New-York tribune., 1920-06-27
Deplore Unsportsmanlike Action
Of Taking Net Title by Default

Of the committee held out steadfastly
Tor B, but, of course, the majority
ruled and it was TIE unofficial verdict
OF the committee (of which, by the
way, A was the chairman) that the
championship and the custody of the
silver cup should go to A by default.
Willing to Take Default
The club members then got together
and attempted to persuade A to recede
from the position taken, but this A
abs.o9lutely, refused to do, being per
Iectly willing to take the honors by
default. A few of the more level
headed among the members realized
that such condition of affairs would
cast the club into bad repute, and so
the matter was "held overb for several
days, with no official action on the de-
fault being taken or made public.
After the lapse of about a week,
however, the board of governors of the
club, in legally worded document
made public announcement to the effect
that, the final round match for the
championship not having been played
on the scheduled date, and the tourna-
ment committee having voted, unof.
/ ticially. to award the championship tc
A, although such default was not of.
ficially posted, it became necessary fol
the board to relieve the committee
from its duties and assume charge Of
the case itself.
During this week Of court inactivity
it seems, A had finally been persuaded
to reconsider taking the match by de-
fault, and therefore the board, in its
wisdom, announced, officially. that a.
having refused to take the match, the
championship and the trophy by de-
fault, rather than by atcual competi-
tion, the board ruled that A and 3
would meet for the title on such and
such date"
so the matter now rests, and unless
some unforeseen obstacle crops up In
the interim, the match will be played
and the championship settled on the
date specified. But is this quite fair to
B. who, by the wording of the board Of
governors ruling, is placed in an un-
enviable light, to say the least, while
A is upheld as the personification Of
magnanimity and true sportsmanship
l should hate to believe so.
Such tactics, I maintain, have nc
place In amateur sport, least Of all in
lawn tennis, and it is high time that
the game was purged of such condi-
tions. Be it understood, and plainly
nor do think that BIS position was
case, but the mere fact that A could
cast vote to take the title by default
under any conditions, strikes me as
utterly foreign to the spirit Of fair
play and true amateurism.
The Connecticut State championship
for women, in singles, doubles and
mixed doubles, will begin on the clay
courts of the Country Club Of New
Canaan. Tuesday morning, at II o'clock
Entries in the singles close to-day, with
Mrs. Rupert C. King, New Canaan
Conn, telephone 36. Doubles will start
on Wednesday at II a. m, and mixed
doubles on Wednesday at 4 p. m
Entrance fee, So in singles and s. pc,
team in doubles.
Players wishing to remain in New
Canaan during the tournament will be
invited to remain at the homes of club
members, and should notify Mrs. King
in advance. A challenge trophy kas
been offered for the women's singles
to be won three times before becom-
ing the players permanent property.