Evening star., 1902-03-28
IN CHESS CIRCLES

The preliminary arrangements in the pro-
posed telegraph match between the Wash
ington and Brooklyn players are progress
ing favoably and a contest is likely to en-
sue. A probable date is Saturday afternoon
and evening about May l. The teams will
be composed of about ten to a side.
The meeting of the Iowa Chess Associa-
ton at Cedar Rapids resulted in Charles S.
Jacobs of Des Moines taking the champion
ship of the state.
The need of an American National Chess
Association has been felt for many years
and some more or less vigorous attempts
have been made to accomplish that univer-
sally-desired end. They have been unavail-
ing. The situation is not merely in chess it Is
human and applies to one thing as well as
to another. Many hands may be willing
but each hidden under the bushel of mis-
placed modesty or self-abnegation. The
needed must not only be willing but
able. 1t must have the knack of getting
affairs running. After that it is compare
lively easy.
Some years back a most promising effort
was made. The want of the situation was
talked of and written up. Invitations to
form an organization were issued and as
commencement we'll responded to. Delegates
and proxies came together; officers elected
and committees appointed for specific pur-
poses, as intercity telegraph matches ma
tional correspondence match, and among
other things it was proposed to relieve the
Brooklyn club of the care OF the annual
cable match.
The machine was built and ready for
business but the vital motive power was
wanting and never came. Thus far, speak
ing impersonally and placing no blame, one
person who can be spoken of knowingly
from this standpoint ought in justice, to
be mentioned as doing his part. Captain
OFarrell, representative of the Washing
ton club, after attending the organization
meeting and being made chairman OF the
intercity telegraph match committee and
after a vain call for a meeting of that
committee in this city, made a journey to
New York at the time Of the then pending
cable match to catch some OF his people
together, but he could not move a wheel.
This much is said as preliminary and to
voice the deepening feeling that we need
a national body. 1t is to lead to a prac-
teal suggestion. meant.
We have national body-the Pillsbury
National Correspondence Association-for
partial purpose. Can it be induced to
broaden its scope and take in chess In its
other forms? The step is comparatively
short and the end to be gained large. The
organization Is alive and moving and If
the sentiment of the fraternity justifies, it
can with propriety. start the other balls
rolling just as 1t has, successfully, its
own particular choice.
Captain O'FarreH, in a recent issue was
inadvertently given credit for Mr.. A.
B. Douglas score in the handicap tourney
of twenty wins and fifteen losses. The
captain and Mr. Walker are so intent on
the match for the District championship
as to have but little desire to waste their
energies In any other way. The games in
that contest have been postponed on ac-
count of the captains indisposition
Below is given what, from the American
point of view, is the most satisfactorily
conducted game Of the cable match.