New-York tribune., 1918-02-17

Waidner Suggests Several
Wise Reforms for Tennis
Tournament for Girls Favors
Old lime Suggestion of
Tribune Critic
By Fred Hawthorne

IT is we'll to glance back, briefly, at
some of the more important questions
brought up on Friday night at the
annual meeting of the United States
National Lawn Tennis Association in
his city. In the furry of excitement
over the election of officers and the
restoration Of the championship tour
,sments, there were several matters of
inheritance that escaped the attention
II the followers Of tho game and that,
ning to the lateness of the meeting,
rre not printed in the newspapers of
the morning after.
Chief among these, perhaps, was
lengthy communication from j.. II.
waidner, president of the Western
Tennis Association, III which he ex-
planned the position the West had
taken on the equalization of voting
power, problem that has disturbed
the national association more than
once.
Although Naidner's letter covers
:hree closely typewritten sheets, in q
foreword he assured Julian S. Myrick
that it would be a good thing to read
it over four or five times. "The more
you read it the better you'll like it,"
wrote Waidner.
Organization of eleven sectional as
sociations, covering territory as de-
fined in the present constitution, Ar
ticle 5, Section 2. with the elimination
Of all direct individual club member
ships in the national body-every club
TO join its own sectional association
is recommended by Waidner.
The president of the Western Asso-
cation would also have the governing
body of the national association vested
in eleven delegates, elected by their
sectional associations. the eleven dele
gates to elect president, vice -presi-
dent, secretary and treasurer, all of
whom must be members of the gov
erning body.
More Equablc Voting System
Zach sectional association, through
its sectional delegate, to be entitled to
one vote for each member, the voting
power of each section being thus regu-
lated by its club membership sug-
Dues TO the national association to
be minimum amount per club. which
VIII, together with investment income
now available, meet current expenses.
This would leave i'll the sectional asso-
cation the major part of the dues to
meet administration expenses"
There are many other suggestions,
and in summing them up Waidner
writes that in the East, where sectional
associations are unknown. such changes
would no doubt seem almost revolu-
uonary. The experience of the asso-
cations in the South, West, Northwest,
Pacific Northwest and in California,
MTever, has demonstrated the plan as
he only solution of future develop
nent, according to Wadner.
Give to each Of these sections the
added power Of home rule. equal vot-
Ing power and the many other benefits
accrulng. and mushroom growth
10 predict would result in from 1900
10 1000 clubs being directly affiliated ;
in our national association" declares
the Westerner.
Undoubtedly there has been a feel
ing of dissatisfaction with the present
system Of distributing the voting
power and Waidners plan seems to
'rossess many virtues. With the CO.
operation Of the East, it is more than
probable that sound system will
eventually De worked out.
In recommending that the national
association in the future promote ma
tonal championship tournament for
girls under nineteen years of age, Mr.. /
Aynck put the stamp of approval on
suggestion made by us in these col
umns some months ago. 1t is high /
'lme, we believe, that the girls of this I
country have a proper representation
on the courts and chance to develop
'aeir game. We may look for won
aeriul advance in the quality of their /
play within the next year or two, un-
aer such stimulus as is now offered |
them.
Joseph NJ. Jennings. of the Philadel
pna Cricket Club, made q bid for this
event, which will be conducted simul-
aneously with the women's annual ma
noEal championship tournament on
,. ne Philadelphia courts next June. In
ankng over the responsibility of han
anhg the new tournament Mr.. Jennings
aowed commendable spirit of gen
eT,osity, for the Philadelphia Cricket
v'Gb hnds the staging of the women's
aad the national mixed doubles tourna-
4ehls problem unto themselves.