Evening star., 1938-11-20
In Local Bridge Circles
Representative Kunkel Is Bridge Expert

1t was only a little more than year
ago that the American Contract
Bridge League was launched with
the purpose of including all Of the
bridge units of the country, espe-
cially those east of the Mississippi.
For several years there had been
spirited rivalry between the Ameri-
can Bridge League and the United
States Bridge Association, and it was
thought by many bridge fans that
the amalgamation of these two
bodies into one, to be christened the
American Contract Bridge League,
would bring the principal bridge
clubs together under one controlling
head.
Now, however, as result OF some
dissension there Is notice OF a new
national organization. The officers
of the North American Bridge Asso-
citation are George S. Johnston Of
Buffalo, president; L. c. Urquhart,
Ithaca, vice president; r. E. Need
ham, Greenville, Pa, secretary and
treasurer, while those listed as di-
rectors are Ray Eisenlord, Erie; r. j..
Henderson, Pittsburgh; James H.
Higgins, Akron; w. L. Jenkins,
Cleveland; Henry P. Jaeger, Cleve-
land; B. N. Katzen, Pittsburgh;
Ralph R. Richards. Detroit; L. A.
Snyder, Canton; DR.. D. D. Tomb.
Youngstown; W. H. Weber, Clarks-
burg, w. Va, and C. NJ. Whitehead,
Pittsburgh.
Mr.. Needham, who is prime mover
in the enterprise, is well known as a
tournament director and has OFF,
ciated in that capacity in Washing
ton. The statement is made that
the founders of the association be-
lieve that it is for the best interests
of duplicate bridge players not to
have the business of conducting
tournaments monopolized by one
concern, but rather open to fair
competition. in accordance with rec
ognized democratic principles. 1t
is further stated that any such
awards as master points should
be given solely as reward for good
play and never commercialized. and
that it is not desirable to force the
casual player who wishes to take
part in an occasional tournament to
join an organization, unless he
wishes to do so.
A schedule of awards to be known
as tournament credits is planned
for tournaments. For the present
the association has selected the
bridge territory adjacent to Pitts
burgh and vicinity as its field OF OPP
erations. Most of the bridge units
in the East affiliate with the Ameri-
can Contract Bridge League. Those
on the Pacific Coast are part OF the
Pacific Coast League, which is very
strong in its territory. while those
in the Northwest follow the course
generally set for them by F. H.
Bruelhide of Minneapolis.
Local bridge players have been
invited to join the new organization.
Mrs. c. B. Pennebaker has been
selected to head the delegation OF
Washington players who will go to
Cleveland to participate in the fall
session of the 18th annual ma
tional bridge championships Of the
American Contract Bridge Associa-
ton. to be held the week of No
vember %. There will be five ma jor
events for which trophies will be
awarded, as we'll as individual prizes
and master-polnt awards In addi-
ton, there will be four special prac-
tice games on Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday, and also daily
amateur games.
OF the five major events the
womens team of four championship
will be in two sessions. the match
point team of four game in two
sessions, the mixed pair champion
ship in three sessions, the open pair
championship, which is the big
event. in four sessions including
semi-flnal and a final session, and
the amateur pair game in two ses-
sions, or fourteen in all. The elev-
enth annual tournament of the
league was held in Washington one
year ago.
Harry S. Woodward will play with
Mrs. Pennebaker in all the events
In which she participates.
The Treasury Recreation Associa-
ton, large group of employees of
the Treasury Department, has Or
ganized the Treasury Bridge Club.
Meetings are being held at the Graf
ton Hotel each Tuesday night. Be-
cause of lack of equipment, which