Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-06

Through its ruling that William T.
Tilden should be barred from amateur
events because he wrote articles for
publication about matches in which he
participated, the United States Lawn
Tennis Association has aroused further
a rather general feeling that all is not
right with the prevailing methods OF
drawing the line between the amateur
and the professional in sports. Big
Bills" offenSe was committed in Eng
land this Summer during matches which
preceded the great French tournament.
An announcement that he could not
appear with the American team In
France brought about a near-dlplo-
matte incident Then he was permitted
to play and the association dealt with
his case later.
In defense of the tennis authorities,
the New York Sun believes it lis diff
ficult to see how the executive commit
tee could do otherwise than discipline
ridden The player writer
rule" continues that paper, may be
absurd. but it is statute OF amateur
tennis to which Tilden gave assent In
his participation in the task of framing
it, doub. 'ess he could not refuse his
assent if he wished to play amateur
tennis. Tilden has the sympathy OF
many who reflect upon the pronts maze
out of amateur competition by tennis
clubs. Some of these have gone rather
largely into thI .musement business,
building large stadiumS and expensive
plants out of the profits.
THE Charlotte News also suggests
that Tilden, emerging again as the
storm center of amateur tennis Is not
gaining the sympathy that formerly has
gone out to him i'll his squabbleS With
the Lawn Tennis Association.
He was one of those who helped 10
draft the present player-Writer rule
AT that time he pledged himself to
abide bv its letter and spirit. That he
did not do so in England is admitted by
his friends, o he has only himself to
blame
1t seems to the Roanoke Times, now
ever. that the judges have been more
intent on getting Tilden than on
maintaining the purity of the game;
The Virginia paper recalls that III
den has been involved in one contro-
VerSy after another with the Unlteo
States Lawn Tennis Association in the
past five years" and adds: The charge
that he has been high-handed and dc
tatorial at times in his attitude toward
the governing body of the sport Is not
hard to sustain. In the present III
stance, however. he stands in somewhat
better light before the public than his
judges"
Ordinarily, when person violates
an amateur rule" says the Terre Haute
Star. he becomes a professional. Mr..
Tilden, however. is only barred from
participating in tournaments and
matches, and the ruling in no way
makes him a professional That is
almost too deep, even for a tennis
committee. The amateur star is still
privileged to visit the courts some
bright morning and trade strokes with
n player looking for the exercise. That
will be a great concession to man of
his world tennis rating. AT any rate,
it is an epochal decision on the COM
mittee'S part. Old Dogberry himself
couldn't have done better"
After all" thinks the Buffalo Eve
ming News. there is a good deal OF
humbug about the amateur question !
Some complain. perhaps with iuStilica
ton, that in the body which passed |
Judgment on Tilden are men who, |
themselves, have capitalized the game |
of tennis" As the governing bodies In |
other countries hold that Tildeu did |
not violate the amateur rule" the News |
expects that "a move Will be made for |
the adoption of a uniform rule on the !
issue involved" and II states further, |
In fairness to Tl6en, 1t should be |
said that he has done more than any |
other player in a generation to develop !
the game IN this county,