New-York tribune., 1919-12-13
Foreign Stars
May Be Rated
In u. S. Tennis
Patterson and Brookes Said
to Have Been Ranked;
No. / Sure for Johnston
By Fred Hawthorne.

The annua, meeting of the executive
committee of the United States National
Lawn Tennis Association, held at the
Waldorf-Astoria yesterday afternoon
and last night, was in direct contrast
to the recent baseball meeting at the
Biltmore. At the Waldorf everything
went smoothly; there were no voices
raised in Angry and stridcnt chirps;
no papers" we're served on the officials
of the tennis body, and the steam roller
didn't roll.
Last nights meeting was held behind
closed doors as usual, and nothing
will be given out by the committee un-
til this afternoon. But this does not
mean that matters of great Importance
to the world of lawn tennis in this
country did not come up for discussion.
In many ways yesterdays gathering
was the most important held since the
start Of the World War, and many
points were taken up and disposed Of
that will have a distinct influence on
the game during the coming year.
OF primary interest to the public,
of course, will be the report of the
ranking committee, headed by Abra-
ham Bassford, jr., who has been as
sisted in the placing of the leading
players this year by Paul W. Gibbons,
Conrad B. Doyle, Walter 7. Hayes,
".
son.
Many rumors flew about the hotel
corridors last night as to how the
first ten" had been ranked, but there
was nothing definite. One mans guess
was as good as another, but the pre-
vailing sentiment seemed to be that it
was William NJ. Johnston. of Califor-
MIA, the national champion, at No. l.,
and his great rival, William T. Tilden,
I'd, of Philadelphia, runner-up, in sec
ond place. The guesses as to the other
eight places varied greatly, some of
those on the "insde" insisting that
Norman Brookes and Gerald Patterson,
the Australians, had been ranked. and
ir the leading ten.
George Townsend Adee, president of
the association, was not able to at
tend the meeting, being still GONZALES
cent from his serious illness of last
autumn. He is now in Arizona re
cuperating his health, and in his abb
sence Julian S. Myrick, the vice pres
ident, presided.
One of the vexing problems that
threatened to cause strife in the asso-
citation, the equalization of voting
power, with the West aligned against
the East, was again UP for discussion
last night, but the sharp points had
been removed from the horns of the
dilemma, and general agreement had
been reached, it was reported.
The Davis cup committee, of which
former President Robert D. Wrenn is
chairman, submitted its report, to-
gether with recommendation for next
years international matches. The ut
most care will be used in selecting the
men from this country who are to make
the trip across the water in quest of
the famous bowl now held by Austral-
asia. 1t is probable that several of
the younger players will find places on
the team, displacing some of the vet
erans of other years.
The report of the ball committee.
headed by G. A. Dionne, of the West
Side Tennis Club, who has made sci
entific study of his subject from every
possible angle, was handed in and ac-
cepted by the executive committee. Ed
ward G. Conlin, chairman of the Ma
tional Umpires' Association. which did
such notable work last summer in the
matches at the national singles cham
plonship tournament, submitted a
lengthy report, together with recon-
mendations for the guidance of the as
soclatlou next season.
Reports from half a dozen other
committees were submitted and great
volume of routine business was trans
acted, including the finding of the anna
teur rules committee. and this may
have drastic influence on the standing
of certain players who have been under
suspicion for a year or more.
Some of those who were present at
the meeting at both afternoon and
evening sessions were:
Julian S. Myrick, vice president; Ed
win Fuller Torrey, secretary; Alfred
H. Chapln, treasurer; Paul B. Williams
field secretary; Edwin Sheafe. Joseph
M. Jennings, Paul w. Gibbons, Clinton
L. Childs, S. W. Merrihew, Craig Bid
die, Watson M. Washburn and A. Y
I.eech In