published January-February Issue 2016

U.S. Congress Holds a Horseshoe Tournament

by Bob Dunn, NHPA Historian

As we approach an election year, we probably will take a closer look at what our representatives in Congress are doing or not doing. If they held a horseshoe tournament, we might salute the effort and the promotion it brings to our sport, but it may seem unlikely that Congress would take on such an endeavor.

Well, Congress has taken on such an endeavor, but way back in 1930. The Washington D.C. Evening Star wonderfully covered the event. As you read through the coverage from 85 years ago, do note that the horseshoe pitching was noted as “the grand old sport.” The sport certainly could be termed that today, but back at the time of the Congressional Tournament; the sport was barely 10 years old, unless they knew something that we are not aware of.

The newspaper gave complete and thorough coverage, but the event was carried live on the radio nationally, by the National Broadcasting Company, a company known to us today as NBC.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO HOLD HORSESHOE PITCHING CONTEST

Tilson-Garner Match to Be Test of Straight-to-Mark and Free-Style School of Thought

Distinguished members of the House and Senate are giving serious attention to a matter which lies close to the hearts of the rank and file of this nation.

It has nothing to do with sliding scales, naval pacts or dial telephones, yet at certain seasons of the year it lies uppermost in the minds of men in every village, hamlet and town in the country.

Briefly, it concerns the intricacies of “throwing a ringer,” or, if perfection cannot be obtained, at least a “leaner.”

To be more explicit, the Senators and Representatives with a taste for homely sports could not wait for the Star’s annual National Capital horseshoe pitching tournament, so they have arranged for a little contest of their own.

It is to be known as the first congressional horseshoe tournament and will be held in Griffith Stadium from 11 o’clock until 12 noon next Friday. Radio announcers will be stationed on the sidelines to keep the folks back home posted on the skill of their Representative in Congress. The National Broadcasting Companies will carry the contest throughout the country.

It is to be a three-way tournament, between members of the Senate and House and members of the “Little Congress,” comprising of secretaries to members.

The feature of the day is the proposed match between Representative John Q. Tilson of Connecticut, Republican floor leader, and Representative John N. Garner of Texas, leader of the Democratic side.

The media coverage continued to be intense, as this event most certainly was aiding the NHPA’s efforts to promote the sport. This next article appeared in the May 27^th Evening Star:

LAWMAKERS STAGE HORSESHOE DEBATE

Members of Congress From Three States Clash on Way to Pitch

In the cloak room of the House of Representatives - Clyde Kelly from Pennsylvania, with heat – I assure you the gentleman from Florida is all wrong on this question.

R.A. Green, from Florida, softly – Perhaps so, perhaps so, but that’s the way we have always done it down in my country.

Edward E. Browne, from Wisconsin – Gentlemen, I believe you’re both wrong. Here, let me show you! And Mr. Browne, as though to settle conclusively a debate that threatens to steal the congressional show, took from the hands of Mr. Green a – Horseshoe!

Illustrates Best Method

“This,” declared the gentleman from Wisconsin, “is the most approved manner of pitching a horseshoe.” And he grasped the iron slipper halfway between the toe and the heel and made a feint to throw it down the corridor.

And so progressed today, an argument unique in the annals of Congress. Subject: The surest method of wrapping 2½ pounds of semi-circular iron around a peg 40 feet distant.

The question will be settled definitely perhaps tomorrow, Thursday and Friday, when more than a score of Senators and Representatives engage in a tournament to determine the champion horseshoe pitcher of Congress.

Courts have been laid out on a plot near the House Office Building and the first match will be played tomorrow morning. When the competition has been narrowed to four senators and four Representatives the scene of action will be shifted to Griffith Park.

Here, from 11 a.m. to noon, will take place something new in the history of the grand old game of barnyard golf. For the first time a horseshoe pitching match will be broadcast. The National Broadcasting Company, with all its stations tuned in, will have an announcer at each peg. The United States Navy Band will take over the mikes during lulls in the battle.

While the legislators are having it out, their secretaries and other members of their staffs will play for the championship of the “Little Congress.”

Entries are pouring in today. Jim Preston, in charge of the Senate press gallery, will handle details of the Senator’s section of the tournament and L.M. Hopping, secretary to Representative McLeod of Michigan, will manage the Representatives event. Judge for the finals will be named later.

Due to much activity in the Senate and consequent uncertainly as to which of the horseshoe pitching members of that august body would be free to take part in the tournament. Preston wasn’t able today to give a definite entry list. He was confident, however, that the Senate would put up a fight with the House for the title.

The following Representatives had given their names to Hopping: Republicans – Fred D. Johnson, Nebraska; E.M. Irvin, Illinois; Homer W. Hall, Illinois; Roy O. Fitzgerald, Ohio; Carl G. Bachman, West Virginia; Thomas Hall, North Dakota; Clyde Kelly, Pennsylvania; William E. Hess, Ohio; Richard N. Elliott, Indiana; Fred A. Hartley, Jr., New Jersey; Leonidas C. Dyer, Missouri; John L. Cable, Ohio and Arthur M. Free, California.

