Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-25
teur cOmpetitiOn.

n T Tilden. I'd, gaunt veteran
NJ Of the tennis courts. mas peeh
barred indefinitely from anna
tour competition. IF
The lanky Phiadelphlan, veteran 49,. W
nine Davis Cup campaigns. SM 1
holder of the rational singles title and
by many regarded as the greateSt vi" tI.,,
mis- player of all time. was found guIlty
early today Of violating the anaCe
player writer rule of the united ota .t.
Lawn Tennis Association. This VefoiCt'
reached BY the associations eHeCuLis0
committee after nearly six hours OF as
cussion, was accompanied By TlIoen .
indefinite suspension from further COIN
petition as an amateur. =,
The committee. announcing JUS neC
sion in a lengthy statement, held that
Tilden clearly had violated the player
writer rule by his newspaper artlcles
on the English championships this sum
mer al Wimbledon, where he was
conpe titor.
Little surprised by the adverse de-
ciSion Tilden who now is in Boston IN
connection with a vaudeville appear
ance. refused To- comment. Friends IN
timated, however. that he would seek
reinstatement at a meeting OF the eH-
eCutiye committee next month. The BY
laws Of the u. g. L. r. A. provide for
reinstatement OF any suspended player
upon submission of evidence "satlsfsc-
tory" to the associations executive COM
mite that re instatement Is nerhed.
The charges against Tilden, made by
the advisory and finance committee OF
the u. s. r. A first came TO public
print on July ~ on the eve Of the
Davis Cup inter-zone finals at Paris
between Italy and the United states.
The Philadelphia. captain of the
American forces. was dropped from
the squad, but was reinstated in time
to play in the challenge round against
France. The move that sent Tlden
into action against the French was
made only at the insistence of Myron
T Herrick. American Ambassador to
France ofials of the u S L. T. A. sub
nitted to this request. but served notice
that Tilden would be brought to trial
when he returned to this country.
Tiiden Didn't Appear.
Apparently convinced that he was
fighting losing battle, Big Bill"
failed to appear before the committee.
offering his defense. instead. in a let
ter he sent several days ago to Samuel
H. Colon, president of the association.
In this communication he vigorously
denied any intent TO violate the play
er-writer rule and contended that II
any violation had occurred 1t had been
due to Ignorance"
But the executive committee could
not see IL that way. Reviewing the
various controversies in which Tilden
had engaged with authorities over the
rule during the last three years and
citing the fact that he had been
warned before. the committee announc-
ed that 1t could not accept Mr.. Til
den'S plea that he did not intention
ally violate or attempt to evade the
spirit or letter of the rule"
l. The resolutions finding Tildeu guilty
as charged and imposing the indefinite
suspension, were passed unanimously by
the Is members of the committee.
The committee statement revealed
that the adverse decision against the
veteran star had been influenced not
only by his Wimbledon articles. but also
by another written by him in France on
July II for the ChriSty Walsh Syndicate
and published in the New York World
the following day. In this dispatch
Tilden announced the lineup for the
United States team against the Italians,
Announcement of the players who
would represent the United States in the
Italian match was not made in any
ether newspaper published in the United
States until the following day. July To-
when announcement was made in an
Associated Press dispatch from France
the committee declared
The executive committee was Of the
opinion that this announcement made
by the captain of the United States
team u an article written and sold by
MN IN advance of the general an
nouncements was not only in bad taste.
but violation Of the spirit and letter
of section Of the amateur rule. which
provides that no person shall be allowed
to enter match played under the aus
piceS OF the association If he has been
declared ineligible 10 compete because
OF having exploited for pecuuiary gain
MS position as a tennis player or be-
cause of having acted in a way detri-
mental 10 the welfare of the game
Not Forced to Pro Game.
The amateur rule of the association
was enacted for a specific purpose.
namely. 10 maintain the game upon a
high plane OF amateuriSm II viola
ton or evasion Of the rule is permitted
this end cannot be accomplished. The
violation charged is not an isolated one
in his case and the whole course 81
adoption OF drastic measures II the
man who held the highest place which
can he reached by a tennis PLAYER Is
permitted 10 indulge IN the practices in
which he has engaged. the strength Of
the amateur rule is undermined and an
unfortunate example SET for the youth
of the country"
The committee. at the same time.
made 1t plain that TidenS suspension
from amateur competition in no way
AFFECTS his personal standing as an
amateur Calling attention 70 the fact
that there was some confusion as 70 the
effect Of the committees action and q
rather widespread belief that the ver-
dict automatically would make Tilden a
professional, the statement pointed Qua
that The rule distinctly states that Il
only applies SO far rs making him m
eligible 10 play IN tournaments and
matches is concerned" and in no way
makes him professional"
The immediate effect OF The suSpen-
sion removes Tllden from PLAY both In
the national doubles championship az
Boston next week and the natiena, sim
giles on September 10 az Forest Hills
With Francis r. Hunter Of New Re-
chelle n Y, Tilden holds the national
"a