The Washington times., 1930-08-18

SQuabbleS which has VeXeo
the simon pures and the pro-
fessionals, is given a ridiculous
chapter in the latest dispute
over the propriety of Mrs. Helen
Wills Moody accepting a be-
quest of $4,000 in apprecia-
ton of her distinguished achiev-
nents on the tennis courts of
many nations.
Already the laughing stock of
the sporting world for their
hypocrisy, for their prudery,
for their overbearing mien to-
ward any outstanding amateurs
who might receive something
of a substantial nature in view
Of their achievements afield,
the various organizations which
essay the control Of amateur
sports will do well to not press
their claim that Mrs. Moody
will jeopardize her amateur
status by accepting Senator
Phelan'S bequest.
Folks are laughing up their
sleeve, as matters now stand,
at these holier-than.thou
units which have appointed
themselves to keep the sheep
separated from the goats, to
make sure no amateurs soil the
hens Of their garments by ca
yorting in competition with pro-
fessionals, and if any serious
effort is made by them now
to stay a gift to a young ma
tron who richly deserves that
which a fellow Californian pro-
vided for her, an indignant
nation of fair-minded sporting
enthusiasts will lose what little
regard they have left for q
domineering and autocratic
control body which is forever
viewing with alarm.
The sole question on which
the fears of the amateurs are
based seems to be that clause
In which the late Senator
Phelan phrased the reason for
remembering Queen Helen. The
will set aside a gift of $4,000
to Helen Wills Moody, ''in an.
probation Of her winning the
tennis championship for Cali.
fornia."
# the accepting of this appre.
citation constitutes a violation
OF the amateur ruling to the ef-
fect that no amateur shall re-
celve directly or indirectly any
pecuniary advantage in the pur-
suit of tennis, then the United
States Lawn Tennis Association
might as we'll start accusing
Senator Phelan of attempting
to. during his lifetime, compro-
mise the amateur status of a
young lady of whom he was Just
as proud as he might have been
had she been his own daughter.
In constituting the wording of
Senator Phelan'S will, the anna
teur rule committee should take
into consideration the intent
and spirit of Senator Phelan's
remarkable remembrance, of the
deeds of a native daughter.
-
There is, of course, a vast diff
ference between an amateur ac-
complShing certain feats in her
chosen field of sports with an
understanding that when a
certain admirer departed he.
would remember her in his will
and one who goes into her
game oblivious to the fact a
grateful and proud admirer
wished to express his apprecia-
ton in some substantial way at
time when there should be no
embarrassment in her receiving
such a remembrance.
It is to be hoped, therefore.
that the U. S. Lawn Tennis AS
Soclation, which has been faced
with previous perplexities in
amateuriSm and which has had
to pass on such difficult cases
as player-writing and player-act-
ing, will not take too strict and
too narrow a view of the good
fortune which has befallen Miss
Wills, and permit her to accept
posthumouS appreciation from
the estate of a gentleman who
was ever a Californian and ever
proud of Californians who went
forth into the world and con-
quered.
When Joe Smallwood climbs
through the ropes a t. Fort
Washington tonight Washing
ton fans will see q first class
welterweight.
Smallwood'S record is the best
Of any Of the local fighters.
Although only % years old,
Smallwood has had over rs
fights, winning most Of them
by the knockout route.
Smallwood is built on the
lines Of the famous Bob Fitzim-
mons, being six feet tall and
having a long reach with broad
shoulders and small legs and
waist.
Joe recently returned from
Boston where he was fighting