Evening star., 1938-12-11
By Frank B. Lord.

The American Contract Bridge
League at its big winter tournament
last week in Cleveland paid signal
honor to Washington by electing
James H. Lemon, premier local
player, as its president. Mr.. Lemon
succeeds Nate B. Spingold. New
York City business executive, who
was chosen president at the annual
tournament held In Washington last
December.
The new head Of the league had
been vice president Of the organi-
zation since its formation by merger
Of the American Bridge League and
the United States Bridge Association
a year ago last September, and was
due to become president at the
meeting held in Washington year
ago. AS the result, however, of q
situation which arose In connection
with the combination of the two
rival organizations Mr.. Lemon
stepped saide to allow the distinc-
ton to go to Mr.. Spingold. The
latter was eletced in Cleveland to
q newly created Office, that of chair
man Of the Executive Committee.
The other officers chosen were
Col. Robert J. Gill Of Baltimore,
vice president; Gordon M. Gibbs,
New Jersey, treasurer, reelected;
William E. McKenney, secretary, re-
elected, and Russell j. Baldwin,
Cleveland, tournament director.
Mr.. Lemon Is q member Of the
firm Of Johnston, Lemon & Co., in
vestments, with Offices in the South
ern Building. Since contract bridge
was introduced in Washington more
than eight years ago he has been
recognized as one of the Capitals
most proficient players. He gen.
orally plays with Mrs. Lemon and
they have captured many prizes
both in Washington and at national
and regional tournaments. They
were the winners at of the last auc-
ton championship at Asbury Park
several yeasr ago, and as that game
Is not now played in the more rep
resentative tournaments they have
been able to hold the prize they
won as a permanent trophy.
The Clevelanders worked hero
ically to eclipse the annual tourna-
ment held in Washington a year ago,
when there were more than 2,7OO
registrations. and succeeded in doing
SO by small margin. thus making
the meet the largest in the history
Of contract bridge.
In the four major events of the
tournament there were some upsets
and some surprises. The team of
four championship went to a Phila-
delphia foursome comprising Mrs.
R. C. Young, Charles Goren, John
Crawford and Charles Solomon
This strong team, however, was gen.
orally picked to win the event. The
Women's team Of four match was
captured by a society group consist
ing of Mrs. Donald B. Tansill and
Mrs. Lillian Peck of New York, both
prominent in social as we'll as bridge
circles in the metropolis; Mrs. Olive
Peterson of Philadelphia, formerly
partner of the late Milton C. Work,
and Mrs. G. c. Morris, of Wayne, Pa.
The holders of the trophy, Mrs. A. P.
Stockvis, Mrs. r. C. Young, Mrs.
James H. Lemon and Mrs. M. r.
West of Washington, did not contest
for the honor of retaining the cup
which they won here last year, owing
to the illness Of Mrs. West, who was
unable to attend the tournament,
They were highly commended for
their action in declining to partici-
pate In the absence of their team
mate.
The team Of Mrs. Hugh Fullerton,
Mrs. Anne Rosenfeld, Mrs. H. E.
Funk and Mrs. Irving Schwartz,
tied for second place with the team
of Miss Florence Stratford, Mrs.
L. G. Quigley, Mrs. r. B. Fuller and
Mrs. A. M. Sobel.
The mixed pair championship went
to Mrs. Sam Rush and Fred D. Kap-
Ian of New York. Mrs. Rush won
the same championship last year
playing with Harry J. Fishbein of
New York as her partner. Their
score was 3178. Second were Mrs.
L. z. Etosch and r. L. Appleyard of
New York, 311.2. Mr.. and Mrs. w.
j. Myers, a Cleveland pair, playing
the Borland system, came from be-
hind to win third place IN a large
field, with score of 800.
The open pair event, the out
standing feature of the tournament,