New-York tribune., 1922-04-06

William Dickson CUNNINGHAM. the
president of the regimental club, which
conducts the national indoor tourna-
ment, declares that Richards acted in
oad 1alth toward the local club, for,
atter saying he would enter in both
singles and doubles, and ALLOWING his
entry to be published and entered in
the, draw, the junior champion de-
taulted, on the plea of sickness, and
then played in the Philadelphia tourna-
ment.
While | hold no brief for Richards
under such circumstances, cannot
help feeling that Cunningham's position
would be stronger that he would come
INTO court with cleaner hands had he
not specifically violated one of the
printed rules of the national indoor
tournament.
On the folder sent out by the 7th
Regiment Tennis Club, prior to the
start Of play on March 25, under
Rutes and Regulations, No g." is
this statement. printed in heavy faced
type: "No entry shall be accented
except 1T be in writing and accom-
panied by check, money order or cash
for fee"
IN spite of that specific rule, spon-
sored by Cunningham as president of
the club, chairman of the tournament
committee and referee of the tourna-
ment, he admits, in his letter to the ex-
ecutlve committee Of the y. S. L. T. A,
that ION Tuesday afternoon, one dav
before the close of the entries for sin
giles. telephoned Richards, naturally
wishing to obtain his entry. He told
nae that he had just got back from
Bermuda and had not realized that the
national tournament was going to be
gin so soon.
Agreed to Enter Singles
Il then asked him pointblank if /
should enter him in the singles. He
told me to enter him. which | did, and
then gave his entry to the press"
This violated rule was, apparently,
framed precisely for the purpose of
preventing just such an occurrence as
is then alleged to have happened in the
case of Richards. Cunningham case
would be stronger were it not for his
OWE open violation of a published rule,
rule which is not provided for by the
national association but which the 7th
Regiment Tennis Club itself put in
force to govern its tournament
Aside from this, the local club ap
pears to have legitimate cause of
grievance, both against the national
association and against Richards. Gun
ninghara's letter starts off by saying:
II wish to call your immediate atten-
ton to very surprising and, to me.
inexplicabie occurrence Of the past
week. / refer to the fact that an in
door tennis tournament was held in
Friday, 81, and Saturday, April /, while
the national indoor tennis champion
ships were being held.
Was the Philadelphia tournament
sanctioned by the executive committee =?
If so, how can such course possibly
be justified? The national indoor
championships were scheduled for the
week of March 81 to April i, inclusive,
at least two months ago, and have been
IIftsq length Of time H" uJ5a F. personally, heard
nothing of the Philadelphia tourna-
ment until Monday, March 27. The
Philadelphia tournament, of course,
cut into our entry list and somewhat
into our attendance, but we are OBJ
jecting to the principle rather than to
the harm that resulted to our club"
The letter then goes on to state that
the course pursued by Richards, how
uously, and that the club feels thor
ough investigation should be made at
once.
Cunningham's letter adds that on
the afternoon the draw was made
Richards called up the armory and
reported that his physician had ad-
vised him not to play in the singles,
but that he would play in the doubles.
On Saturday afternoon Cunningham
declares he again called Richards and
the latter asked to- be teamed with
Frank Anderson in the doubles.
On Monday afternoon, March 27. the
day the doubles draw was made, Cum
ningham states he again called Rich
ards, having heard reports the junior
champion was to play at Philadeiph ia,
and that the latter then said ne had
decided not to play in the 7th Regi-
ment Armory. not having fully re-
covered.