Ex-president: Julian S. Myers and Ward O. Burton, of the executive committee:
"We, the undersigned members of the executive committee of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, have been invited to participate in the tennis tournament and for that reason they should not be named in this club's. We believe that the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, through its influence, will provide tennis players of the country, who are of necessity young, strong, and active, can be of invaluable service to the government by urging these players to respond to the call of Congress, by furnishing men and women, and incentive to those not called to take outdoor exercise, thus keeping themselves in good physical condition, by impressing upon all the necessity of giving up luxuries and living only in the simplest manner; by raising money for the Red Cross as described below, and by spreading through the clubs of the association, located in all the cities of the United States, the idea of their responsibility to the government and their duty to rouse the patriotism. The loyalty and the spirit of sacrifice among their members, call in upon each to do something, no matter how small, for their country.
"To carry out these ideas we have drawn up the following plan and submit it to the Department of War for their approval or disapproval, in whole or in part."  Part:
"1. Do not cancel the schedule of tennis tournaments for 1917. Have the 1920 tournaments, awarded to the clubs of the association, located in the various cities of the country from Maine to California, and from the Mexican to the Canadian border lines, played as planned." 