Evening star., 1941-04-27
By Frank B. Lord.

vertised annual meeting of the
Washington Bridge League has
passed into history. Despite rec
ord attendance, which almost neces-
STATED the S. r. o. sign, the an
ticipated verbal bombs and rhe-
torical skyrockets turned out to be
multicolored pinwheels and HARM
less whizzers.
Thomas Hamlin and Paul Golden
were elected president and secre-
tary, respectively, succeeding them
selves; Perne Henninger, vice presi-
dent, and Thomas Only, treasurer:
The new members of the Executive
Committee are Mrs. Irene Surguy,
D. E. Elliott and S. Carton Church
i'll. The peoples choice in the mat
ter of its committee was most
fortunate one. Mrs. Surguy, one
of the prominent feminine masters
of the city, is active in league and
tournament activities and has wide
knowledge of what is needed to make
the wheels go round effectively. Mr..
Elliott was treasurer of the league
for four years and no one knows the
finances and physical needs of the
organization better than he. Mr..
Churchill is a national figure in
the bridge world. brilliant player
and technician. and knows bridge
and its ramifications from A to z.
A motion was made by Comdr. w.
A. Corley that the league take steps
to retain it's local identity. the ab-
solute control of its own government
and custody of the trophies This
was carried unanimously. The
masters game was set for the first
and third Wednesdays in July with
prizes applicable on entrance fees,
either in Asbury Park or Richmond,
the locales of the summer and win
ter nationals. A state OF emerg-
ency" was declared for the fiscal
year 1941-42, dues were increased
accordingly and a drive for new
members was inaugurated.
At the Federal Bridge League the
summer bridge season started aus
piciously. These games, as the
column already has stated. are open
to the general public and are for
open pairs. The directors of the
league, to give the game more in
terest and greater appeal for the
master point hounds. are conferring
with the American Contract Bridge
League-contract's supreme court
for the privilege of having master
point tournaments monthly.
Should the A. c. B. L. consent
and there seems no reason for 1t to
do otherwise-a great need will be
met. Pressure of business. home
ties and lack of annual leave have
kept many of the Districts fine
players from attending any other
than local tournaments. To win
master points, one must play In
the games that award them. Five
convertible points, duly registered.
can be changed into five master
points, but as 10 master points are
required to become a dyed-in-the
wool master the remaining five
must be garnered in actual COM
petition.
The Federal's new policy of CIV
ing the Stay-at-homeS an equal
chance with the birds of passage
should meet with both success and
popularity.
The National Press Clubs team
of-four play for the Ely Culbertson
Cup resulted in a tie between the
teams of Ned Brooks, J. B. Latta, j.
C. Aitcheson and c. E. Stewart and
Mr.. and Mrs. L. Jaffee and Mr..
and Mrs. Louis Rothschild. In the
playoff the former team was vic
torious. There remain only the
mems and women's pair games be-
fore the close of the organized con-
tract season. The ladies and gen.
tlemen of the fourth estate and
their invited guests have proven
their interest in bridge by their
constant attendance and enthusi-
asm.
Oscar Brotman and Mr.. and Mrs.
James Lemon were the Washington
entrants in the Masters individuals
held last week end at the Park
Central Hotel. Lee Hazen of New
York was the winner. with 638
points; B. j. Becker was second,
with 610, and Harry j. Fishbein was
third, with 603l2. The defending
titlist, Morrie Ellis, was fourth, with
6011a.
Mr.. Ellis has been adjudged by
Shepard Barclay, in one of the
leading weeklies, as the Number
One Boy" in bridge for the year.
Mr. Barclays article brought to
light the fact that Morrie had
learned his A, B, C's of bridge from
A. P. Stockvis-the "Stock" of local
fame. Only the old guard remember
that, in 1927, our Mr.. Stockvis won
the championship of the old Knick-
erbicker Whist Club. His services as
mentor and teacher were in great
demand, and in one home playing
group which he conducted, young
Morrie Ellis learned his honor count
and losing trick valuations.
The third annual North Carolina
State Tournament, given under the
auspices of the Raleigh Bridge AS
sociation, will be held May and 10
at the Sir Walter Hotel in Raleigh.
The events will include women's
pair, mixed pair, open pair and
special pair game, and will be CO.
directed by George w. Beynon and
A. M. Sobel. Mrs. Irene Surguy is
on the committee. Last year, play
ing with Gene Herman, she was
runner up in the mixed pairs.
w =