New-York tribune., 1920-01-27


dent made known their attitude toward
tho proposed changes in letters written
to Paul B. Williams, field secretary Of
the national association. When men
of the prominence of Mr.. Adee and Mr..
Wrenn (the latter was four times the
national singles champion) come out
against the plan to smash precedent,
tradition and due caution. it seems to
me an indication of the manner in
which tho proposed changes will be
received by the country at large, as
represented at the national association
meeting week from next Friday
I will first quote President Adee's
letter, which follows:
Il regret that, due to my absence
In the West, | was unable to be present
at the last meeting of the executive
committee Of the U. S. N. l.. T. A., and
| regret that l did not know before
hand that the proposed changes in
scoring and handicapping and in the
foot-fault rule were to be considered.
Il feel very strongly that these
changes in the rules should not be
adopted.
Difference In Scoring
THE game has always been played
under the present system of scoring.
which is known and understood the
world over. In the present system
there is a distinct difference between
the point score of each game and the
score of the game of each set, so there
s no possible chance Of misunder-
standing. In the proposed system the
scoring of points and of games is ex-
q V1-t$h
chance of mix-up.
"To my mind, It is mistake to
change the traditions Of any game un-
less there Is an absolutely vital neces-
sity for the change. The growth Of
ennis and the position the game has
aiken among the sports of the world
IS proof positive no such change is
necessary.
The proposed handicapping rule
would change the principle of handi-
cap matches from the winning of
cts to the winning of points 1t would |
be impossible to tell who is ahead until
probably would be needed to keep track
of the points made by each player in
each game, and the winner would not
be decided until the total number Of
points made by each contestant is fig
ured out and the handicaps added. If
the total points of each contestant are
the same after the handicaps are added
ii is a tie.
The proposed change in the foot fault |
fule would permit the server to hop or
lump into the air while serving or to |
serve on the run, provided both feet |
are behind the line when the racket
hits the ball. / believe this would de-
Yelop into an added advantage to the
server, who now has advantage enough.
! n fact. for some years past there has
been serious agitation to lessen the |
servers advantage
Rules Now Understood
II believe the principal reason for
the proposed change is to make easier !
the enforcement Of the rule, but this
should not be necessary, as the growth
and development of the Tennis Um-
pires' Association is spreading wide
and intimate knowledge Of the rules
throughout the country and is creating
a corps Of trained officials.
Finally, In my opinion, it is great
mistake for the u. S. N. L. I. A. to
change any Of the playing rules unless
a similar change Is made by tho other
tennis playing nations. At The present
limo the playing rules are practically
tho same the world over, and to- day
there 10 movement on foot among our
allies In the great war to keep the rules
uniform throughout the world, and to
create a means of amending tho rules
so that changes shall be binding on
them all.
"If we alone make tho change we
set an example, we establish q prece-