The sun., 1916-12-08
VITAL MATTERS IN
TENNIS UP TO-DAY
Executive Committee Will Pass
on Ranking List and Pro-
posed Reforms.
TO TALK AMATEURISM
~ DANIEL.

Not since the United States National
Lawn Tennis Association was organized
In 1881 has Its executive committee oeen
called on to consider as many vital
questions as II will pass on at its an
nual meeting in the waldorf-Astoria to-
day. Perhaps the first matter in order
Of business will he the adoption of the
ranking list for 1916.
Then there will be the question Of
establishing qualifications for the ma
tional championship singles. passing on
the rules for amateurism to he voted on
by the delegates at the associai.on's an
nual conclave In February. and that old
betc noire. the foot fault. which IL caus-
Ing more trouble than ever. Several
ether topics are to be taken up.
The ranking list as submitted by the
new committee. composed OF Clinton Il.
Childs. Charles Garland and Harry Sey-
nour Of Pittsburg, J. {. Royon of Clcve-
land and T. =. Reynolds OF Dayton.
promises to spring a few surprises. IT
70 an open secret that the name Of
Maurice T.. Mclaughlin. once paramount
IN world tennis will not be found among
the hrst ten. as he did not play enough
tournament matches. Richard Norris
williams I'd. the national title holder, OF
course belongs at the head of the list. and
there is little question that second posi-
tion will be given to william NJ. Johns
ton, who was relieved Of the champion
ship by Williams last September.
should Not Rate jap.
There is some doubt in the minds OF
followers Of the game regarding the
status Of Ichiya Kumagae. the Japanese
plished the defeat OF Johnston at New
port. The committee will settle that to-
day. II Kumagae Is eligible for rank
ing he belongs In n high place. but to
eur way OF thinking he should not be
listed. II will be remembered that even
though Hugh Doherty. the English star.
won the American championship In 1908
he was not ranked and William A.
I.arned retained his place at the top Of
the list.
Kumagae Is perhaps more intimately
connected with American tennis than
was Doherty. but he is still a foreign
entry and as such does not properly be-
long In our ranking list. II he should
be rated he will probably be found in
No s.
Leaving Eumagae out OF considera- =
tion, the first ten below Williams and
Johnston are likely to include r. L!ndley
Murray. George NJ. Church. Clarence J.
Griffin. Watson NJ. washburn. Karl II.
Behr. Willis f. Davis and Theodore r,
Peli in the o-'ler hamed. It is said that
Behr has no. played enough tournament
tennis to Re ranked. In that event
Nathaniel W. Niles Is very likely TO
move into tho sacred circle. Below then,
come Joe Armstrong. f. II. whitney,
william J. Clothier. Wallace F. johnson,
Leonard Beekman. Harold \. Throck-
morton. 8. II. voshell. Dean Mathey
Alrick II. Man. Jr.. Walter Merrill Hall.
Roland Roberts and Dick Harte.
Myrick's Plan Good.
The women's ranking list will also be
submitted and that may be headed only
by Miss Molla Bjurstedt. national cham
pion on turf. clay and indoor courts.
The matter Of requiring certain qualih-
cations for entry into the national singles
has been gone over rather fully In a
the West Side Tennis Club. who some
time ago was appointed n committee OF
one to handle the question. Myrick's
suggestions to keep the field down 10
those who really have a chance of trav
elling some way In the tournament will
probably be adopted, for II the issue Is
lodged now II will have to be faced In
more troublesome shape next year.
Rules to guide amateurism, as SEM
out in an open letter by George 7. Adee
president of the association. will arouse
the greatest discussion In the meeting
to-day and still more heated debate
when all the delegates get together here
In February. The Pacific Coast Asso
citation is strongly opposed to the pro
posed clause which would make ineligibl,
for amateur competition all those who
cell tennis and other sporting goods.
Change In Doubles Too.
The adoption Of this rule would ba,
Mclaughlin, Johnston, Thomas Bund,
and Johnny Strachan, a youngster wht
bids fair TO develop into star. Severa
leading players in the East would alst
be affected. The Pacific Coast Associa
tion held a meeting at Oakland las
Tuesday night and discussed ways ant
means OF combating the movement 4
pass the proposed rule.
There has been talk OF the Pacih
Coast Associations resigning from tn,
national association In the event its pro
tests are ignored. but It is hardly lkel,
that the hotheads will rule II secession
Is proposed
The executive committee will conside
changing the present method OF decidin,
the national doubles championship-a re
form which contemplates the abolition O
the challenge match. There IL som
chance that changes will be made In tn
tennis districts and that another division
for sectional doubles will be created
Further encouragement OF Junior tenni
will also come up for action.
The executive committee consists O
twenty men. including President Georg
T Adee, Vice-President A. l.. Hoskins
Secretary Edwin +, Torrey and Treas