New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-10
Tennis Executive Commit
tee ReaffrmS Support of
New Amateur Rules
By FRED HAWTHORNE

Following closely upon the declara-
ton Of belief made by the Pacific
States Lawn Tennis Association
through Or. Sumner Hardy, its presi-
dent regarding the perpleXing ANA
teur question as it applies to the man
on the courts comes an answering
statement from the United States Ma
tional Lawn Tennis Association.
While the statement from the ma
tional body made public last night, is
not, strictly speaking, a reply 20 DR..
Hardy's declaration 10 is "A definite an
uouncement on the part of the L. $
y. l.. i. A. as 20 just where 10 stands
on the amateur question. as distn-
guished from the attitude taken BY the
Pacific States organization. And there
is a decided divergence Of opinion be-
tween the East and the West without
a doubt
Merit in Both Sides
II is we'll 90 compare, i'm some cases,
paragraph by paragraph, the two state
ment5, IN order that the strength or
weakness Of each argument may be
seen 40 a glance. Both sides may lay
claim 20 merit as regards certain sec
tions of their statements, but, after all,
il seems 20 us that II must resolve it
self ia a consideration of individual
cases, If the players arc 90 be dealt
with fairly and without prejudice. II
hardly appears that any one rule VIII
tit all individuals.
George Townsend Adee, president Of
the L. S. y. L. 7. A., who sent out
the circular letter 10 the clubs and
players Of the association last night,
adds foreword of his own in explana-
ton of the statement.
THE issue before the annual meet
ing of the y. $. \. l.. L. A. is this he
says, DO you want tennis to be placed
once and for all upon an absolute anna
tour basis or DO you want 20 leave IT
exposed 10 the dangers of commercial
ism? Your vote will determine this
issue. and therefore you should not
permit personalities to be substituted
for principles IN discussing legislation
OF vast Importance to the future Of the
game"
Committee still Firm
Mr. Adee recalls the fact that the
national association sent out a circular
letter last June, setting forth the rec
concentrations Of the executive COM
mittee for amending the amateur rule,
and states that the committee still
holds those views, but is not trying to
force them upon the association, nor
has 10 the power 10 do So.
Referring 10 the section regarding
players entering the sporting goods
business, Mr. Adce says; "The sport
ing goods issue is simply this: Is a
prominent tennis player hired By a
sporting goods house 10 represent the
firm behind the counter-or on the
tennis COURT I'm other words. is such
= player hired because Of his selling
ability or because Of the advertising
value OF his prominence I'm tennis ?
The executive committee believes that
IN most cases the mans tennis repu-
tation' is what counts. The player is
actually commercializing his reputa-
ton, and the practice, unless checked,
will professionalize the game
The proposed amendments are head
cd bv Section 4: "Au amateur tennis
player is one Who plays tennis solely
for the pleasure and physical benefits
he derives therefrom." with the added
statement that this is intended more
as a definition OF an ideal rather than
a -DtEiIN IAlNs
Several Of the proposed amendments
differ In no essential detail from the
laws now on the books, but Section 3
states; ANY person engaged in the
handling. buying or selling OF tennis
goods after April l. 1918, shall, during
the time he is so engaged, be in
eligible 10 play in any open or invita-
ton tournament or team match given
under the auspices Of the T.. S. n. /. T.
A."
states Basic Principle
The executive committee makes the
following comment in regard TO this
proposed amendment:
The basic principle or an amateur
sport is that no man should be allowed
10 commercialize his skill or promi-
hence in any game and still remain an
amateur. The question Is this. Are the
prominent tennis players engaged in
the sale of tennis goods commercializ-
iue their skill or prominence in tbe
game The executive committee be-
! Aeye them to be employed not for thair