American Lawn Tennis is privileged to turn over its editorial columns to Miss Alice Marble. Miss Marble's column this month deals with an issue of such importance to the game that we felt that its rightful position was on a page specifically devoted to opinion. We hope on future occasions to carry editorials by other outstanding tennis personalities. At times we may disagree with their opinions, but in this case American Lawn Tennis wishes to go on record as wholeheartedly supporting the sentiments and opinions expressed by Miss Marble in the following editorial.

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When Oliver Rea, the new publisher of ALT, gave me the green light on this article, I couldn't have been happier. The subject has been on my mind for some months, and I consider the opportunity to speak my piece a privilege. Moreover, the willingness of the magazine to take a stand, to examine as honestly as possible all the salient points of an issue important to tennis, pleases me enormously. Whether its views coincide with my own is not the relevant factor; that it doesn't choose to emulate an ostrich seems awfully important.

On my current lecture tours the question I am most frequently expected to answer is no longer: "What do you think of Gussy's panties?" For every individual who still cares whether Gussy has lace on her drawers, there are three who want to know if Althea Gibson will be permitted to play in the Nationals this year. Not being privy to the sentiments of the USLTA committee, I couldn't answer their questions. but I came back to New York determined to find out. When I directed the question at a committee member of long standing, his answer, tacitly given, was in the negative. Unless something within the realm of the supernatural occurs, Miss Gibson will not be permitted to play in the Nationals.

He said nothing of the sort, of course. The attitude of the committee will be that Miss Gibson has not sufficiently proven herself. True enough, she was a finalist in the National Indoors, the gentleman admitted—but didn't I think the field was awfully poor? I did not. It is my opinion that Miss Gibson performed beautifully under the circumstances. Considering how little play she has had in top competition, her win over a seasoned veteran like Midge Buck seems to me a real triumph.

Nevertheless the committee, according to this member, insists that in order to qualify for the Nationals, Miss Gibson must also make a strong showing in the major Eastern tournaments to be played between now and the date set for the big do at Forest Hills. Most of these major tournaments—Orange, East Hampton, Essex, etc.—are invitational, of course. If she is not united to participate in them, as my committee member freely predicted, then she obviously will be unable to prove anything at all, and it will be the reluctant duty of the committee to reject her entry at Forest Hills. Miss Gibson is over a very cunningly-wrought barrel, and I can only hope to loosen a few of its staves with one lone opinion.

I think it's time we faced a few facts. If tennis is a game for ladies and gentlemen, it's also time we acted a little more like gentlepeople and less like sanctimonious hypocrites. If there is anything left in the name of sportsmanship, it's more than time to display what it means to us. If Althea Gibson represents a challenge to the present crop of women players, it's only fair that they should meet that challenge on the courts, where tennis is played. I know those girls, and I can't think of one who would refuse to meet Miss Gibson in competition. She might be soundly beaten for a while—but she has a much better chance on the courts than in the inner sanctum of the committee, where a different kind of game is played.

I can't honestly say that I believe Miss Gibson to be a potential champion; I don't know. In the Indoors she played under tremendous pressure, but there were moments when she exhibited a bold, exciting game that will doubtlessly improve against first-class competition. Whether she can achieve championship status here or abroad depends no more on her lovely strokes than on what Althea Gibson finds within herself when the chips are down. If she can do it, a proud new chapter will have been added to the history of tennis. If she cannot, we will have seen nothing more and nothing less than one more youngster who failed to live up to her initial promise. But if she is refused a chance to succeed or to fail, then there is an uneradicable mark against a game to which I have devoted most of my life, and I would be bitterly ashamed.

We can accept the evasions, ignore the fact that no one will be honest enough to shoulder the responsibility for Althea Gibson's probable exclusion from the Nationals. We can just "not think about it." Or we can face the issue squarely and honestly. It so happens that I tan very heavily in the summer—but I doubt that anyone ever questioned my right to play in the Nationals because of it. Margaret duPont  collects a few freckles—but who ever thought to omit her name for such a reason? The committee would have fell pretty foolish, saying, "Alice Marble can't play because of that tan." or "We can't accept Margaret duPont; she gets freckles across her nose." It's just as ridiculous to reject Althea Gibson on the same basis—and that's the truth of it. She is not being judged by the yardstick of ability but by the fact that her pigmentation is somewhat different.

If the field of sports has got to pave the way for all of civilization, let's do it. At this moment tennis is privileged to take its place among the pioneers for a true democracy, if it will accept that privilege. If it declines to do so, the honor will fall to the next generation, perhaps—but someone will break the ground. The entrance of Negroes into national tennis is as inevitable as it has proven to be in baseball, in football, or in boxing; there is no denying so much talent. The committee at Forest Hills has the power to stifle the efforts of one Althea Gibson, who may or may not be the stuff of which champions are made, but eventually she will be succeeded by others of her race who have equal or superior ability. They will knock at the door as she has done. Eventually the tennis world will rise up en masse to protest the injustices perpetrated by our policy-makers. Eventually—why not now?

I am beating no drums for Miss Gibson as a player of outstanding quality. As I said, I have seen her only in the National Indoors, where she obviously did not play her best and was still able to display some lovely shots. To me, she is a fellow tennis player and, as such, deserving of the same chance I had to prove myself. I've never met Miss Gibson but, to me, she is a fellow human being to whom equal privileges ought to be extended.

Speaking for myself, I will be glad to help Althea Gibson in any way I can. If I can improve her game or merely give her the benefit of my own experiences, as I have many other young players, I'll do that. If I can give her an iota more of confidence by rooting my heart out from the gallery, she can take my word for it: I'll be there.

 —Alice Marble.