The Washington times., 1928-07-19
TiIden Loses Place
On Davis Team

Just before the bOmbshell Of his
removal burst he had been efigaged
Fin controversy with the tennis
powers ever the question OF whether
he should play only IN the singles.
Or should attempt To take part in
three straight matches BY playing
in the doubles also. Today, how
ever the tennis association had the
last word and he will play in
neither
Francis 4. Hunter. his doubles
partner, was selected to replace
Tflden In the singles matches Of
the iTlter-zone finals. He will face
Stefari. OF italy, at b. m. to-
morrow. Johnny Hennessey, the
laughing lad from Indianapolis. will
do what TiIden fought 30 hard to
do. He will play both singles am
doubles. meeting Baron De Nor
purge In singles All 1910 b. m. TO.
morrow and teaming with George
NJ Lott, chicago. in the doubles
on Saturday against DE- MorpurKo
and GasIini. On Sunday the final
day. the singles players will inter.
change opponents.
The player-writer rule has been
the source of much trouble between
it was drafted some five years ago.
AT first It was designed 10 prevent
players from writing for news
papers about tournaments in which
they participated. Later. the rule
was re.framed in such way az to-
make 1t possible for competitors
to write stories concurrently with
the tournaments in which they ap-
peared. hut forbidding them from
dealing with the details Of matches
or from commenting on their own
play.
The British subsequently made
their rule considerably stronger
than this by forbidding players to
write any articles whatsoever for
pay or for 4 consideration.
The Tilden decision found an
other American decrier on this
wallace Merrillew. editor Of Amer
lean Lawn Tennis.
"Tilden's disqualification is an
outrage, Merrihew declared. 1t
makes Americans look foolish, VIC
will be the laughing stock Of the
world. Tilden liz playing the besT
tennis of his career. When we re-
turn to America. we will 80 to the
mat with the Davis Cup committee
and tnresh out the entire matter
to the last ditch"
Morale Affected"
Merrihew added that Tilden's dis
missal was based on a rule privid-
ing for the disqualification OF q
player who writes news articles for
.lay OH tournaments in which he is |
competing and that. therefore, the |
arfinN faEnVa moe absurd
''Tilden in no way may he held
liable for the alleged offense. Mer |
rihew added. 'tEIis articles at
Wimbledon were not news stories In /
any sense of the word In this re-
spect, he did no moro at Wimbledon |
this year than he did In 1927 or IL
connection with the last Davis CUP
matches in America.
The committees action has SER
iously affected the morale of our
team and, to my mind, its coli. |
sequences are a foregone con.
custom
NEW YORK, July ~. Edward B.
Moss, executive secretary of the
United States Lawn Tennis Associa- |
ton, today told International News
Service he was "all up In the air.
over the ruling OF President Samuel
II. Collom, OF the United states
Lawn Tennis Association. barring
big Bill Tilden from play in the
Davis Cup matches
II can't say anything until I've |
had time to think this thing over"
Moss said. I'm an up in the air.
/ don't know what It's All about.
I'll probably have statement
later"
LONDON, July 19.-Bill Tilden
may have violated American stand
ards in his written accounts Of the
Wimbledon }tournament. but the
disrupted articles are not deemed to
have affronted British regulations
which are more stringent than those
in America.
This fact was disclosed today
when 1t was learned that the British
Lawn Tennis Association had given
Tilden a clean bill of health when
on this question by
authorities.
Tilden has not contrayened Brit
ish regulations" was the cabled
reply sent two days ago to America
In answer to an official inquiry.
4 Il