Evening star., 1924-06-20
GOLF LINKS FIGHTERS
FACE CLUBS INQUIRY
Senator Robinson Knocks DR..
Mitchell to Ground at Chevy
Chase Course.
DISPUTED RIGHT OF WAY
Versions of Controversy by Eye.
witnesses Differ.

Prompt and decisive action will be
taken by the board OF governors of the
Chevy Chase Club next Monday after
it has considered statements of the two
principals in a fist fight yesterday be-
tween Senator Joseph T. Robinson OF
Arkansas, who is mentioned as a Demo
cratic candidate for the presidency, and
DIR. James F. Mitchell, nationally known
surgeon. on the twelfth tee Of the golf
course of the exclusive club on Con-
necticut avenue.
During the fight DR.. Mitchell was
struck in the eye by Senator Robinson.
according to witnesses OF the affair, be-
fore friends of both participants sepa-
rated them.
Statements were being prepared by
both Senator Robinson and DR.. Mitchell
! today for presentation to the board of
governors of the club Monday. The
statements of the principals in the af-
fair will be supplemented by state
ments from other members of the two
golf matches
Senator Going to New York.
DR.. Mitchell was playing with Col.
Edward Clifford, former undersecre-
tary of the Treasury, and his son.
Senator Robinson was playing with
Senator Thomas ]. Walsh of Montana.
Senator John b. kendrick of Wyo-
ming and Senator Andreius Jones of
New Mexico. Senator Robinson and
Senator Walsh plan to leave Wash
ington tomorrow for New York, to at
tend the Democratic convention,
which starts in that city next Tues
day
postponement of consideration by
the board of the alteration may be
asked by the principals, and when the
matter comes up the unusual situa-
tion may be presented of the chief
prosecutor in the Teapot Dome in
, uuiry appearing for a fellow senator
in defense of his actions on private
golf course involving a question of
golf etiquette.
No such incident has ever before
occurred on the course of the Chevy
Chase Club, nor anywhere else about
Washington, SO far as old members
of the golf clubs could recall today.
Robinson Is Heaviest.
Senator Robinson and DR.. Mitchell
! are both fifty-two years of age. Sena-
tor Robinson weighs nearly zoo
pounds, while DR.. Mitchell weighs
80 or 40 pounds less.
The first blow was struck by Sena-
tor Robinson, according to friends OF
DIR. Mitchell, while the latter had
one hand in his pocket and was lean
ing on the grip of his golf club with
the other. DR.. Mitchell was knocked
over a bench on the twelfth tee and
senator Robinson fell on top of him
Ths bad feeling started on the
eleventh hole of the Chevy Chase
Club course, where Senators walsh
hni
the former in the rough beyond the
green and the latter in the ditcn
guarding the green. Senator'S ROD
inson and Jones were on the green
Abrupt Reply Alleged.
DR.. Mitchell, waiting to play his
approach shot, called, Lost ball?" He
got no reply. He again called, Have
YOU lost a ball? If so, we have the
right to go through"
Senator Walsh thereupon waved
DR.. Mitchell and his match through.
Senator Robinson, however, VINO Wa
on the putting green, Is quotsu ~
saving. 'Shut up, and wait until we
are ready-" In the meantime Senator
Kendrick also approached the green
while DIR. Mitchell and his party walt
ed until the three senators hao putt
ed out. They then finished out tne
hole and went 10 lAC
the three senators having 1oineo
senator walsh in lGSsng 3Ss Mgebe fqF h's shpee
.,a we're getting ready to drive
from the twelfth tee tee when ne5 Senate. Senate.
| anroned in conversation with Col
clifford whom he k9ew' accordjna Dr.; al9she, IL
tbe story of his friends, that he was
sorry il he had pushed ed them, en-. bn, i
that there were two open hoies In
front of them and that golf etiquette
nermitted them to go through. Sena-
tor Robinson then came up, the story
GOES and said: You shut up and
20 on and play; you have been fnso-
lent all the way around, and re-
heated, "Go on and play"
Versions Of Fight Differ.
Different, stories are told of what
occurred from then on. The version
of DR.. Nitchells friends has it thai
Senator Robinson walked over to the
Continual on .PaSa2. Column 81