Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-25

LOOK OH.
For there were two unwritten laws
governing this hangout:
First, man had to know about every
thing there was to know about bridge.
Second, he had to take abuse of his
game squarely on the chin and like 1t.
And how far abuse went at tinies
those who played know only too well.
Jack Garner, the minority leader of
the House, was one of the ringleaders.
The fiery Texan delighted in making
life miserable for the man who slipped
And he made no exceptions.
There is the story of how Garner
drew as partner one evening a clergy
man, guest of the hotel, and rather
proud of his game. Garner was I'M
aware of his profession. and when the
clergyman played card that was OBJ
viously the wrong one he bounced to
his feet and shouted:
What the HI did you play that
for?"
Later one of Gamers friends tried to
explain that nothing was meant, that
he did that to every one. The clergy
man enjoyed 1t hugely, complimented
Garner TO his friend. and then congrat-
u1ated the Texan himself on his excel
lent bridge game.
Garner was one Of the most enthusi-
the "Dinty Moore" room. But there
were others. sure enough of their game
to brave the rawhiding they we're sure
to get, who delighted in Willing away
the evening there.
Representative Edgar Howard of Ne
braska. long-haired and genial, was an
other frequent bridge player there. He
took his with smile and gave them as
good as they sent.
Doc Crowther Of New York and
Garner would lock horns nightly over
the game. Their criticism Of each other
was merciless. To an outsider it looked
as If they would come to blows ut any
minute.
Small wonder, then, that a man
thought more than twice before he VOL
unteered to sit in on a hand There
were many to try it once, but few came
back second time.
One could always find game going
in the "Dinty Moore" room There
were no set rules-the first to come
were the first to play. The games would
start every evening Immediately after
dinner. And they would last often far
into the night-until every one had got
ten every ones goat.
A rather retiring sort of fellow, some
what short of stature and with closely
cropped light hair, is keeping his ears
wide open during all this navy talk
heard around Washington
He's not saying very much, although
he Is In a position to speak with great
deal Of authority. Nor has he done
much thus far.
But eventually he will After the
hubbub of conversation has died away
and definite course of procedure has
been mapped out, his time viii come.
This man is Senator Freddy Hale of
Maine, chairman of the Senate COM
mittee on naval affairs. To his COM
mittee will all of this Shearer business
and Hoover-MacDonald discussion find
their way at last.
And it Is Freddy Hale and his COM
naittee who will decide just what ought
to be done.
The name Hale has been one of
power in national politics for almost q
half century.
The present Senator is the SON Of one
Of the most powerful men ever to hold
a seat In the United States Senate. For
80 years Eugene Hale represented the
State of Maine in the national lawmak-
ing body. His grandfather. too, on the
maternal side, was Senator, as well as
Secretary Of the Interior.
Early the son was picked TO succeed
his father In politics After being grad
uated from Harvard he attended the
Columbia University Law School for o
year, but quit 10 enter his unclee Law
office In Portland to prepare himself Tor
the bar.
1Ize was associated with his uncle for