New Britain herald., 1923-02-07
SEARCH INTO STATUS
 0F TENNIS CHAMP.
J. s. |. I. \. Officials Deny
 RumOr in Philly About Tllden

New York. Feb LA report emaa- atiRg from Philadelphia yesterday that the United states Lawn Tennis association was investigating the amateur status Of William I, Tilden,
 national and international tennis
 champion. was fatly denied yester'
 day by George T, Adee, chairman ei the amateur rule committee, Mr,
 Adee declared that TildeR had not been called before the committee as alleged before the national meeting last week, and that he had no knowl- edge of the source of the story,
 According to the published account in Philadelphia the reported inses- tigation grew oul of series of mos ton pictures Of an educational na- ture that Tilden is said to have posed for last summer and about which The tennis champion has refused 10 he interviewed. The rules committee is supposed to have been anxious to learn whether filden did pose for such pictures and if so whether ho received any compensation for his services,
 Those who profess to place some credence in the story point to tho fact that the amateur rules commit tee in its report at the annual meet ing on Saturday laid particular em- phasis on the subject Of tennis play CTS endangering their amateur status by posing for moving pictures. warn- ing them that such action If accom- panied by proof oi financial reward would bar them from tournaments under the auspices of the United States Lawn Tennis association. Why did the amateur rule committee, it is asked, see fit to make special mem tio, Of motion pictures when a rule existed covering all cases of capitalization Of tennis fame?
 Adec Denies Story
 The answer is simple: Word reach ed the members of the amateur rule | committee on several occasions last | year that Tilden and one or two other players had been approached on the | subject of posing for pictures, and the rules committee considered it wise in view of the fact that the subject had I, never been discussed before to lose no time in making known it's stand on he question to point out that remun- eration of any sort would bar a player lnder the existing amateur rule. This warming was first made public at the December meeting of the executive and it was only natural 70 include the topic again in it's an- lual report last Saturday.
 As MT. Adee says, Tilden was not called before the committee for any ,ross- examination, but there is little loubt that officials have been investi- rating reports of moving picture offers without interviewing Tilden or any 'ther players. and that they have de- ermined to check any danger to the ,mateur status of leading players be- ore it grows too threatening.
 The amateur rule committee firn- shed evidence at the annual meeting ast Saturday that in other respects he progress to ward the ideal of anna
 'lrism in tennis was gratifying. Dur ng the season of 1922 no players of rominence had entered the sporting oods business and six of more or ass prominence had withdrawn from hat business. Sporting goods firms ad co-operated heartily with the as- ociation in refusing to employ players f high ranking as salesmen, and had eased to use the names or initials of layers to promote the sale of tennis acquets and other tennis goods.