New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-08-25
TILDEN BARRED
AS AN AMATEUR
Veteran Found Guilty Of Viola.
ting Playm.Writer Rule

New York, Aug. "5 P-William
L. Tilden, End, gaunt veteran OF tn.
tennis courts. has been barred in
definitely from amateur competi-
ton.
Member of nine Davis Cup cam
palgns. six times holder OF the ma
llonal singles title and by many re-
garded as the greatest tennis play-
er of all time, Tilden was found
eullty OF violating the amateur play
er-wrlter rule of the United States
Lawn Tennis association. This, YER
dict. reached by the associations on
ecutive committee after nearly six
hours of discussion. was accomnou-
led by Tilden's suspension from fur
ther competition as an amateur.
The committee. Announcing its de-
cision III Il lengthy statement held
that Iilden clearly had violated the
player-writer rule by his newspaper
articles on the English champion
SHIPS tins summer at Wimbledon
where he was competitor.
Little surprised by he adverse de-
Clslon. Tllden, who now is in Boston
IN connection with vaudeville an
pearance. refused to comment
Friends. intimated. however, that he
would seek reinstatement at a IN, p
ing of the executive committee ueN,
month. The bylaws of the l.. S. l..
L. A. provide for reinstatement OF
any suspended player on submission
OF evidence satisfactory" to the as
sociation's executive committee that
is meritea.
The charges against Yilden. made
by the advisory and finance COM
mlttee of the L. S. l.. T. A., first
came into public print on july 49,
on the eve of the Davis Cup inter-
zone finals a. Paris between Italy
and the United States. The Phila
delphian, 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 Tilden
into action against the French was
made only at the insistcnce of Ny
ron T. Herrick, American ambassa-
dor to France. Officials of the l., s.
l.. T. A. submitted to this request
but served notice that Tllden would
be brought to trial when he re-
turned to this country.
Apparently convinced that he was
fighting a losing battle, big Bill"
failed to appear before the COM
mittee at its meeting last night, Of
fcrlng his defense. instead. in let
ter he sent several days ago to Sam
uel H. COLON, president of the as
ISOLATION. In this communication,
the stormy petrol of tennis vigor-
ously denied any intent to violate the
player writorrule and contended
that If any violation had occurred
it had been due to ignorance"
But the executive committee
could not see /, that way. Reviewing
the various controversies in which
'rilden had engaged with authorities
years and citing the fact that he had
been warned before, the committee
that it could not accept
Mr.. Tilden's plea that he did not
violate or attempt 10
avade the spirit or letter of the
rule"
The resolutions finding TiIden |
guilty as charged and imposing the |
lefinite suspension. We're passed |
unanimously by the Is members Of |
he committee.
The committee statement revoa led |
hat the adverse decision against the
veteran star had been influenced not
only by his Wimbledon articles but
llso by an article written by him
II France on July II for the !
thirsty Walsh syndicate and pub /
ished in the New York World the /
'ollowing day. In this dispatch Til
len announced the lineup for the |
United States team against the |
Italians.
mo announcement Of the play
RS who would represent the