The New York herald., 1920-12-05
To Bar Use of Players
Names on Tennis RacQuetS
British and American Associations Appear to Be in
Accord on Subject as Well as on Other Proposed
Amendments-Important Meetings at Hand.
By SAMUEL j. BROoKMAN.

There have been unmistakable indi-
cations OF late that the American and
British tennis associations are reaching
general agreement on all matters con-
cerning the government of the sport.
both nationally and internationally.
Recently English tennis officials ex-
pressed themselves highly in favor Of
adopting the American foot fault rule
as it now stands, while at conference
during the Davis Cup preliminaries last
summer the representatives of the two
countries were in one accord regarding
amendments to the rules governing the
international tournament.
The latest news Is that the British
propose TO abolish the practice OF
naming racquets for famous tennis
players and to warn the amateurs
against permitting the use of their
name or initials to advertise or pro-
mote the sale of lawn tennis goods.
This change in the amateur rule was
proposed for the first time by the execu-
tive committee Of the United States
Lawn Tennis Association last March,
and leading sporting goods manufac-
turers ae the time promised their CO.
operation in terminating the practice.
The executive committee felt certain
that the many players In this country
who had been honored by the racquet
manufacturers received no remunera-
tion whatsoever for the use Of their
names, but the officials felt that it
left the amateur standing of the players
open to question. On that account 1t
was thought advisable to eliminate all
reason for suspicion. The British have
gone so far as to suggest that no player
employed by sporting goods firms be
permitted to enter tournaments.
May Join Federation.
Other matters Of interest are coming
up for consideration at the annual meet
ing of the British Lawn Tennis Associa-
ton on December IS. among them the
question of meeting the request of the
Americans that the worlds tennis cham
pionship rotate from year to year from
one tennis country to another. or that
1t be held in conjunction annually with
the Davis cup challenge round. At the
last meeting of the International Tennis
Federation the delegates voted to give
the British permanent custody of the
worlds championship tournament. This
did not meet with the approval of the
Americans, who made 1t clear at the
time that the United States organization
could not be expected to join the fed
Grafton until a different arrangement
regarding the title tournament could be
agreed upon. There Is reason to believe
that the British will vote to grant the
request of the Americans on this all i'm
portant point.
All these questions, and more, will oc-
cupy the attention of the executive COM
mittee OF the United States Lawn Ten
mis- Association. which is to hold its
annual December meeting at the VAN
derbilt Hotel next Saturday. OF par
ticular interest In the light of recent
events will be the report of the Davis
cup committee on the subject of inter-
national rule changes. II is understood
that one of the amendments suggested
by both the English and the French Is
a provision for substitutions in Davis
cup matches in the event that sched-
uled player is incapacitated just prior
TO his match. Under the present rules
a nation must name its players the day
before the matches. Should either OF
them through illness or other cause be
forced out of the tournament the match
this rule both to the nation affected and
to the spectators, Is 1arent. and the
wonder Is that IL was not corrected long
ago.
special committee appointed at the
last meeting of the exective committee
to prepare a recommendation as to the
place for the national championship sim
giles Of 1921 also Is due to report. Last
February the Germantown Cricket Club
of Philadelphia announced that It would