Evening star., 1917-01-10
ENMSAMA1EUR DEFINED
Head of U. S. N. L. T. A. Answers
Pacific Coast Body in Letter
Pleading for Welfare Of Sport.

The circular letter sent out by the
Pacific Coast Tennis Association a short
time ago protesting the proposed anna
teur rule in tennis was answered last
night by George T. Adee, president of
the U. S. N. L. T. A. in letter ad-
dressed "to the members of the United
States National Lawn Tennis Associa
ton" The basis of the presidents let
, ter is in the following paragraph:
'1s tennis to be placed once and for
all upon an absolute amateur basis or
is it to be left exposed to the dangers
of commercialism?
Adee refers the question to the mem
bers of the U. s. N. l.. T. A. by saying:
Your vote will determine this issue
and therefore you should not permit per-
sonalities to be substituted for princi-
pies in discussing legislation of vast
importance to the future of the game.
Tt is claimed that a tendency has been
shown among followers of the game to
allow the personal popularity Of men
like Maurice Z. Mclaughlin and VIII
liam NJ. Johnston to influence their
calm judgment of the principles in
volved. Both Johnston and McLough-
lin are in the sporting goods business,
and, according to the proposed amend
ment, will be declared ineligible to play
amateur tennis if they continue in the
same business after April l, 1918.
The matter of permitting the club to
which player belongs to pay his trav-
cling expenses is involved in the letter
ii answer to statement contained IN
the communication from the Paclnc
coast association. claiming that no
harm came from this practice.
Adheres to Recommendations.
The executive committee of the United
States National Lawn Tennis Associa ton
adheres to the recommendations made
last June. which discussed in detail the
proposed amateur amendments, and
states that its proposals are not the
result of snap judgment, but the out
come Of mature consideration not only
of present tendencies in tennis, but OF
other branches of sport.
The basic principle of all amateur
sport is that no man should be allowed
to commercialiZe his skill or proml-
nence in any game and still remain an
amateur. This theory has been adopt
ed within two years by the United
States Golf Association. the Amateur
Athletic Union of the United states,
the intercollegiate Association OF ANA
teur Athletes of America and the ma
tional Collegiate Athletic Association.
the governing body for 1ntercolieglate
sport in the United States.
The executive committee feels that the
day Of professional tennis is by no means
remote unles some definite stand Is taken
at this time, and cites examples OF the
degeneracy of various sports in which
Professionalism has run riot as the answer
to those who say. why not professional
tennis?'
the question: "Is a prominent tennis
player hired by a sporting goods mouse
because Of his selling ability or because
Of the advertising value OF his prominence
in tennis?
The executive committee believes that
the player actually Is commercialtzing
his reputation and that the practise un-
less checked. will professionaliZe the
game. Permitting club to pay the ex-
penses of player competing in It's tour
naments puts premium on the box Oh
fee, it contends.
The Proposed Amendment.
The proposed amendment is: Section
4. An amateur tennis player is one who
plays the game solely for the pleasure
and physical benefits he derives therefrom.
Section 5. Any person shall cease to be
an amateur by committing any of the
following acts:
Subsection 6. By playing in team
or exhibition match in which gate re-
ceipts are charged. unless permission
TO hOlQ Sucn SudaA hdNO cSSA
previously obtained from the execu-
tive committee. or from subcommit-
tee appointed by the executive COM
mittee, or from the sectional delegate
of the section in which the match is
to be played.
Section g. Any person engaged in the
handling. buying or selling of tennis
goods after April 1. 1918. shall. during
the time he is SO engaged. be ineligible
to play in any open or invitation
match given under
the auspices Of the U. S. N. L. T. A.
This is the rock upon which the
national association has split. The
Pacific Coast Tennis Association
has threatened to secede from the ma
tional body If section is carried out
to the letter. Adee's letter has been
sent to every club in the association
ard to the $500 players named by the