Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-19

the coveted trophy. Johnston an
nounced his retirement this year. out
Tilden decided to carry on,
In all this period Big Bill won IA
singles matches In Davis Cup chal-
Ienee round play and lost only two
one in 1926 to Lacoste and the second
last year to the same star.
Tilden mas been at ODDS Win the
constituted tennis authorities on many
occasions. For time early last Wmter
1t appeared as though neither ne nor
Frank Hunter would be available LOT
Davis Cup play. Tilden ana runner
commended that with the french III
such strength, Americas only chance
of regaining the cup was 70 PICK Two
teams one TO play through the Amer
ican zone against Japan, Canada, Cuba.
China and Mexico. who did not inquire
to provide much opposition Tor the
United States, and the other to 60 70
Europe in time to become acclimated
abroad. To defeat the great french
team. Tilden and Hunter argued. the
United States would have to nave It's
representatives In first-rate condition.
Tennis officials could not see the
necessity for picking two teams. After
a dispute that lasted months, q COM
promise was effected whereby Hunter
went abroad for play IN the early Euro
pean tournaments, notably N the
French hard court championships, WINE
Tilden remained at home to pilot the
Americans through the pitfalls IN
American zone play This compro-
been selected president Of the United
States Lawn Tennis Association and
had appointed Wear chairman OF the
Davis Cup committee Wear, in par
ticular, was one of Tilden's intimate
friends and observers had believed that
no rows would mark the Davis Cup
situation as they had in previous years.
One of Tilden's earliest squahbles
with authorities of the organizations
governing tennis came In 1923, when
he accused members Of the Davis Cup
committee of overstepping Its rights In
offering him advice during the Davis
Gun doubles match against Australia.
Tilden was paired with r. Norris
Williams in that match and the Ameri-
cans pulled ahead to victory after one
of the most sensational struggles in
tennis history, the Australian pair OF
James q. Anderson and John B.
Hawkes. going down by scores Of ills.
Ills. rs, 6-3. 6-2.
The committees side of the argu-
ment was taken up by II. II. Hackett. q
member. and the controversy ragged
furiously. Eventually II was settled
amicably at q dinner given for the
purpose by Julian S. Myrick. then chair
man of the committee.
Writing Dispute In 1924.
Tilden's next joust with the authorities
came early in 1924. when announcement
was made of the new amateur rule
affecting players who wrote tennis
articles for money. Tilden was writing
for various newspapers at the time and
the dispute waxed warm and ctilmi-
mated in April with Tilden's announce
ment that he would withdraw both from
the American Olympic and the Davis
Cup teams. The Davis Cup committee
then informed Tilden that he was eiigi-
bic to play and the Davis Cup chal-
lenge round Of 1924 again found Tilden
and Johnston forming the nucleus of
the American defense.
From time to time there were Spo-
radio outbursts In the piayer-writer
dispute, but in 1926. after the new
provision had gone into effect. Tilden
obtained q release from a clause In his
newspaper syndicate contract by which
he was freed of the necessity OF writing
of tournaments in which he himself
participated. This satisfied officialdom
and all was serene again.
But not for long. Soon after Tilden
arranged to give interviews on tourna-
ments in which he was playing and
again the wrath of officials descended
upon him. This was smoothed over
shortly afterward when Big Bill"
agreed to give up this practice
In recent years the Philadelphia
stormy petrel'' has managed to get
along fairly well with authorities. True.
there have been controversies during
that time in which Big Blu was
central figure. but they were not as
sustained nor as bitterly fought as
those In which Ttlden leveled his lance
against what he thought was too strict
an Interpretation of the rules.