Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-31
Representative Beats VestaI
of Indiana and Receives
The Star Trophy.
FINAL TOURNEY MATCH
Is HELD AT BALL PARK
Vast Radio Audience Listens in.
With Barley and Mcleod
as Guest Announcers.

Representative Fred G. johnson, dis
tinguished as the first horseshoe pitch
| ing champion of Congress, wasn't GER
tain today whether all the back slaps
and handshakes that came his way
were in the nature of congratulations
or what the sports scribes would term
Bronx cheers.
In any case, he accepted them with a
broad grin and to all visitors he pointed
with unmistakable pride to a pair of
brilliantly polished chromium plated
horseshoeS presented him by The Wash
ington Star as a token of the triumph
he scored in the final of the congress
sional tournament held at Griffith Sta
/ dunn yesterday.
Final Match Broadcast.
In the last match the Nebraskan de-
feated Representative Albert H. Vestal
| of Indiana, the Republican whip, 81
| to 20. and it was q battle that kept on
edge a warmly roofing gallery, made
| up mostly of congressional folk, and a
vast radio audience. The National
Broadcasting Co., with Senator Alben
| w. Barley of Kentucky and Represent
ative Clarence ]. Mcleod of Michigan
as guest announcers, gave over its mikes
| to the barnyard golf show for an hour
and half. 1t was the first time such
an event was broadcast, and the Ma
| tional Broadcasting Co. and The WASH
| ington Star, which engineered the af-
fair. were swamped today with lauda-
| tory mail.
The finals were played by four mem
| bers of the House, the Senators sched-
uled to appear letting the title go by
forfeit
| Representative johnson won his way
| into the final by defeating Representa-
tive Thomas S. Mcmillan of South
| Carolina, the only Democratic particle
| pant, 81 to 10, and Representative YES
tai dealt defeat by score of % to 10
to Representative F. Dickinson Let's
of Iowa.
johnson Comes From Behind.
When the master of ceremonies,
| Oliver owen Kuhn, managing editor OF
The Star. called the flnallsts TO tnelr
posts, Representative Vestal was so
| strong a favorite that the match APP
peared to be formality. 1t continued
| to seem so even after 10 innings had
been played, for the gentleman from
Indiana by that time had rolled up
lead of 10 to 3.
| A semi humorous cheer went up
when in the next inning the Nebraskan
rung the stake for three points.
|
| Vestal adherent.
But by way of proving it was nothing
| of the sort, Representative johnson
| proceeded calmly to toss another
| ringer. Moreover, he scored point
| with his other shoe in this inning and
boosted his total to 10, only 3 behind
his opponent 1t had become con-
| test.
Representative vestal flashed with Q
points in the thirteenth inning and per-
! haps the numeral bugaboo had some
thing to do with it when he failed to
score another point for nine straight.
| innings. At any rate he could offer
no other alibi. In the meantime, Rep
resentative Johnson had gradually
caught up and then gained slight
lead In the twentieth he went ahead
by 18 to II.
From there to the finish it was touch
and go and the gallery was pulled from
! its seats by the excitement. The two
Congressman had become grim.
Representative Vestal ended his losing
streak with a point in the twenty-third
inning, which left him trailing by IL
| to 20. In the twenty-fourth he scored
| two close shoes and the count stood
| 20-all each player point from victory.
There was a pause before the f1nal
| frame was pitched while the contestants
| organized" themselves for the supreme
| test.
| VestaI Pitches Wide.
| Representative Vestal had the first
| toss. His opening shoe sailed over the
peg and halted nearly two feet away.
| He made a desperate try for ringer
| with the second, but this also was a
! bit too high and Topped a loot back
| Of the stake.
His opponents first effort was almost
! a wild pitch and the Nebraskan's sltp-
| porters groaned. But Representative
| johnson appeared not even annoyed.
| With utmost elaboration he dropped
| his second close to the peg and the
! battle was over.
For the next half hour the principals
were claimed by movietone, radio and
| newspaper folk and 1t Is probable
| record was established for the amount
of publicity given barnyard golf con-
tsst.
| An unusual sight later was two dig
nified members of Congress leaving
| Griffith Stadium clutching fondly what
! appeared to be two tiny suit cases.
In them were horse Shoes the Spoils
| of war; perhaps the queerest struggle in
the annals of Congress.
Announcers Made Hit.
Senator Barley and Representative
| MCLEOD, II radio IAN mall is criterion,
distinguished themselves as announcers.
| They kept up a running fire of banter
and description worthy of Graham Nc
| Nance, and incidentally did bit OF
political log-rolling, although the Sena-
tor is Democrat and the Repre-
sentative a Republican. Music by the
United States Navy Band interspersed
the program.
With the congressional matches out
| of the way, members Of the Little
Congress" composed Of secretaries and
clerks, had it out and John M. Rob-
sion, jr.. son of Senator Robson of
Kentucky, won the championship. In
the final he defeated Fred l.. Syler,
secretary to Representative G. B. Nc
Clintock of Ohio, 81 to 10 and 81 to 10.
In the semi-finals Robson trimmed L.
M. Hopping, secretary to Representative
Mcleod, 81 to IA, and Syler defeated
Pratt of Michigan, 81 to II.
The congressional tournament will
be repeated next year and promises to
be much larger affair from the stand
point of entries. A number of members
OF both houses expressed regret that
they were unable to take part because
OF pressure of work.