Evening star., 1924-04-22

Adding that at no time has he done
nythIns TO violate either the spirit or
Ine letter of the amateur rule, TiIden
aooed that his resignation will in no
way affect his playing in the big
tournaments aside from the interna-
lonal competition this year.
Illdens standing as an amateur is
ATTACKED on the grounds that he has
capitalized his tennis reputation in
order to gain a substantial return"
4or ms newspaper articles
VIII Continue to Play.
intend to play in all the big tour
namentS this season." continued the
Manhelm luminary Il have resigned
squads. The personnel of the Davis
cup ana amateur committee are vir.
tually the same. The amateur com
mittee regards me as professional
therefore the Davis cup committee
must also regard me as a professional"
The announcement of the resignation
created sensation among the a4-
soclatlon officials in New York, but
they declined TO comment upon the
champion 5 unexpected decision.
1t was pointed out, however. by
Henoer OF the Davis cup committee.
which selected Tilden for this years
international contests, that the COM
mittee felt no embarrassment over the
situation caused by Tilden's status as
a player-writer.
Tilden, it was emphasized, is in good
amateur standing this year. so far as
the U. :. L.. 7. A. is concerned al
though recently he was informed that
under the player-writer rule, which
goes INTO effect next January, he would
be ineligible for amateur play in 1925
II he continued newspaper writing on
MS pI esent scale.
SeIf-Respect at Stake.
Tilden's letter Of resignation, ad-
dressed to Mr.. Myrick. follows:
From the report of the amateur
made public on SATURDAY. last. a COPY
of which was mailed to me, I learn
with astoniShment that the player
writer in general, and |, in particular
am regarded by the committee as not
only no longer an amateur. but as an
evil influence IN the game. As my
name is used in the report. there can
be no doubt that l am regarded by
the committee as such an evil in
duence.
''SinCe it is inconceivable that the
aSSo citation would desire the presence
on the Olympic or Davis cup squads
for 1924 Of such an evil influence l,
although | do not for a moment con-
Cede either the fairness or correct
ness of the committees interpreta-
tion of the amateur rule or of my
standing hereunder, tender to you
my resi- gnation as Il member of both
squads. / do this to relieve the asso-
citation of the EN- barra assment and to
save them from the criticism which
will be theirs if they take the initia-
tive in the matter. | do not regard
myself as violating either the spirit
or letter of the amateur rule. and |
certainly do not consider myself an
EVIL influence in the game but your
report clearly states that in the eyes
of the committee | am Since the
executive committee has already un-
officially expressed itself in favor OF
professionalzing me next year, should
the present conditions continue, they
i RI raC 4 m
fessional now.
Il resign with regret, but self-re-
S3ect compclS me II do so. i wish
you and the committee to know that
my services are at your disposal when
my amateur status is clearly recog-
nized.'
Blow TO Hopes of L. :.
The report to which Tilden refers
delved at length into his newspaper
writing activities. 1t endeavored to
show that the champion violated the
spirit as we'll as the letter of the
amateur interpret etation by receiving
Substantial emolument" for his
work. chiefly because of his prestige
as champion, and criticized his posi-
tion as showing an undesirable eX-
ample to the youth of the tennis
world
Tilden's withdrawal from Davis cup
Ccmpe tition, however, would mean a
serious blow to this country's forces,
which face an exceptionally strong
challenge this year from more than
score of nations. with Australia.
Spain and France looming as partic-
uIarIy powerful contenders.
Since he and William NJ 0ittle
Bid Johnston brought back the cup
from Australia. in 1920, Tilden has
lost but one Davis cup match: that
was the doubles against Australia, in
1922 with Vincent Richards. Last
year he won both his singles matches
and with r. Norris Williams, I'd, of
this city, won the doubles matches
in the challenge round with Aus