The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-01

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teacher of penmanship who told the
students Of the muscular movement
even as you and THAT practice
makes perfect" And the Students OF
the Spencerian style bent low over
their copy pads and practiced max
ing fiourishes, birds, cornucopias, and
circles that began nowhere and end
ed nowhere.
That teacher had never attended a
baseball game staged between two
teams of the House Of Representa-
tives. There is absolute refutation
today of the theory that practice i'm
proves ability. The teams that met
at American League Park yesterday
afternoon had INDUCED in more prac-
tice than the Democratic and Repuo-
lican teams OF any preceding year
yet they made more errors, muffed
more fly balls. booted more ground
ers. and wasted more energy than any
Of the teams that have put on the
annual contest In the past
The game was played for charity,
for the fund of the American Red
Cross Charity shall cover its de-
scriptIon, except for certain facts the
public must know in order that the
attendance next year shall be larger.
The time has come to say who won.
The Democrats outscored the Repub-
licans % to 81. But II the Honorable
Clarence B. Miller of Minnesota, cap
tain OF the Republican team. smelling
Of arnica and liniment. should rise in
his place in the House during the
present week and protest. the result
of his complaint will not be entire
ly groundless.
PurIOInH Prize Bat.
Congressman Pat Harrison, captain
Of the Democratic team, Is a member
of the House Committee on Rules and
Foreign Affairs.
And yet Pat, a stickler for interna-
tionai law, humanity, and parliamen-
tary procedure. walked over to. the
Republican dugout yesterday after
noon and deliberately purloined the
prize bat OF the minority outfit Not
for two innings was the cause OF the
slump in Republican batting revealed
Then the indignant Miller invaded the
Democratic trenches, recovered the
Republican bat from among the Demo
cratic sticks. and endeavored to rally
his cohorts. II would not be surprising
II this method of warfare were ex-
posed on the floor of the House.
Now as to the game: The President
and Mrs. Wilson arrived at 3:25, just
after o company Of student officers
frora Fort Myer had thrilled the as
sembIed thousands with q drill and
bayonet exercises. President Wilson
and his wife were given q great re-
ception. They smiled and bowed
After the game began. they laughed
and 50 did everybody else.
Griffith Muffs BAIL
President Wilson tossed out the
first ball to Clark Griffith umpire
for the Repubiican-Democrs game,
and manager OF the Washington team.
Griff muffed the ball. threw It back
to the President. and caught Il on
the second trial. During the very
first inning there was a diga!fIed
kick against one OF Grifflth's dect5-
ions. As the game progressed. there
were otlasrs. Subsequently there cumc
the news that Griffith's team was get
ting a double wslloping by the Ath-
letics over In Philadelphia
II was the end OF perfect day for
Grin.
The game lasted three hours and
twenty-three minutes. About $4,000
was realized for the Red Cross. ac-
cording 10 Melvin c. Hazen. chairman
of the eitizenG' committee In charge.
II there was a wealthy dyspeptic in
the stands he might have paid the
whole $4,000, for there was a laugh
every minute.
Any man who claims he kept a box
score lie faker. Hugh Fullerton.
Sam Crane. Grantland Rice, Damon
Runyon, and Walter Camp couldn't
have kept score OF this game. By
unanimous consent the newspapermen
present agreed the hits and errors
were as follows. the beneht OF the
doubt going in each case to the Con
gressmen:
Democrats-Hits, so: errors, Fl.
RepubIicans-Hits. 20. errors. ~.
An accurate account was kept Of
by one run.
SideIiEhts Of Game.
A chronological account of the
games highlights should include these
observations
Congressman Norton, Republican,
second baseman, kicks when Umpire
Griff calls Jones of Texas safe on
second, The kicker doesn't get away
with IL,
Third Baseman Bacharach falls
down trying to stop a throw, Jones
comes home. First run; great enthu-
siasm. The President and Mrs VIII
son laugh.
Capt Pat Harrison, OF the Demo
Gratis, swings at two OF Sydney Mudd'5
curves. Jimmie Byrnes, coach, pulls
a new one by yelling Takes only one
to hit II, Pat" Pat singles.
Coach Byrnes engages in converse
ton instead of attending TO business