Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
THEY SEE THE
NATIONALS PLAY
Distinguished Patrons of the
Game From Supreme Court,
Congress and Diplo-
matte Corps.

One of the most convincing evidences of
the popularity of base ball as the national
pastime is the interest which learned JUS
tees of the United States Supreme Court
law makers Of both Houses of Congress-
members of the cabinet and the diplomatic
corps in the games played here while Con-
gress and the courts are in session. With
a view to getting a line their favorites
the big men of this and other nations who
are fans of the highest degree in base ball
skip court decisions, railroad and other leg
islation, national and international topics
and pore eagerly and intentIy over their
newspapers at breakfast in the morning
with a view to keeping up with the records
of the players. AS soon as business can be
transacted at the Capitol and In the de-
partments it Is customary for these distin-
| guished base ball enthusiasts to HE them
selves to National Park for an afternoon of
| enjoyment and rest from their every day
| burdens.
Players of the different teams throughout
| the country like to come TO Washington for
| the privilege of playing base ball before the
! most distinguished crowd of spectators to
| be found in any country on the globe
| Members of the local team very quickly
recognize the faces of the spectators and
| take pardonable pride in pointing out to
| the visitors the big guns of the nation. 1t
| is an impartial crown, too, which sits in
| Judgment on the work of the athletes on
| the diamond and good play Is appreciated
and applauded matter which side makes
| the exhibition There are nine judges on
| the Supreme Court bench and majority
| at the ball park is not an unusual spectacle.
| A quartet is a certainty, comprising Asso-
ciate Justices Harlan, Day, Mckenna and
| White. These four can often be seen en-
| gagged In discussing knotty point regard
| Ing a foul or strike, or close base play,
| showing as much seriousness as though
| some intricate problem regarding the nag,
!, ortff
| cussion Justice Day Is probably the best
| posted on the national game of any of his
| associates on the Supreme bench, for he has
| PLAYED it. and never misses an exhibition
| when ne is in the city, and ball game Is
advertised.
Ardent Congressional Fans.
There are nearly five hundred congressman
| in the two branches of the national legtsla-
ture and 1t is pretty safe to predict that
| fully one-half of this number are interested
| SPECTATORS at the local park during the
| championship season. They are not at all
| dismayed at the prospect Of a long session
of Congress when they can be assured or
| an afternoon of recreation after long
| drawn war of words at the Capitol earlier
| In the day. Two of the most ardent root
| ers at the local park are Chairmen TaWney
| of Minnesota and Payne of New York, or
apDropriations ard ways and means COM
| rnittees respectively. Mr.. Payne Is usually
| accompanied by Mr.. John Dalzell OF Pitts
| burg and Gen. Grosvenor OF ONO, the three
| being as inseparaole as the famous graces. ;"
| Chairman Foss of the naval affairs conn
| n1ittee, when he can get away from the
| study of armor and battlesmps, finds the
| ball park a haven of refuge. This is also
| true of Chairman Burton or the rivers and
| harbors committee, who doubles for the
| ball games with Chairman Cooper of the
| insular affairs committee. President Roose-
| yeIt's son-in-law Nick Longworth, learned
| to admire the game in Cincinnati and is a
| constant attendant when he Is In Washing
| ton. Mccall of Massachusetts forgets recd-
| procity and the tariff when there is game
| of baseballand is generally. one of the
| earliest arrivals in the grandstand. Mr.
| Babcock, who from his connection with
the District OF Columbia committee. has
| often been called the mayor of Washing
| ton, finds himself among cpngenial con-
| stituents when he hikes out to National
| Park. Bob Cousins, the gifted orator from
| Iowa, finds comfort and soiace when he can
| witness an exhibition of skill on the dia-
| mond. Sturdy Pete Hepburn puts aside
| the vexations Of interstate commerce regu-
lation and enjoys game of base ball as
| much as any gamin who peeps through a
knot-ho in the fence. Sunny Jim Sher-
| man, the new chairman OF the republican
| congressional committee is also charged
| with the welfare OF the Indians, being
| chairman of the committee in the House
1 He finds time, however, to give up the
| wards of the nation at least two after
| moons a week with a view to taking In
| at least one game in every series, and ne
| is a warm adrnirer OF Bender of the Ath-
/ letics. who is student at Carlisle. Penn
sylvania.
/ .Farmer" Wadsworth of New York,
i father of the present speaker of the New
| York assembly. puts aside all thoughts OF
i the dairy and the victssitudes of agricul-
ture and contents himself with a seat in
| the vicinity Of third base. where he can
command good view of the working of
the inheid. In his younger days he was
an expert player, being captain Of the
| celebrated Osceolas OF Geneseo Littleheld
Of Maine Is as enthusiastic over q good
game Of base ball a. an occupant OF the
bleachers, and he confesSes weakness
for roofing for the home team every time.
Billie Lorimer and Jim Mann Of Chicago
hunt pleasure In couples and an afternoon