Democrats – R.A. Green, Florida; W.W. Arnold, Illinois; Henry T. Rainy, Illinois; M.C. Tarver, Georgia; Thomas MacMillan, South Carolina; Louis Ludlow, Indiana; W.A. Ayers, Kansas; Arthur Greenwood, Indiana; Hatton W. Summers, Texas and Gwynn Williams, Texas.

The battle began and the Evening Star covered the action.

HORSESHOE PITCHERS BATTLE FOR CONGRESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Representatives Open Tourney With 17 Matches Scheduled Today

Senators to Play Preliminaries Tomorrow

While vacation-hungry Senators continued strife over the tariff today, warfare of a vastly different nature occupied members of the House. Party lines were withdrawn and policies forgotten as staid legislators went about the business of determining a horseshoe pitching champion of Congress.

The battle opened at 10 o’clock this morning on courts pitched on a lot near the main entrance to the House Office Building. It appeared likely that play would continue until darkness, with 17 first-round matches scheduled for the Representatives and many more for the members of the “Little Congress,” composed of secretaries and other Capitol employees.

Tomorrow the Senators will play their preliminaries to determine the quartet that will have it out in a grand finale with the House’s four best Friday at Griffith Stadium. The National Broadcasting Company, with a full chain hooked up, will broadcast the first barnyard golf show ever put on the air. It will start at 11 a.m.

One of the feature matches listed for today was to bring together two “big shots” of the House, the Republican floor leader, Representative John. Tilson and the minority leader, Representative John N. Garner of Texas.

Representative Clyde Kelly of Pennsylvania was one of the championship favorites. Several years ago Representative Kelly took first place honors in a horseshoe pitching tournament at Kansas City, held in connection with a national postal convention. In the final match he vanished a player who held the mailmen’s championship of four states. A belt emblematic of his triumph adorns his office on the hill.

The Senate will have a strong contender in Senator John M. Robsion of Kentucky. Senator Robsion proved his mettle as a horseshoe pitcher at the recent outing of the Board of Trade.

HORSESHOE FINALS PLAYED TOMORROW

Ashurst and McLeod will Broadcast Congressional Contest

Had they not more or less gifted orators, Senators Henry F. Ashurst of Arizona and Representative Clarence J. McLeod of Michigan probably wouldn’t be Congressmen. But whatever is theirs to command in the way of word juggling may be put to a stiff test tomorrow when they become the radio horseshoe pitching reporters in history.

Senator Ashurst noted as an orator and Representative McLeod, a droll fellow on occasions, today accepted posts as guest announcers for the grand finale of the congressional barnyard golf championships to be played at Griffith Stadium tomorrow 11 a.m. to noon.

Four Senators and four Representatives will be engaged in the finale and there may be a special match between a Republican and Democratic leader. There will be no charge for admission and the committee in charge has extended an invitation to the public which doubtless will find plenty of cause to “palpitate.”

And the champion is announced!

REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON OF NEBRASKA

WINS CONGRESS HORSESHOE PITCHING CHAMPIONSHIP

The title of “Champion Horseshoe Pitcher of Congress” was won today by Representative Fred G. Johnson, Republican, of Nebraska, who defeated Representative Albert H. Vestal, Republican, of Indiana, by the score of 21 to 20, in the first Congressional horseshoe tournament, held in the Griffith Stadium. Several Senators who were to participate failed to show up and were ruled out by default. The final matches were played between four members of the House.

Three matches were held and in the first two Representative Vestal defeated Representative Letts, Republican of Iowa, by a score of 22 to 10 and Representative Johnson defeated Representative McMillian, Democrat of South Carolina, 21 to 10.

When the final match between Vestal and Johnson got under way, it looked like an easy victory for Vestal. From the start Vestal was far in the lead and at the ninth inning Vestal had 13 points to Johnson’s three.

On the tenth inning, Johnson threw a ringer for three points and on the next round pitched another ringer. From then on the match became close, Johnson gradually increasing his score and cutting down Vestal’s lead. After 20 innings with the score see-sawing in favor of one or the other, the score stood 20 to 20. Johnson then scored another point, which gave him the match.

The winner received a set of silver-plated horseshoes in a leather case. Mr. Vestal had to be content with a pair of horseshoes in a case. Both winner and runner-up later spoke over the radio, giving their versions of the match.

Senator Barkley, Democrat of Kentucky and Representative McLeod, Republican of Michigan, were “guest announcers” for the National Broadcasting Company, which broadcast the contest. Oliver Owen Kuhn, Managing Editor of the Washington Star, was master of ceremonies. The United States Navy Band played popular tunes during the matches.