Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-28
committee prepa red
the nominations /:
Local Club. Are Inreres,ed.

Local Clubs Are Intcrest~d.
The local clubs are members Of the
Middle Atlantic Division OF the l.. 5. y.
l. r A.. and. Of course. are most in
i.rcsted in affairs directly affecting
this section. However. the proposed
changes in the amateur laws will be
tar-reachnr. and Will be felt here as
elsewhere. For this reason the efforts
10 enforce most strictly the rulings
ccnscrn'nG amateurs. the Standardized
lion ~ championships and similar
matters will be watched with the
greatest interest.
Practically all ~ the Players who
US" the local courts essentially arc
amateurs In the strict.st intcrpreta-
ton OF the term, and the rulings
gardinE that law Will be consequently
only ~ general interest. However, the
chain pionship law will be Of direct In
terest. with the e"cr-increasing en-
,husiasm that is being manifested in
The game and tho Improvement OF the
local courts. sectional tournament
is not among the impossibilitics for
Richmond.
At this time IL is not tho intention
OF the local clubs 10 seek a sectional
tournament for the purpose OF select
ing PLAYERS who may compete In The
in,er-sect!cnal Journeys or those o.
national Importance. However, efforts
again will be made to have the usual
tournament At the Country Club OF
Virginia this season.
These Journeys. which have done
much toward raising the standard OF
tennis in Richmond, is increasing in
terest I'm the game and In advertising
the excellencc OF the local courts al
ways are looked forward to as one OF
the athletic events OF the year. The
best players from this section come
here for the matches. and Richmond
ers arc afforded opportunity of
witnessing sterling play.
Columbia Country club. OF Wash
ingtnn. Is seeking the Middle Atlantic
singles championship event for this
season and IL prepared TO make fight
for the tourney, il is reported. How
ever. Column ia is not in tho best OF
standing with the national orSaniza
ton as result OF its failure To send
representatives TO the Chicago tourna-
ment after having secured the Mid
die Atlantic sectional doubles cham
pionship last season The association
has asked that no sectional doubles
championships he decided this year.
believing that all such events should
be played in single tournament 10
which all-comers are admitted The
governing board OF the association
will decide this issue at the meeting
next month.
President Adee states Issue.
us lawn tennis TO be placed once
and for all upon an absolute amateur
basis or left exposed TO the dangers
Of commercialism?" According 10 Pres
ident George T. Adce, in the letter al
dressed to all members Of the United
states National Lawn Tennis Associ-
alton, this is the issue which will be
brought suuarely before the delegates
a; the annual meeting Of the organi-
cation.
In explaining the need for decisive
action on the definition of an amateur.
a Df1 hnt
tive committee feels strongly that the
possibilities Of professionalizng ten
mis- is by no means remote. unless
definite stand is taken now. Four of
the principal governing bodies Of sport
in the United States have adopted the
theory that the basic principle Of all
amateur sport is that no man should
he allowed to commentaries his skill
or prominence in any game and stin
remain an amateur These four or
ganiZattons are the Amateur Athletic
Union. intercollegiate Amateur Attn
letic Association Of America. National
Collegiate Athletic Association. and the
United States Golf Association.
Can tennis afford to lag behind?"
asks President Adee. Continuing. the
tennis association executive asserts
that every sport where professional
tendencies have been unchecked shows
marks OF degeneration. He insists that
Influences hostile to tn" best interests
Of track and field athletics. baseball.
golf and football cannot be helpful
10 tennis.
Referring to the sporting goods is
sue i'm tennis, the president insists that
prominent tennis player is hired TO
represent firm. either behind the
counter or on the courts. not for his
selling ability. but on account OF his
tennis reputation. IN conclusion. the
Continued on Second Pago.)