The Washington times., 1922-03-26

I course: some natures seem incapa-
BILE Of assimilating rapidly the re-
suits of changes.
Any deviation from the old order
ia repugnant; there is dread OF an
upheayal and that more labor Is 10
| be billed upon overworked commit
| tees and further limitations placed
upon the movements of the players.
Simplification instead of complica-
| ton, will result from the addition or
! the proposed regulations 10 the lawn
tennis code. AS far as the players
are concerned, it will rebound to the
benefit Of those who customarily ob-
serve the rules and traditions Or
tournament play. This has been
proved during a season In the New
York district under the direction or
the Metropolitan Lawn Tennis Asso-
citation, which is well satisfied with
the system and proposes to continue
it.
Many a player evinces an inherent
antipathy to doing the thing he
should do at the time he ought to do
It. He is habitually late with his en-
try and neglects to send his fee until
he gets around to 1t. If he happens
to feel like going somewhere else on
the opening day Of the tournament
to another event where there are bet
ter prizes and more congenial com
petitors-he doesn't take the trouble
to notify the committee and has no
conjunction over a trifle like de-
fault. II he does compete, he Is con-
sistently late in arriving at the cluh,
compelling his opponents to cool
their heels to his convenience. This
is no exaggerated case, as all tourna-
ment managers will give cumulative
evidence on this point, and even in
national championships of the past
there have been aggravating exam
Piles.
Will Correct Abuses.
Standard tournament regulations
will correct long-standing abuses in
open competition, and it is only for
sanctioned events that they are pro-
posed Invitation and club affairs
may pursue their happy routine, for
they are Of no immediate concern 20
the national body and thus are not
amendable to strict supervision.
According to the code drawn up by
the committee appointed for that
purpose all entries shall close thirty
six hours. at least, prior to the sched-
uled for the starting of play. There
shall be no additions or substitutions
after the draw is made. This,
obviously, is to allow the, committee
time to notify contestants Of the
hours at which their matches are to
be played.
That this would work hardship
/ on men coming from a distance was
the argument in opposition presented
by w. T. Tilden, I'd, at the annual
meeting, who cited the case Of Willis
, Davis and the Providence tourna-
! ment last season, in which the
! californian changed his plans at the
last moment and would not have
; been able to compete under the pro-
= posed regulations. as his entry would
, not have been received by wire until
, the last moment.
: All Players On Same Level.
, That is a specious argument. as
J was the objection that what would
work in a limited area like greater
New York would be found i'm
=, practicable in sections where players
find II necessary to travel long dis
tances to tournaments. Consider the
case Of the stars. Why should they
j.. receive privileges not extended to
lesser lights? Any man who can
find the time to spend a whole sum-
e mcr in tournament play should be
g capable of arranging his plans sufff-
, GENTLY in advance. Should unfore-
seen complications arise he is amply
I protected.
' AS to the players who are COM
v PEELED to travel considerable dis
tances in sections covering a wide
. territory ii is difficult to see why this
q rule would work hardship. If their
r desire to compete is sufficiently keen
q to make distance no object, what OBJ
lection can they have to getting their
l entry in on time?
a That provision requiring an entry
/. in writing to be accompanied by the
, fee will put a stop to promiscuous
entries and double entries-the habit
e Of players entering a tournament
without being certain of competing
=. or entering two and selecting the one
which promises the better prizes or
O more congenial entertainment and
7, competitors. 1t Is a question whether
1t would not be wise to eliminate for
e the present the requirement OF n
. written entry or acceptance TO an in
n vitation tournament or other event
n where no fee is charged.
g Tournament com mittees are charged
10 with the duty of sending out, after
Q. the draw, notices setting forth the
le time of each players first match anc
Is the name of his opponent, and play
y ers must report to the referee imme
lie diately upon arrival at the grounds
e. Entrants not reporting on time FOL
their matches shall DC defaulted, un
's less they shall have communicated
he with the referee a reasonable time II
Id advance, and shall have secured con
sent to postponement.