The Washington times., 1928-08-17
NE S()LON
COMES To
BIZ. SAID
BY Davis ]. Walsh

~
NEW YORK, Aug. lit
began to look today as though
Mr.. Will Tilden is not as
smart as some people think
he is.
He's smarter.
Will, they say, has found a way
up before the executive committee
of the II. s. L. T. A. one week to-
night and, to q man on limb, the
idea seems fool-proof It is UNDER
stood that he hasn't been paid to
date for the disputed articles at
Wimbledon
According to Wallace Merrihew,
editor OF American lawn tennis, one
OF those who drafted the player
writer rule and die-hard friend
or Wits, he is likely to be very
careful not to be paid for them
either now or forever henceforth.
The rule specifically states that a
violation, to be q violation, must De.
for pay or consideration.
1t wouldn't surprise me in the
least il Tilden refused to accept
money. or any other consideration
Merrihew declared.
n know personally that he re-
ceived neither money nor con.
sideratiOn, while he was abroad
and am Just as certain that
ne has accepted neither since his
return. feel can also say
for him that he has no intention
of sacrificing his status by re-
ceiving anything at any time
for the articles he wrote while
abroad.
This statement was confirmed
more or less, at the office Of Til
den.s Syndicate, those in charge
declaring that they had neither
heard from .Tilden except for the
receipt of the articles he wrote
nor communicated with him in any
way since he left America.
Tilden's defense next week thus
can take either of two courses or
both. He can first make the execu-
tive COMMITTEES prove that the text
Of his articles was an actual VIC
ation of the player-Writer rule, a
matter that seems to be open to-
reasonabIe doubt in some minds;
then, il convicted on that count, he
can calmly inform any who may be
Interested that the rule couldn't
have been violated. either in spirit
ar in fact. because the articles were
written free, gratis and for the
downright fun Of it.
Call this an evasion il you Ike:
It doesn't alter the fact that the1
rule is quite clear in the matter OF
stating that guilt only follows when
nav or consideration is involved. IN
this instance, free writing is much |
like free love. 1t just doesn't
count.
Some may profess to be
amused, too, at the idea that
TiIden will spurn the vulgar
dollars not only publicly but
privately as well. The fact Of
the matter is that there isn't
enough of them involved in the
transaction to achieve actual
vulgarity.
My understanding is that Will !
was TO receive 500 for his endeav.
ors and, while the amount in ques. |
ton may not be more than one hun
dred times all the money in the |
world to some of us, to a man with |
a private income of $4,000, a bust
ness income of $4,000 more and the |
privilege of living free for about
eight months of the year, 1t is or |
should be mere nothing.
Meanwhile, however, there are |
ominous mutterings off stage of
"other charges presented" against |
Tildon at the private meeting of the |
advisory committee last Tuesday. |
IT is also alleged that DR.. Sumner |
Hardy has ''unearthed some other |
violations OF amateurism out on the |
Pacific Coast and that their nature !
may prove startling to Tilden's
supporters"
Well. Of course, il they have gone
and dug UP the lads skeleton or |
something and they can make 1t |
live. he might as we'll take the 800 |
without further demur. He could |
Use 1t to buy choice seats at the |
tennis matches this fail