The New York herald., 1920-01-18
TENNIS CHANGES
ARE NOT POPULAR
West Side Against Tinkering with
Rules-Would Hold Champion
ship for Five Years.

1t its annual meeting, one of the largest
in recent years. the West Side Tennis Club
voted to apply to the United States Ma
tional Lawn Tennis Association on Feb
ruary 6 for award of the national cham
pionship in 1920 William A. Campbell
who-w chosen to represent the club, was
instructed to make this application. II
the championship for five years, the club
decided to refer the proposal to the Board
of Governors, with full power. AS mat
ter of policy the club indicated its ap-
proval of the award for five years.
Opposition to this course was scattering,
the members being mostly in favor of the
plan as suggested by the Executive Com
mittee of the National Association. Argu-
ment favoring the award for five year
period was based mainly on the ground
that 1t would enable plans to be made for
permanent improvements. the cost of
which could be distributed over the five
years during which the club might be cer-
tain of holding the event. Lacking such
assurance Of consecutive award of the
championship, neither the club nor the
association is able to plan for construc-
ton other than from year to year.
Aside from this determination of policy.
the most important and in some respects
unexpected action Of the delegates was to
instruct the clubs representative to vote
against the cnanges in the rules proposed
py the committee. of which S. Wallis Mer-
fihew is chairman. Mr.. Morrihew out
iined the suggestions that will be brought
eiore the National Association in Febru-
ary. but was unable to convince the men,
Ders or the need for change. The club
members generally liked the new foot
fault rule. but voted against adoption in |
It's proposed form, in the belief that tho |
rule might permit man to make a run
ming start while serving. Interpretation |
cf the new rue would allow such q Service |
and while 1t is a question among close
followers Of the game whether any ad
vantage could thus be derived, the opinion
At the West side meeting was against the I
suggested rule
So far as the new method of scoring is |
concerned, the club decided that there is |
no present need for discarding the system1
under which tennis has been developed
and is played throughout the world. Use
Of such terms as "duce." 'Lo ye" and ''15-
,0 has been dignfied by tradition and the |
were unable % see any urgent
need for change. Naturally the handi- |
tapping proposals. were disapproved when
the new plan o scoring was turned down. |
The argument also was advanced that
1t would be extremely unwise for the
United States to make such radical
changes in playing rules unless it acted
In concert with the other tennis playing
nations. and in view of all the foregoing !
the clubs representative was
instructed to vote against the changes at
the National Association meeting. He /,
also was instructed 10 vote against the
ndation that a linesman may
change his decision. This was brought
up by Edward c. Conlin. who said he
would oppose this change from the floor
at the associations meeting.
In the election of officers success
crowned the efforts of the younger men, |
bers of the club to obtain larger repre- |
of players on the Board or Gov
ernors. Those elected to serve untii-Jan- |
uary, 1922, were G. A. L. Dionne, Julian
5. Myrick. Cedric A. Major and Dean
The Nominating Committee for
the coming year will be Paul 5. Brins-
made. Charles NJ. Bull. Jr.; Edward c.
Dubee. Howard ]. Hildt and Harvey I.
Warren.
All the officers were elected as nom
mated, as follows:-President, Charles S.
Landers; Vice President, S. Fullerton
Weaver: Treasurer. Hugh G. Cutler; Sec !
-etary, William A. Campbell and Captain.
Ralph l.. Baggs. t5.rr .e.-
Mr. Guiler's report as treasurer showed
4 surplus of $4,000 for the year, l12 new
resident members having been elected dur
ng 1919 The constitution was amended
% increase the initiation fee to SO for
-esident men, and the limit of these MEM
,ers was reduced from $50 TO 600. There
ire now about $50 such members An
also was adopted. relating to
he procedure in suspending members for
of club charges!