New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-05
Two Sections
Still Claiming
SoccerCrown
Holiday Series. Bethlehem at
St. Louis. Fails to Decide
National Supremacy
By c. A. Lovett

pospstc The fact that it produced q re-
markably high standard of play, the
threc-eame series of soccer football
concluded at St. Louis on New Years
Day. with Bethlehem Steel F. c., recog-
nized national champions, the visiting
team. was disappointingly inconclusive.
Viewed from almost any angle, the
series ended in draw. and so failed
70 prove either the Bethlehem title to
he championship Of the United States
or the s.. Louis claim to the crown,
through being better than the Official
ehampious or the champions of the
East a ST. Louis soccer writers desig-
rate Bethlehem.
series between Bethlehem and St
Louis, IN an effort to decide the issue,
5 being planned for March or April,
and 1t IS probable. according to Man
ager William Sheridan, of the Bethle-
hem team. that the games will be
staged in the East this time, the two
previous series having been contested
At Robinson Field the National League
baseball park, in St Louis
The question of national soccer
supremacy has been moot for years.
The Missouri; metropolis has laid claim
10 the title ever since the game has
Been sufficiently popular in this coun-
Try TO haze a championship. No St
Louis team ever entered the national
championships conducted by the United
States Football Association, the clubs
cut there always declining on the
ground that, because OF the geograph-
cal location of st. Louis, entrance in
he national competition would break
up the decidedly profitable all-winter
schedule Of the st. Louis Soccer League.
Three Time Cup Winners
In three years of five in which the
rational cup has been conte sted for,
Bethlehem has won the trophy and
osHcial recognition as the first team of
nc country While the majority of
nc teams numbering each year from
forty 20 ninety, n the national compe-
rition have been of the East, of recent
ears the Middle West has been fairly
we'll represented. Chicago. Harvey and
Joliet. ILL.,. have entered teams, and
half dozen or more have come in
each year from Detroit, Cleveland and
Akron, together. In : semi-final, two
ears ago. Joliet Steel remained to rep
resent the Middle West and Bethlehem
cave the Northern lllinoisans trounc-
ns at Schwab Field
All the while refusing to get into
he formal competition. St. Louis has
been the orc thorn in the side of Beth
iehem.
Two years ago a the turn of the
Eear. Bethlehem sought to pluck it out
The L : F. 4. champions journeyed
20 -. Louis ard after playing the Ben
Nillers. then leading the St. Louis
League. 20 4 tic. lost, goals to /, to
team representing the league as
whole
Bethlehem sought 20 avenge that de-
eat in the series just ended While
me steelmakers went 10 st. Louis
slightly weakened By injuries, they
probably never viii have better
chance 20 down the ST. Louis pro-
fessionals. for the Mound City teams
have been shattered By enlistments and
he draft and are now made up largely
q junior players. seventeen and eigh-
tean years old. just graduated from the
PARKS and playground pitches of the
Municipal League. 4 mighty few of
ne old stars were available.
Innisfails Lose First
Bethlehem. even stronger than two
ears before. got the jump on the home
crowd by defeating the Innisfails, 80,
n the first game. Just now the Innis-
fails lead the league in which. season
after season. until the United States
got into tn way. il Invariably brought
Up last. Once an all-Irish aggregation,
i now Is made UP Of two natives OF
spain, z cnuple OF Kerry Patch youths
and Americans Of German extraction
rom South St. Louis. Harry Jay Rati-
can. Bethlehem centre forward and
leading goal scorer of the United States
asst season, scored two of the three
goals. Ratican was drafted by Bethle-
ZEN from the s.. Louis professional
e.rcuit TWO seasons ago.
Against an all-St. Louis team or De
eemher -, Bethlehem was very fortu-
nate to sa- i IL tie. In the last mo-
ment Of play, Ratican, 81. Louisian,
stole a victory from his hometown
team by netting the Bethlehem goal
nat evened matters, and as it de-
'eloped, led TO an even break in the
series. In the final game, New Years
Day, st. Louis had the edge on the
Sehwab kickers and won, 4-3, two
eighteen-year-o St. Louis ex-ama-
ssurs, Mulvey and Kennedy, tallying
'hrse Of the winning teams markers.