January 26 1927
The Herald Statesman, Yonkers, New York, Wednesday, January 26, 1927
Chess Scandal Now Threatens Life of International Games
Dr. Emanuel Lasker, of Germany, The Former World's Champion, Charges Illegal Use of Clocking System—Dr. Lederer Makes Reply
By the Associated Press
New York, Jan. 26.—With peace barely reestablished in major league circles and with “dirty football” charges still an issue, a new scandal today surrounds the international game of chess.
Complaints of brutality, crooked timing of moves, palming of gate receipts, regulation of ventilation to disturb an opponent—almost everything except game sloughing and ring impression on noses—are being heard in the new upheaval.
Dr. Emanuel Lasker of Germany, former world's chess champion, and N. L. Lederer, secretary of committee in charge of the International grand masters' chess tournament next month are the principals in the new scandal.
The disturbance broke today with publication, in the Times of charges by Dr. Lasker in a letter to the New Amsterdam Telegraph, that in the 1924 tournament here he had been clocked by a capricious timepiece that robbed him of 15 minutes and that his share of the “gate” had not been delivered to him. Because of these reasons, the German master has rejected all overtures to enter the coming contest. He also alleges that arrangement for the coming petitions were designed to prevent his participation.
Dr. Lasker was not formally invited to enter the coming tourney, Lederer states, because the committee felt that an invitation would only lead to renewal of charges made originally by the former title holder in a letter to the Manhattan Chess Club. In his letter Dr. Lasker also complained that he did not receive his share of the “surplus of the gate receipts.”
Lederer declares all of the former champion's charges are false. Lederer claims Dr. Lasker was invited to the tournament informally, but the invitation was not accepted, within the prescribed limit. Rather than a surplus in gate receipts, Lederer maintains that the committee had to meet a $400 deficit from its own pockets. Dr. Lasker forgot to stop his clock after one of his moves, the tournament secretary says, and the time running against it.
Counter charges that Dr. Lasker resorts to “anything to win” are made by Lederer. “Chess is not a game or a sport with him,” the secretary states. “It is a battle.” And as part of the “battle,” Lederer charges that Dr. Lasker smoked “long, black, five-cent cigars” and “indulges in virtual gas attacks on his opponents.” At other times he said, Dr. Lasker smoke good Havanas.
Dr. Lasker denies the smoke screen allegation and also the charges that he disturbed opponents by shouting for ventilation. He adds that the 1924 committee had been partial to Capablanca, the present champion and that “the leader of the tournament is only a tool in the hands of Mr. Capablanca.” He suggests that a proper match would be one between Capablanca and himself.
