The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-27
MOGULS OPPOSE CHANGES
 IN REGULATIONS

opposition to changes Tn the play ing rules proposed for action at the Sannual meeting of the Undted States s5NationaI Lawn Tennis Association, is expressed by George T. Adee. the as- Esociation's president. While he doubts Ethe wisdom of some of the changes Ethemselves, his principal objection Is Ebased upon his belief that such Exchanges should be made only after Econsultatfon with other tennis play Aing countries of the world. The re- Asumption of international tennis in es1920 with the prospect of increased ssactfvity in coming seasons, eInpha- sssfZes the desirability of having uni Nform playing rules, and, in Mr. Adees Ajuigem ent, makes it extremely un- Esvtse for the United States to make gthe changes proposed, now.
 E. In this belief he is supported by ssRobert L. Wrenn, former president Of ssthe Association Mr. WTenn, besides sepointtng out defects in the proposals Malso recognizes the importance of uni Eform rules for international play lie Ethinks 1t would be grave error to Exchange the rules in the United States Ewithout consulting the tennis a.aso- Mciations of other countries.
 # So far aS the rules are concerned, 1.-the principal objections relate to the Snew foot fault rule. scoring system Band method of conducting handicap S~~A- aCdr. wrenn are set forth in letters 9to Paul B. Williams. field secretary Sof the national association. Mir iAdee's letter follows:
 ''I neEret that due to my absence ssin the West, was unable to be pres 1ent at the last meeting of the execu- Atfve committee of the U. s. N. L. T. A. land I regret that did not know be aforehand that the proposed changes Fin scoring and handicapping and in ,sthe foot fault rule, were to be con- @sidered-
 $ CT feel very strongly that these Exchanges in the rules should not De Iadopted.
 I ',rhe game has always been played @11nder the present system of scoring, which Is known and understood the world over. In the present system there is 8 distinct difference between fbe point score of each game and the score of the games of each set, so there1s no possible chance or a n7s- understanding. In the proposed Sys- tem the scoring of points and or games is exactly the same. with the scopseduent chance of g. n1x-up. TO my mind 1t is mistake to change the traditions of any game unless there is an absolutely vital necessity dor the change. The growth or tennls and the position the game has taken among the sports of the world, is proof nositiye no such change is necessary
 'Trhe proposed handicapping rule would change the principle or hahol- cap matches from the winning or sets to the winning of points. It wo,IJd be impossible to tell who Is ahead until the match IS over; a pencil and paper would probably oe neeyfed to keep track of the points made by each player in each game and xhe winner would not be decided un- tiI the total number of points made by each contestant Is figured out ana the handicaps added. If 'le tocai roints of each contestant are the same eAer the handicaps are added, it is a tie.
 1vIrhe uropoeed change in the foot fa,plt rule would permit the server to hon or jump into the air while serv- ling or to serve on the rum, proVloeu Eboth feet are behind the base line when the racket hits the ball. I be- nieve this would develop into an added advantage to the server, who now has adyantage enough. In fact, Tor some wears past there has been serious az itation to lessen the servers advan- tage. believe the principle reason flor the proposed change IS to niahe easier the enforcement Of the rule, put this should not now be necessary, as the growth and development of the Tennis Unptres' Association Is spread dna. & wide intimate knowledge or tue rules throughout the country, and IS creating a corps of trained of1claAs.
 .fFsfnsaliy, In my opinion, 1t 1s a e,aa+ mistake for the U. S. N. L. T IA to change any of the playing rules unless @ similar change is made 1,y the other tennis playing nations At the present time the playing ruIeS are practically the same the worlc over. and today there Is movement oIl n war to keep the rules uniform throughout the world, and to create a means for amendgng the rules, s' that changes shall be binding on then all If we alone make this change we set an example; we estaoaish rrecadent: we open the door W1de U fnnumerable changes on the part O other nations, many of which mlgn be very Instantaneous to us in in terrSational competition, which ha been, perhaps, the greatest factor il Dopu1arizing the game of lawn tennl and placing it upon an indestructibi foundation
 .sI cannot see what we are to gaf Inv making these changes and I d believe we make a mistake in revers ing our policy of years standing, D making rules different from the uni form playing rules of the rest of tn world"
 MT. Wrenn's letter follows:
 President George T. Adee ha voiced a strong protest against thre important proposed changes in tn playing Rules or Laws of law tennis and I wish to go on recor as heartily supporting him.
 These changes which effect Q) th foot fault rule, @ the method scoring, and (3) handicapping, are a drastic nature. There is grave doul in my mind as to the advantage be gained from any of the change One in particular, (which provides ths in handicap events each set Is to I decided by points, irrespective games) may be reduced to an abs, Iute absurdity.
 For example. a competitor A, in
 handicap event, allows his opponen
 sB' twelve points per set. In the d
 cidine set, "A starting badly loses u
 first four games without winning
 point This automatically ends u