Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-19
CAPTAIN TILDEN Is DROPPED
FROM u. S. DAVIS CUP TEAM
Continued from First Pagel

Tennis Association has decided to with
draw Tilden from Davis Cup competl-
ton"
The statement was signed by COLON.
TiIden Refutes Charges.
Pandemonium broke and 1t was sew
eral moments before Gillou, the preSid-
ing officer, could obtain silence. !,
Thereupon, Tilden, raising his racket
hand above his head, said:
II also have statement to MAKE.
But before he started reading from
his notes he cried paSsionately:
II refute all charges. We Will win
the Davis Cup yet. hereby apply ior
a Job of training American Davis Cup
members for the gruelling matcnes
ahead"
Then. evidently laboring under emo
ton, he read the following statement:
II deny the charge OF intent 10 Vio-
late either the letter or the spirit OF
the amateur rule of the United States
Lawn Tennis Association, and state un
reservedly that any articles which L
wrote during the Wimbledon tourna-
ment were, to the best of my knowledge,
straight comment articles, ana IN no
way an attempt to cotemporaneously
report tournament In which was
competitor. The articles, OF course, are
a matter of record.
II consider that this is a deliberate
n,isinterpretation of my articles ana an
attempt to embarrass President COLON
and Chairman Wear. Two Of the three
disputed articles were out prior 10 the
sailing of Wear and Colon from the
United States. One Of the articles was
fully discussed In committee meeting
attended by them both, but no unfaVor-
Ill A1ak v4f0R
present.
at seems very strange that the same
article was so much worse after Wear
and COLON were two days at sea. l
deeply regret the embarrassment oc-
casioned Mr.. Wear and MIR. COLON as
well as to the team, but I am glad to
say that all these gentlemen feel that
there is no intent on my part to evade
or violate the rule. Once more the
gentlemen In the United States are
interpreting my motives and once more
incorrectly. I reiterate. I have not, TO
the best of my knowledge, violated the
spirit or the letter of the amateur rule.
have offered my services to Mr.. Wear
for practice for the team until the
challenge round"
Cheered for Offer.
Cheers greeted Tilden's offer to place
himself at the disposition OF the other
members of the American team over
which he has ruled for the past SIX
months.
"vive lie grand Bill" Frenchmen
roared.
That's the right spirit" said Gillou
to Tilden, as he shook him warmly by
The hand.
AS the excitement reached its height,
Frank Hunter. George Lott. John Hen
Messy and Wilbur Coen gathered about
their deposed captain while Bill smiled
sadly
Meanwhile Wear drafted the follow
ing cable addressed to the United States
Lawn Tennis Association at New York:
81 hereby tender my resignation as
chairman Of the Davis Cup committee,
to take effect Immediately upon arrival
in the United States Of the American
team. ! also resign as member Of
the Davis Cup committee and OF the
advisory committee. The holding OF
meeting In my absence of the commit
tee OF which I am chairman 70 con-
slider the alleged offense of Tilden In
writing newspaper articles on July 2
and 6, when the matter could have
been considered prior to my sailing on
midnight on July 6. and my sincere
belief that in this instance Tilden Is
being uniustly treated. are the causes
for my resignation.
"The action OF the committee In de-
handing the withdrawal Of Tilden at
the last moment Is ineompre hensible 10
competing nations and makes US ridicu-
louslin their eyes. The lack OF consid-
Is beyond understanding. We win play
Lott and Hennessey in the doubles and
Hunter and Hennessey In the singles. :"
Gfllou told the Associated Press that
France had made no representations
concerning Tilden's newspaper activi-
ties at Wimbledon.
"The initiative for Tilden,s disbar-
ment did not come from France. he
said we were the most surprised peo-
pie In the world when this thing broke !"
French officials pointed out that heir
federation permitted players TO write
newspaper articles without restriction.
They even pointed out that Cochets
articles at Wimbledon appeared stimuli
taneously with Tilden's.
This washing Of dirty linen Is en-
tirely Americas affair" Gillou COM
mented. I'VE are unconcerned In It,
although we deeply regret that 1t should
occur at this stage of the competition.
We wish TO remain impartial. taking no
side whatsoever In the controversy"
Tilden Septhes Team.
Wear announced this afternoon. hoys-
ever that Lott would play and the
inter-zone competition would go on as
rearranged after the retirement OF
Tilden.
COLON said he would not resign now
as he had at first intended. but VIII
leave the matter In suspense until the
Tilden case Is threshed out upon his
return to America.
Tildcn was instrumental In soothing
the ruffied feeling of the American
PLAYERS, who threatened q general
strike. Tilden. In convincing Lott that
he should play. said;
personalities do not count In this
affair. Let's go to work to try to win
the Davis Cup back first" adding. we
will settle personal matters later on.
Lott created sensation when ne an
nounced he would not play In doubles.
The turmoil OF these successive
episodes quite placed In the background
the italian American matches tomorrow.
FINALLY. 1t was announced that q. De
stefani, second ranking Italian, would
meet Hunter in one singles encounter
tomorrow. with Baron H. L. De Nor
purge pitted against Hennessey IN the
other. In the doubles Of Saturday Lott
and Hennessey will meet De Morpurgo
and p, Gasiiini The closing singles
matches on Sunday viii find De Nor
purge matched with Hunter and De
Stefani with Hennessey.