Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-28
ARMY INDORSES
TENNIS JOURNEYS
Athletics Should Go On in
Training Camps, Says
War Secretary
NO LAURELS AT STAKE

Tournaments sanctioned by the United
States National Lawn Tennis Association
Will be played as scheduled throughout the
entire country. with the approval of the
War Department. This decision was reached
by vote of the Executive Committee. to
whom the annual meeting of the national
association delegated authority for action
after consulting the Federal authorities
The fact that the schedule will he carried
out does not mean that customary condi-
tions will prevail in tennis this summer.
There will be no prizes, no competition for
challenge cups, no ranking and no national
championships, This means that there will
be no incentive for a man to neglect his
duty military or otherwise. merely for the
pursuit of tennis honors.
By eliminating the lure of championships.
ranking, etc. it will be impossible for such
tournaments are held to become n hind
rance to the activities of the Government.
Clubs belonging to the L. s. n. l.. n. A.
Will be urged to secure the largest possible
entry list for their tournaments, aiming at
quantity rather than quality, and appealing
particularly to their own membership They
will be asked to make no effort to secure
prominent players from other parts of the
country to compete
Wherever possible. gate receipts for tour
naments are to he charged. and the net
proceeds. together with the entrance fees.
are to be turned over to the local and ma
tional organization of the American Red
Cross Junior and boys tournaments in
particular are to be actively promoted.
There will be no national championships,
but in their stead will be held national pa
triotic tournaments The patriotic feature
will be emphasized here as in all events held
by the clubs. every effort being put forth
to raise large sums for the Red Cross
Players Urged to Respond
Furthermore. the players of the country
are urged to respond to the call of Con-
gress for military service and all not
thus available are urged to keep in good
physical condition, dispense with luXuries
lead simple life. and wherever possible.
take courses in military training, so that
they may become military asset of the
Governemnt in case of necessity
These proposals were set forth in a letter
to Newton ID, Baker Secretary of War,
signed by George r. Adee. president Robert
~ Wrenn ex-president; Julian :. Myrick
and Ward c. Burton, of the executive COM
mittee
This letter offered the optional course
of Canceling the schedule and closed with
the declaration that "The association de-
sires 10 act not for the good of tennis
but for the best interests of the country"
Burton presented the letter to the Secre-
tary of War and discussed the matter
thoroughly with him. Secretary Baker ex-
pTeSSeu MS appreciation OF tne ASSOCIATION y
attitude and unhesitatingy recommended
the adoption of the proposals it had out
lined. At the bottom of the letter he added
the following notation:
"The foregoing recomme ndations
seem to me admirable and I am glad TO
recommend their adoption. In addition.
I would be glad II the members of the
association who do 20 into the military
forces could he requested TO cooperate
in all efforts to establish athletics in
the training camps and so create whole
some recreation for the leisure hours
OF soldiers and officers.
Newton ID. Baker,
Secretary OF War"