New-York tribune., 1918-12-24
Eastern Clubs
Call Off Two
Soccer Tours
Invasions of Middle States
and West Deferred Until
Conditions Get Settled
By C. A. Lovett

Cancellation Of war contracts by the
government usually wouldn't be asso-
c1ated with soccer football But then,
again, sometimes it has much to do
with the kicking game. Withdrawal Of
government orders since the signing
or the armistice and the consequent
necessity Of laying off many thousands
OF wormen were directly responsible
Tor cancellation Of the two most prom
ising inter-sectional soccer projects on
the card for the current season.
Early last week the management of
the Bethlehem Steel Company Football
Club announced abandonment Of its
proposed invasion Of California at the
hollday season. To soccer followers the
development was keen disappoint-
ment, as the trip of the national cham
p1ons would bring together for the
arst time upon the soccer pitch the
East and the Far West. And Califor-
MIA, although somewhat isolated from
other strong soccer centres, boasts
very high standard Of play. Indeed,
several progressive California teams
heve drawn stars from the Middle
West and East, and include in their
nc ups SeVefaI well known stars from
the "old country"
Only this season Boyd and Harrison,
two of the best known rowing profes-
slonals on this side Of the Atlantic,
were reinstated as amateurs by the
United States Football Association
upon application of the California
Football Association and are playing
Tor coast team after having put in
successive seasons in New England,
Canada and Illinois. All soccer foot
ball in the land of the native son is of
the amateur variety, so-called, though
every one intimately acquainted with
the sport we'll knows that more often
than not the "amateur" is paid more
than the out-and-out professional.
The Plight Of Bethlehem
Bethlehem was keen for the expedi-
tion to the coast. Some wagers in live
figures between officials of the Bethle-
hem Steel Company and Of subsidiary
plants in California were in prospect.
The cost of sending a team to the
coast would have mounted to between
$4,000 and $1,000. The Bethlehem ath
letic management undoubtedly was
willing to risk loss of several thou
sand dollars of the expenses of the
trip-and bad break in the weather
would have resulted in just such a
loss to it--butN Nthe California sports
men, headed by Joseph lyman and Sam
Goodman, who at the suggestion of
Thomas w. Cahill, U. S. F. A. secre-
! tary, proposed the visit from the ma
| tional champions, lacked either suffi-
cient time or sufficient enterprise to
work up the proper sort of schedule for
Christmas and New Years Day games
with matches also at the week end in
~
antee to apply on expenses which they
offered Bethlehem was inadequate
And before the final terms came
from the coast a local situation hac
arisen at Bethlehem, Penn, which OF
itself all but precluded the possibility
of the excursions materializing. Tho
wet blanket of war contract cancella
ton had fallen. More than five thou
sand workmen had been released within
a week. And it is natural to suppose
the athletic management, under sucf
conditions, hcsitated to send large
squad of "employes" on so gay anc
expensive q jaunt at such time
Probably similar conditions obtained
at the California plants.
In any event, the plan is "off" fol
the time being. Nor will it be revived
until things are more settled in gen
eral, although it is practically certain
that the expedition will materialize 6
year hence at the holiday season, if not
before that time.
Merchant Follows Suit
In the wake of the Bethlehem an
nouncement came the SADIE story of the
Merchant Ship F. c., Team "a" of Har
riman, Penn, one of the ablest team:
of the East, even If it never had Tom
sall To-
week ago The Merchant people pro
posed an excursion into the Middle
West at the Yuletide, and had def
nitely booked games at Robinson Field
St. Louis, for Christmas Day and the
Saturday and Sunday following. II
was tentatively arranged to play OF
the first of the new year in Chicago
and at the week end following to give
Detroit and Cleveland or Akron g
taste of AL shipyard football
The Merchant Ship club management
called everything off on Friday, find
ing situation similar to Bethlehem's
in the way at Hartman: Criticism OF
the expenditure at this time of 80 large
a sum as would be required to send g
squad Of noble athletes On swing
through the Middle Western states was
feared and President w. T. Wilson, OF
the club, put the damper on, then drew
the fire The Merchant team means tc
revive it's proposal later on, an of
fetal of the club stated yesterday.
Soccer clubs throughout the coun
try are being strengthened by the ad
dition of players released from the
land, air, sea and undersea forces Of
the nation. 1t is expected that before
the end of the current season play vii
| / hof Of ho 10
bcllum days.