The Washington times., 1913-07-15
SCHEDULE ARRANGED
BADLY FOR PAYNE
Congressman Has Hard Time
: to See Game Between Climb
!. ers and Their Opponents.

= = II Congressman Serene E Payne, vet
.eran legislator and ardent fan, had any
lining TO do with making up the schedule
for the American League teams, the
Nationals would play at home most of
The time. These long road trips ,om-
pletely upset Mr.. Payne, who hasn't a
thing to do while the House is marking
time.
y Since the late Vice President Sherman
died, Mr.. Payne has easily been the
most enthusiastic follower Of the ma
1tional game in either house of Congress.
when the Nationals were a second di-
vision team-and they used to be with
q vengeance-the faithful Payne went
out right along, and Gid his best to
ampart cheering note to the solemn
affair staged almost every day at the
ball yard
:, When Griff took hold and the home
team began to fiirt with first and second
place, the ruddy face OF the New
Yorker was wreathed with an "l-told-
you-so'' grin. and he trudged out to the
ball park all the more Jauntily. For
years and years Mr.. Payne has been a
fan, but the schedule this year is per
haps the most eXasperaHng with which
he has had to contend.
Held On JOB.
: Early in the season, when the Ma
tionaIs had quite a stay on the home
lot, MIR. Payne was forced to remain
IN the House chamber because of the
tariff bill. Democrats were about to
wipe the Payne law off the statute
books. and, naturally, the author OF
that much maligned piece OF legls-
lation was on hand to see the out
ragged perpetrated. He protested ana
protested. fighting every inch OF the
way, but asking between speeches
about the baseball score.
1: He was enabled to attend but few
games, for the Democrats had habit
of staying in session until ana >
O'clock d. m., an hour when all true
FANS are supposed to be leaving the
ball park.
$ After the passage of the tariff bill
in the House. Mr.. Payne had a few
afternoons of real diversion. He
reached the ball yard along with the
umpire and the official announcer
and he stayed until the last man
was out no matter how annoying
the score might be.
Sometimes he occupied a seat in box;
again he tucked his portly form away in
a corner of the grandstand-but always
he was on the Job. He keeps score.
too does Payne. One ma nout of three
at a ball game, perhaps. will keep the
score; the other two decline to join the
waste energy club.
Pencil In Hand.
At any rate. Mr.. Payne affects TO keep
the score and no play misses him. While
the fellow on Payne's left is whooping
for a base hit or tearing his shirt be-
cause one has been made, Payne sits
chuckling. pencil in hand, waiting TO
check up an error, an assist or an oIt.
What he does with the score after It
has been kept is not pertinent to the
story.
The sad thing about it all is that the
House has been killing time since June
25 and the Nationals have selected the
present dull legislative season for.
iaunt out West Mr.. Payne is too pom
dcrous to go following the team about
the country. In consequence, these aft
ernoons have been wasted by the vet
eran fan and legislator and the best
he can do is go off to some bush league
summering place for a week end or
just doze about the office.
: II the abiters of the American League
will consult Mr.. Payne next year the
Washington team will have a schedule
which allows il to bide awhile at home.
When the team gets back the present
indications are that the currency re-
form fight will be up in the House and
as the season draws 10 close. Mr..
Payne will be tied up in conference over
the tariff bill. A rather badly-arranged
schedule. according to fan Payne's point
Of view.