New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-11
Outside Influences Evil
dence Keen Discomfort
Over Sway of East
By FRED HAWTHORNE

Going against the precedent set py
all other amateur bodies In the sport
ing world, which forbid their players
or athletes from engaging In the sport
ing goods business without restric-
tions, 273 delegates, assembled at the
annual meeting Of the United States
National Lawn Tennis Association at
the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Friday
night, killed the proposed amendments
of the executive committee and Richard
Norris Williams, Cd, national cham
pion, amendments which would have ef-
fectuslly prevented players from enter
ing the sporting goods business.
The sum and substance of the results
accomplished by the delegates on the
amateur question after four hours of
furious debate, claims and counter
claims was-nothing. The clause re-
lating TO players engaged in the sport
ing goods business remains exactly as
it was before the meeting, and the orig
inal Section 4 OF Article 2 OF the by
laws, 10 wit: An amateur is one VINO
ais not connected with the sale OF ten
mis- goods. nor with a firm manufactur-
ing or selling tennis goods, except
when sNn connection shall be of
general nature in firm manufacturing
or selling general athletic goods, and
the person so connected has TO do with
tennis goods to no greater extent than
with any other line Of goods" Is still
in force.
East Grieving Over Defeat
Although nothing constructive was
accomplished. as said before, the fall
ure of the executive committee and the
East in general TO secure the passage
of the proposed amendments to the
sporting goods clause is filled with
portent 10 the game of lawn tennis In
this country. More than one man at
the meeting on Friday night declared
that the action of the delegates meant
that abuses were inevitable in the fut-
ure and that the game was bound to
suffer as 81 consequence.
"Well, boys, go out and get the
money; the bars are down, and it's easy
picking" was the way one prominent
player of former years expressed him
self Immediately after the insurgents"
from the West and the Pacific Coast
had scored their victory.
1t became evident early In the even
ing. when the proposed amendments to
other sections applying to amateurs
were being offered to the delegates for
approval, that the Western influence
was very powerful Ono or two test
votes gave an mixing of the way the
tide was setting, and President Adee.
Robert d. Wrenn, Watson NJ. Wash
burn, Karl Behr and Julian S. Myrick,
leaders OF the Eastern forces, began TO
look worried.
, In opening the argument for the pro-
posed amendments Myrick dealt In
general way with the situation and the
danger the future held forth il the line
was not drawn somewhere against
those entering the sporting goods bust
ness.
"But let Us always remember" he
said, chat we are all here to help the
great game Of lawn tennis, and that we
differ only in the methods 10 be used
in accomplishing that result. We shall
remain good friends no matter what
the outcome, and the game will go on
Garland Speaks for West
Wrenn followed in defence OF the
executive committees proposed amend
ment, while Charles S. Garland, OF
Pittsburgh, spoke for the Western ele-
ment, A vote was taken, and It was at
once evident that there was no chance
of passing the measure. Then the dele
gates were given their choice Of voting
on Williams's proposed amendment.
which would absolve Mclaughlin, John.
ston, Strachsn, Bundy, Johnson, Rob
erts, Alexander and others who have al
ready entered the sporting goods bust
ness.
When the ballots were counted il was
found the strength was just about even
ly distributed. 1876 voting against the
amendment and 1874 in favor. As two.
thirds vote would be necessary 10 Sc
cure passage, this spelled the doom o.
Williams's measure.
The delegates listened in silence 10
Karl Behr's fervid appeal in behalf Of
Williams's amendment.
"You men here tonight are, in
reality, the trustees OF the $4,000 boys
who played the game last year." he
said, "and by your vote tonight, IL you
vote for this proposed amendment you
will guard their interests and the in
terests Of the game"
Williams then spoke in behalf of his
own measure, saying that nobody want
ed to bar men like Mclaughlin and
Johnston, Alexander and Bundy, who
had done so much for the game, but
that in the future a curb must be put
on the players who sought to capitalize
their fame on the courts. Then came
the vote and defeat.
That the West, the Pacific Northwest.
the Middle West, the South and the
Southwest will no longer be content to
leave the conduct Of affairs SO largely
in the hands OF the East was demon
strated toward the close Of the meet
ing, when i. II. Waidner, of Chicago,
made an impassioned address against
the manner in which all legislation was
put through by the East, representing
only one-hfth OF the entire country.
Waidner Arraigns East
Waidner was particularly bitter
against the action of the national asso-
citation in awarding the national doubles
championship tournament TO the Long
wood Cricket Club Of Boston instead OF
to 0nwentsia, and the national clay
court tourney to Cincinnati instead OF
Kansas City.
He declared he would find IL extreme
ly difficult to prevent the Pacific States
association from seeding from the ma
tional body because OF the "steam-roll-
er" methods adopted by the East. anu
then he demanded that committee be
appointed by the U. s. n. L. T. A. for
the purpose of securing a reapportion-
ment Of the voting strength through
out the country. This was done.
EVANDER CHILDS LOSES
TO TOWNSEND HARRIS