Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-11
.HE affairs of the District Chess
League have been under dis
cussion by local chess players

League have been under dis
cussion by local chess players
lately and brief statement
about the league may not be amiss.
Efforts were made by G. E. Bishop
in 1880 to unity the various chess or
CARNATIONS into one major body, and
meetings were held at the City Club
and the Capital City Chess Club with
that object in view.
These meetings were attended by the
active chess players in the city. The
committee in charge OF the 1880 Dis
trict title tournament signed the name
washington Chess Federation, by
Chess Committee" over their signatures.
The Star of January 8. 1881, con-
tainS the aNount of another meeting,
presided over by c. w. Stark and w.
H. Mutchler acting as secretary. 1t was
decided to continue the 1880 activities.
A committee was appointed, with r. A.
Cushman as chairman, with authority
to draw up rules and to select the
officers.
The Star of January Is, 1881, stated
that the committee had adopted rules
for the 1881 tourney and that the
committee appears to have adopted the
name District of Columbia Chess League
for the organization" The Star OF
March %, 1881. contained the names
of the officers selected by the commit
tee for the organization, as follows: E.
R. Kalmbach, president; r. A.. Cush-
man. vice president; j. Tucker, IT., sec
rotary treasurer; G. E. Bishop, chess
director.
THE District title tournament for
1881 was completed in April OF
that year, and according to the
rules of the tourney Walker. the win
ner. was chess champion Of the District
of Columbia until the championship
title shall be lost through match or
tourney play or under whatever con-
ditions may be established by the Dis
trict of Columbia Chess League"
The Star of May 8, 1881, announced
that Knockout tournament for the
match championship of the District
had been arranged between C. c. Bet
finger. G. E. Bishop, j. W. Byler and
E. M. Knapp, the winner to play F. B.
Walker for the match championship.
It was stated that this tourney would
not affect Walkers title as tournament
champion.
The Post of May 3, 1881, made an
announcement of this Knockout tour
nament 1t was preceded by state
ment that Drastic changes have been
put into effect with regard to the
method of acquiring the championship
title for the District, the changes re.
sulting from discussion OF officials OF
the District of Columbia Chess League
in a recent meeting. 1t has been de-
cided that commencing next year, the
annual tournament of the league shall
the winner be awarded the title OF
league champion and become the holder
of the I. S. Turner Trophy. The
District championship title Is. in the
future, to be acquired only by match
play This play shall take place under
the supervision of the District OF Co.
lumbia Chess League.
TN The Star of May 10, 1881, Walker
questioned the authority Of the
= league to make such changes. say
ing the Turnover Trophy was gwen whlle
an open one-round title tournament was
in progress, and that he had won two
legs on it. Furthermore the donor and
present holder should have been con-
suited.
The Post of May "a. 1881, contains
a copy of a letter from A. Y. Hesse,
newly elected president of the league,
in which he referred to the Posts COL
umn of May 3. quoted in part above,
and fully reviews the situation.
He says: THE league has taken no
official action as enormously stated IN
your article" Again he says: The
match tournament now in progress to
obtain a challenger for Mr.. Walkers
title is therefore not league matter,
but an arrangement among individuals
of a group to attain the end they seek;
namely, by elimination, challenger"
A. Y. Hesse was president Of the
league when he wrote this letter. but
he was not president when the knock
out tournament was arranged Tor,
which was prior to May 3, 1881, whlie
according to The Star Of May "a, 1881,