of their
adrcrsari cs. This manly and generous
spirit the nobIcst asset which any
game San have. is a trust Of which the
is the duty OF this association. in order
10 conserve this precious asset, 10 carry
INTO i,9 councils the same spirit which
the individuals who compose the ASSOC
citation carry into the courts.
Certain abuses nave begun to creep
into tennis in this country and II is
the sense of your committees that these
Aousot. though small in themselves.
are contagious. and II unchecked. will
sooner OF later tarnish this finest ana
clcauest of all sports.
..,, iin 80, 4 vlew 10 stamping out these
y. J.. T. a, at its last meeting. March
u. 1916. proposed certain amendments
70 the amateur rule. and recommend
their adoption by the association as
part OF the bylaws. at tn. next annual
meeting, to be held IN February. 1917
a copy OF these proposed amendments
viii be found appended to this letter
The committee desires 10 give them the
widest publicity possible and most ear
ucsty requests YOU to bring them be-
fore IN. members of your club for dis
tnssion ana GritiCism ana to give 20
Restiors. Tho committee has every
confidence that YOU VIII approach this
81 any possible local and transient in
i"f.st. but from the broad ana gen
erous standpoint OF the best permanent
country.
AS this year tho association is doing
~ III IT'S power 30 encourage boys TO
play the game. and TO develop tennis IN
pubic parks. 1t is Il particularly APP
stand not only to pr"serv. these G,s
ideals and traditions which have alyvayti
"bta'n"a ~ tennis, but t" place them
ono" ana for all upon an unshakabIe
foundation
The proposed changes in tho ans;
,cur rule are based on FIVE fundamental
NO. 10 player shall deliberately
capitalize his reputation
SO. .. 80 player shall receive tray-
cling expenses Tor playing in a tour
uh!"cnt, team iUatch or exhibition, "M-
c.ui from c!ub or association which
no. g. .Nll team or exhibition
matches wner' @aie receipts are charged
stali be luCcI the stric, supervision Of
IN. eNeeuu;e committee"
40 ; Players engaged in the tennis
-o0IS business, though not made pro-
.ess!onHls, shall .vliil. so engaged. b..
!NelgIb'. TO compete in events sane
'le ned ny m. ne l. 5 \. J.. 7. i
interpret ne amateur ruic ana apply i,
70 each Individual case.
Ihcr" - vast diiercnc" between
~, payirb o. g mayors expenses by a
inE oil il players expenses by his own
IslN ~
by another organization. FOR IN IN.
nrst instnnc" ciGh can make money
NOR" prominent players i can hirc 10
"nt";r. ~" greater WI b" tn" receipts,
max" any hn"uciai gam. fhc FIRST Is
illeritinlatc aud should not be permit
tcd--thc second Is Legitimate
The committee feels there is danger
in the playing Of exhibition or team
matches ior gate receipts because such
matches unconsctously tend TO create
partnerships between clubs Tor the pur-
pose OF making money out Of the game,
competing clubs TO obtain the perrnis-
sion OF the committee 10 hold such an
event For the same reason the coin
inittee feels that clubs or associations
charging gate receipts should not con
tribute TO the expenses OF other clubs
y. l.. T. ~. this would be AN iuccn-
~" 10 both clubs To enter partner
ship 10 make money out Of the game.
Little harm has resulted up TO date
IRON, tennis players entering the tennis
SoobS business, hut Tho tendency to
enter This line Of work is incrcasing.
and unless checked. viii develop into a
serious abuse often II distinctly adj
Nertiscs a players tennis fame for the
sake OF making money. ANA IL also
gives those players mn advantage over
players IN other forms OF business. for
IN the past sporting goods companies
have in many Instances given their ON
pioyees or representatives time enough
away from Their business To win cham
pionshps on achieve great regulations
as athletes, while other forms OF bust
rs employees or icpresentntives be
given the same amount of time for
athletic c0mpetittons. Your committee
ton between amateur sport and bust
ness is mat in which the former fuy
nishes the health and sense Of Well
being with which TO tackle the prob
lens OF the latter
The committee therefore feels that
no man engaged in the handling, buy
ing OF selling of tennis goods should
be permitted. while he il so engaged.
given under the auspices of the L. :.
=. j.. I. ~, but thcy do not consider
nent players have been SO engaged for
a number Of years pass. il would he
UNFAIR TO bar them now without giving
them n chance to make other arrange
meniS should they desire to give up
that business aud play in tournaments
The committee therefore proposes that
any man engaged in this work after
April /, 1918, shall, he ineligible to play
dohbtedly some players who are in the
tennis business set no pccuniary adj
vantage from their skill and reputation
IN the game, but he committee feels
mat the rule must be rigid in order TO
be enforceable. The attempt to make
fine distinction would inevitably lead
10 hard feeling and suspicious of ia
Noritisn.
'By these amendments the executive
committee Is made the tribunal TO de-
eide whether "a player has violated any
provision contained therein and is
gwen power to rpinStltc. No t.u
rule can be drawn to cover every case.
and there must he Il tribunal to apply
and interpret the rule, just as - court
OF law applies the law in each pnIticu-
lar case. The executive committee can
be depended upon to use common sense
and discretion in their interpretations
OF the rule.
The executive committee must count
upon the clubs Of the u. 5. n. l.. II. a.
10 cooperate with them in their aim
10 Keep the association free for all
time from any infringement of the
amateur rule, either of the letter OF
that rule or OF the spirit, TO the end
that the fair name OF tho association