The New York herald., 1920-01-28
MAKES REPLY TO
TENNIS CRITICISM
S. Wallis Merrihew Says Proposed
Changes in No Wise Alter Ac-
tual Playing of the Game.

Declaring that in presenting revision
OF the rules to the annual meeting OF
the United States National Lawn Tennis
Association the Rules Committee is carry
ing out the specific instructions OF the
the meeting of 1919 and that these revi-
sions with few exceptions tend toward
agNement rather than disa greement with
the rules of other tennis playing nations,
the committee issued yesterday through
S. Wallis Merrihew, its chairman, reply
to some recent criticism. Its statement
calls attention to the fact CD that the
revisions proposed for the most part re-
late to changes In wording and in no de-
gree alter the fundamentals or the actual
playing of the game, and CO that the pro-
posed revision Of the foot fault rule not
only simplifies it's present statement, but
brings it more closely in harmony with
the rule now enforced by the tennis asso-
Citations OF other countries.
'In considering the report OF the Rules
Committee" said Mr.. Merrhew. 1.-THE
point to be held in mind Is that this conf
mittee is proposing revislons to the pres
ent rules is carrying out the definite in
structions of the national association as
expressed at it's last annual meeting. In
1919 the delegates adopted resolution in
structing this committee to revise the
laws of lawn tennis, the regulations for
management of tournaments and the cases
and decisions.
'To secure the best possible advice a
committee was named which included Ed
ward C. Conlin, chairman of the National
Tennis Umpres Association. Beals c.
Wright and Richard n. Williams, I'd. for
mer champions. who are thoroughly ia
mliar with conditions abroad; Samuel
Hardy. who has had thirty years ex-
perience in tennis here and abroad; Wat
son NJ Washburn, who represented the
National Association in its negotiations
with the foreign associations as to join
ing the International Federation; Abra-
ham Bassford, Jr. chairman of the
Ranking Committee. This committee Is
felt to represent in high degree the best
judgment of tennis players and officials.
VIII Come Up on February 8.
after three months OF deliberation 1t
presented report which was unani-
mously approved at the last meeting OF
the Executive Committee and will come
up for action at the associations annual
meeting on February 6. That report has
been generally approved except in three
particulars. Some objection has been
raised to % the foot fault rule. (2) the
new scoring system and ~ the handi-
Gaping system which goes with it.
1.-The only objection to the new foot fault
rule was that in its proposed form il
might permit a man TO serve on the run
Players of the experience of Beals Wright
and Dick Williams think this is a doubt
full advantage, even in the remote con-
t,,o hot mir a of II
To meet every possible objection. how
ever. revision Of its proposal has been
made by the copmttee. which will abb
solutely prevent such running start
The text OF the rule as now agreed upon
by the committee is
''The server shall immediately before com
Behind d tho " base W line and within thc limits OF tn th'
centre mark and the side line Both feet shall h'
kept behind fhe base lioe until the racket strike
"Such objection as had been raised Ia
the suggested changes has been based
largely on the argument that the United
States ought not TO alter the rules OF the
game except in conjuction with the other
tennis playing nations In this belief the
committee agrees with the president
George T. Adee, and former president.
Robert d. Wrenn. 1t would be fine
thing to have the rules uniform through
out the world. There can be no debate on
that point.
The facts are. however. that the rules
are not uniform. The United States, for
instance. has a different foot fault rule
from that prevailing in other countries.
and the size and weight of the balls varies
from the standards prevailing abroad.
Not only is this the fact, but It is also true
that the difficulties Of changing the rules
simultaneously are almost insurmountable
at present. due to the difficulties of nego-
tiations with countries so widely separated
as England and Australia.
Even that consideration, however.
would not deter the committee from max
ing an effort TO harmonize its report
with the rules prevailing elsewhere. Cop
les of its report have been sent to all the
tennis bodies abroad. with a request that
they forward any suggestions they may
have to offer. Furthermore, the tennis
public in the United States should remem-
Der that even now other nations are pre-
pairing a revision Of their rules and this
country has no means of knowing whether
or not those changes will be submitted &c
IL. The last annual meeting Of the English
association authorized the international
federation to make tho rules for the game.
and II ~ not only possible but reasona bly,
probable that the United States may find
itself playing International matches under
rules which it had no voice in making.
mittee that the United states may right e
fully exercise its prerogative in making
its own rules to suit itself That is not
to say, however that II will ignore sug-
geStions from abroad. In fact, those would
be most welcome
AS TO tho now methods OF scoring and
the committee recognized
first of all that these arc dcbatablc. so FAR
as its recommendations on these matters
arc concerned. II takes the position that II
was told 70 do certain things, and Il has
carried out its instruction to the best OF
it's ability In its judgment, the suggested
systems OF scoring and handicapping are
simple. sensible and fair. IL has under
taken TO set up method of scoring which
- logical and reasonable and i'm accord
with the usual procedure I'm other lines Of
sport. Because a change dscards tradi-
ton does not necessarily prove that the
tradition Is right II tradition w re 10 be
followed blndly We would still be batting
the ball over n mound OF earth in the
middle OF the court instead OF using a net
for that vas how they played tho game
in the old DAYS.
Scoring on the suggested consecutive
point basis involves no knowledge OF arch.
aic terms and becomes a simple matter
OF one -two-three, while the designation oi
L.. TO- s1,a a,,l