Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-16
GOLF FIENDS OF CONGRESS UNDERGO
TRANSFORMATION ON THE LINKS
Lnconesque Pouy Cylic House Becomes Gentle
While the Usually Auee Fitzgerald Romps About Like Hilarious
Youth-Presdent Ardent Golfer Too But Scores
Are Guarded Like a
BY +. W. TOWNSEND
Jersey Author Of "chme Fsddon ober Fsmou, Stories

out the errors OF their economic notions to
| proponents Of taxation fads his heavy brows
! clinch over his eyes in n manner peculiarly
| stern. He speaks rapidly with admirable
| vocabulary, wherein phrases Of intolerance
for stupidity of denunciation, draw you the
| picture OF a man Of nothing less than un-
changeable acerbty of temper.
on the golf links he displays a sweetness
Of temper unaltered by hole in nine which
he should have made in four. ! can say no
more to golfer BunlSers traps, lost balls.
unattentive caddles, none of the trials OF golf
so much as ripple the smiling pacldty Of
his temper.
Fitzgerald, of Brooklyn, chairman of the
! Appropriations Committee and "the best par
| Humanitarian in Congress-" says Champ Clark,
| Is austere when he is at work on the floor.
| He is prodigious worker, and thorough, and
It is excusabe in him that he knows that he
knows more about his appropriation pro-
visions than any other man in or out OF Con-
gress.
When he is presenting" bill, as the intro
ductory explanation is called, he proceeds
gravely and systematically, showing no trace
Of his renowned high temper until some mem
ber questions the Justice or correctness of
item of appropriation whose existence he has
just become aware Of Then Fitzgerald, who
mas bttI lllNtsllkdlluB anu SIuuyllB InaL very
matter for months years perhaps, uncorks
the very lightly stoppered walls of his wrath
and contempt.
Don't question the accuracy of Fitz's fig
ures or the justice of his conclusion unless
you are dead sure you've got him, or he'll
bite your head off," said an old member to
a young one.
That reflects the general impression the
House has of Fitzgerald. On the golf links
he's a KID a joyous, ebulllent generous
youngster, showing no more trace of worry
as to how Uncle Sam is to be provided with
s3OOo,OoO a day to meet his expenses than he
did when he played ball on the Manhattan
College nine.
Where Pupil Wins Out
Prouty's game was better than Fitzgeralds
early last spring, but the Brooklyn man was
taking lessons and one day in June offered
the Iowan couple of strokes on a round
"Tll never take strokes from a man who
takes lessons" responded the Judge, who
has his own way of playing uninhuenced by
any professional advice.
Fitzgerald stuck to his lessons, going out to
the links at daylight for practice, and Prouty
stuck to his determination not to take strokes
and since July the Iowan has been paying
for the New Workers. golf balls.
Senator O'Gormans judicial dignity of
manner, pose and carriage does not desert
him even on the links. Fitzgerald, observing
the Senator's manner of taking his stand on
a tee and addressing his ball for the drive,
remarked:
Senator, you'd drive better If you didn't
address your balls as If you were addressing
the Senate"
The first tee at Columbia is on a bank
pitching steeply to a creek. My Demo-
cratic colleague, Tuttle, of New Jersey, one
day fooled his first drive and the ball
drlbbled miserably over the bank
rs 1t in the water?" Tuttle called to his
caddle, watch
mo, sir. 1t stopped just short" the boy |
answered.
'T have observed, William" remarked
Judge Prouty, that you can lead Demo-
crat to water but you can't make him
go in"
President Wilson plays frequently at Co
lumbia, always with his physician Doctor
Grayson; plays brislly and attentlvely II
not with enthusiasm. The Presidents score
is never announced, but observing his
game one judges he finishes his 1s holes
in low sos, game which would not delay
a low handicap opponent.
The rules of golf require a foursome to
permit overtaking twosome to pass
through" and while this is done grudgingly
under ordinary circumstances a foursome
will always wait on a tee when the Presi-
dent is overtaking it and ask him to "go
through"
The Presidents Little Joke
was one OF foursome of Representatives
one day when this happened, and when the
President was asked to "go through, please"
ne hesitated, smiling, and said. "I feel some
lifidence in driving through so many men,
oers of the House."
"Mr. President" one OF the foursome re-
marked "are you not accustomed TO driving
through the House?"
The President looked sharply for a second
1t the questioner, then addressed his ball. But,
MS shoulders were shaking so with laughter