New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04
By FRED HAWTHORNE

These are days of great activity in
lawn tennis circles, and the air IS
charged with high, nervous tension,
with the annual meeting Of the United
States National Lawn Tennis Associa-
ton in this city only few days ahead.
1t is the universal opinion among play
ers and followers of the game that the
meeting at the Waldorf on Friday
afternoon and evening will mark
crisis in American lawn tennis.
According to the leaders in the two
camps, made up of those favoring
drastic amateur rule and those believ-
ing in the utmost leniency in this re
gard, the present situation cannot con
tinue. Both sides are agreed upon TINS
that the constant pickering and state
Of unrest because of the arguments
pro and con on the question Is the
worst thing in the world for the game,
and that decisive action one way or the
other at the meeting will be better
than the present state OF affairs.
Settled for Good
A prominent player in discussing the
matter with US yesterday SAID:
earnestly hope that if the proposed
amendments TO the present amateur
rule are going to be passed by the deie-
gates at the meeting IT will be oy
an overwhelming majority, ana CON
versely, II they are going to De de-
featsd. that it will be by Ike margin,
so that the question may be settieo
once and for all and never come up
again.
"This continual discussion and these
r.criminations cast about between the
opposing factions are not doing the
ZANE any good. II persisted In they
will eventually disrupt lawn tennis IN
this country, for the public Will lose
confidence and patience, and any game
must have public support II 1t Is 10
prosper"
The man who spoke thus has been
an international figure on the courts
for years and his amateurism Is OF the
soundest. Now, although his days OF
tournament competition are practlcaly
over. ne takes an even keener interest
in the welfare Of the game than when
he wa. one Of Americas greatest play
ers. but he agrees neither with inc
stand of the executive committee OF
the national association, which desires
10 bar men employed in sporting gooos
houses, nor with the Pacihc coast
States Association and other sections,
which believe that only the receiving
of money directly by q player through
his association with the game shouiu
bar him.
Will Stick to Jobs
"Do those who are trying TO put
through these amendments think for
one moment that any but an intni-
tesimal number Of the 50,000-odd men
engaged in the sporting goods business
are going to retire from means or max
ing a livelihood" demanded this player,
al the national association does put
through its rule?
at is too ridiculous TO even consider
such q thing. These men are making
their living, supporting their families,
in a perfectly legitimate manner. lt is
a matter Of play or business with them,
and IL thew are called upon TO decide
they will not hesitate for O moment to
stick TO their jobs.
son the other hand, do not agree
with the Pacific States idea Of what an
amateur should be allowed TO do. The
liberties allowed player under such
conditions would mean the ruin Of the
game, but there is a middle course 70
Be steered by both sides, and ! would
like to see It adopted. 3,
"If a player is legitimately engaged
in the manufacture, sale or handling or
sporting goods he should not be mo-
Tested. I mean by that supposing a
man had entered the business as a
salesman, say when a mere boy, and
lad been working for two or three
years before he began 10 play tennis
and later developed into q great play
er, a champion. Would IL be fair to de-
clare him a professional then. where
his tennis was only an incident OF his
connection with the firm he repre-
sented!
Automatically Made Pro
"0r take another case. Surprising a
players father had been engaged In
tho manufacture of sporting goods for
many years, even before the son was
born, and had built up a great bust
ness. Would il not be perfectly nat
ural and perfectly legitimate for that
son to enter his fathers businessf But
even II he never played set Of tennis
in his life, the amendments proposed