Evening star., 1942-10-04
By Frank B. Lord,

Almost every one in Washington
who plays bridge and especially
duplicate knows Russell J. Baldwin,
the capable and genial tournament
director OF the American Contract
Bridge League. His introduction to
the National Capital in that capacity
was 10 years ago when the first and
largest bridge tournament ever held
here was conducted, and he has been
coming back each year sipce for
other events and made himself very
popular with all the players.
Prior to that time, A. M. Gruen-
ther, then a lieutenant in the Army
and of local origin, was tops in all
matters pertaining to bridge man
agement. He continued as such
while stationed at West Point, but
now he is general and has had to
forego practically all of his gaming
activities except for participating in
quiet foursome now and then.
Several weeks ago at the time
when the summer championships
were in progress in New York City,
announcement was made that
Russ" Baldwin was about to join
the Army and receive a commission
in the Ordnance Department where
his talents would be especially val
liable as a mathematician, and that
he was supervising his last tourna-
ment for the duration. A. M. Sobel,
his assistant, was determined upon
as his successor. Something hap
pened, however, for Mr.. Baldwin is
still civilian. It Is said to have
been the fact that the Army has
decided not to commission any more
officers from civil life for the pres
ent. If such Is the case, in the
language Of bridge, the Army under
bid its hand and missed the boat by
not taking him into the service for
his abilities in dealing with figures
are Of very high order.
In anticipation of his temporary
departure from the bridge arena,
William E. McKenney, the secretary
Of the ACBL threw party for him
at which a large group of bridge
celebrities was present. There were
toasts and entertainment and Mr..
Baldwin was presented by the league
with a portable typewriter in recog-
milton of his services.
Commenting upon his work and
his abilities, Mrs. Florence Osborn,
the leading bridge columnist Of the
country, had this to say which every
bridge player will appreciate: Tour
nament directing means great deal
more than displaying a pleasant and
forceful manner and a complete un-
derstanding Of the laws, while
marching about the playing floor
and melting out justice.
The real work is done behind
closed doors where seven or eight
men gather around long table in
something close to absolute quiet.
Other than the workers no one may
enter the scoring room but reporters,
and to prevent information from
being circulated before the scores
are officially announced, the doors
are locked and no one may 60 in or
out. Every column of figures must
be checked and it takes a high de-
gree Of patience to run over a score
OF 100 players to find a missing n
match point when top on the board
is 26 points, yet the n point must
be found before the final tally is
initiated in red.
Mr. Baldwin Is handy with the
slide rule and he is one of those
mathematicians who can figure
rather large problems without paper
or pencil. He enjoys the exact de-
mands of mathematics and If he
ever made mistake in match point
ing, nobody ever found it. He should
be a good man for the Army"
The Federal Bridge League on
Tuesday night interrupted its team
of-four season play which was be-
gun week ago for the master point
game which is held on the last Tues