The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-07-30
JUNIOR NET:
STARS MAY
DEFEND
TiIden PIayer-Writer Breach
Forecasts Shake-up in
Davis Cup Team
BY DAVIS j. WALSH
international News Service Sports
Editor

Editor
NEW YORK, July 30.-With an
unconfirmed report in circulation
today to the effect that William
T. Tilden, greatest of all tennis
players, would be barred from the
Davis Cup matches for tacit viola
ton of the player-writer rule,
came the further intimation of a
big shake-up in the defending
team for the 1925 matches. A
juvenile star or two such as
George M. Lott, jr., Chicago; Ray
Casey, San Francisco, or John
Hennessey, Indianapolis, might be
named in place of William M.
Johnston and r. Norris Williams,
it was declared on semi-official
authority.
Cold as a bankers handshake, the
Davis cup committee is said to
have observed signs of competitive
decay IN the performances of John
ston and Williams and will want to
see an immediate improvement,
under pain of breaking the Amer
lean old guard that has defended
the international cup during recent
years.
The showdown is scheduled for
next week when official tryouts for
the team are held for the first
time in history and 1t is the writer's
information that not only Lott.
Casey and Hennessey viii be in
vited to display what they may
have, but also A. H. Chaplin w. w.
Ingraham, Arnold Jones, Howard
Kinsey and perhaps few others
of the younger school.
The report on TiIden frankly
had the tennis world by the ears,
since the barring of the cham
piOn virtually would mean that 4
the cup has been conceded to
either France or Australia. The
action would leave only Vincent 1
Richards. Johnston and Williams.
of the old guard, and il Is COM
mon knowledge that neither of
the latter are at their best.
I'm neither deny nor affirm the
report, Edward B. Moss, execu-
tive secretary of the association
said this morning. "You may draw
your own conclusions"
1t is understood, however, that
tennis officials feel that Tilden has
violated the spirit OF the amateur
rule by giving. interviews to his
syndicate during the Clay court
championships at st. Louis, and
that something will have to be done
about it Immediately before. some
foreign body steps in on the eve
of the challenge round and asks
for an official opinion of the cham
pion's status as an amateur.
It is felt, further, that II the
executive committee makes no in
vestigation of the facts. it would
find itself in the position or a man
eating peas off a knife, to wit,
unable to make an adequate answer.
AS one official said this morning.
Something win Lave to be done
about the Tilden issue. sooner or
later
1t might as well :oe now. or Sat
urday night. IL that suits the COM
mittee's convenience.
Then. If TiIden has not violated
the rule. the association will be
prepared to answer any foreign
inquiry with due COmpOsure. III
he has violated tie code. he will
be placed beyond the immediate
interest of international tennis. for
I'm that case he viii be barred
without cOmpunoffOn.
The situation leaves only Rich.
ards certain of his place on the
team. although if Tilden goes out,
Johnston and Williams quite prob
ably will be returned to favor IL
only that the team might benefit
from their vast tournament expert
ence.
However, If both TiIden and Rich
ards are on the team. it would not
be surprising II flaming youth were
to be permitted tc nave its fling at
the two remaining places.