The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-10

Although the disciples of Blackstone
have often been ''at bat" in the world Of
baseball during the past few years Of strife,
the percentage of active players who thumb
books of the law and are rewarded with
sheepskins and the privilege of hanging
out their shingles labeled attorney at
law" is very small. The wave of Repub-
hcan votes which recently swept over the
Keystone State carried an old baseball
catcher to the bench. When John Mont
gomery Ward was youth with an ambi-
ton to twirl the sphere, Harold NJ. Nc
Clure was possessed with an idea that he
was destined to shine as catcher. For q
time he was the receiving end of that bat
terry, and he was on the roll of the old Ath-
letics in Philadelphia before the birth Of
the Association.
Mcclure, however, retired from tbs dia-
mond and buried himself amid sheep
bound tones. He graduated with honors
and found clients and friends. When the
Republicans of the Twentieth judicial dis
trict of Pennsylvania were casting around
for a leader to carry the colors Of the G.
o. P to victory, their choice fell upon the
erstwhile ball player. Mr.. Mcclure de-
clined to make the race for president-judge@
The district was welded TO Judge Butcher.
a Democrat both popular and honest. Ths
young Republicans. however, refused to
take "No'' for an answer. The name of
Harold NJ. Mcclure was placed on the ticket,
and when the votes were counted it was
found that the Northumberland county
boy had majority of Ala.
1t isn't often that ball players take an
active part in politics. They are not par
tisans of a pronounced kind, and the ex-
perience of Mr. Mcclure is but repetition
of that of Judge Howard Ferris, who was
chosen to the probate court bench in Gin
cinnati by the greatest majority ever given
a candidate in year when no ''landslides"
occurred.
"a man on the bench" said Judge Fer
ris to me recently, sis called upon to give
up many things in conformance with the
ethics of the bench, but there is one recrea-
ton to which intend to stick. cannot
be driven from my ball club"
Judge Ferris is probably the only gentle
man on the bench in the United States
who also possesses the title of manager Of
ball club. During his canvass the ball
pay dAd pLO1CooAOAak~ACLQ
mass meeting and pledged themselves to
his cause. No compliment ever touched
him more deeply, and his majority of over
10, 000-nearly 1900 more than that given
any other candidate-was due to the ear
nest efforts of the regiment of ball tossers in
his behalf. Political creeds were thrown
to the winds and these knights of the dia-
mond gathered around the standard of the
patron of athletics.
judge Ferris was never a professional,
but in his day he was considered one Of the
best amateur players in the west. Five
years ago he was one of those IN at the
birth of the Miami Valley league, and he
still holds the rank of vice president in
that organization-the pioneer amateur
body in the west. Last season his team
the Linwoods-won the amateur cham
pionship of Ohio, and Judge Ferris is
nursing plan which will give the Miami
Valley standing in the councils of the
Amateur Athletic union. The winners of
1925 pennant hope to compete in the A.
A. U. contests for the championship of the
United States. One afternoon during the
past season Linwood lacked an infielder,
and Judge Ferris was invited to cover sec
ond. He threw judicial dignity aside, got
into a uniform and went to work. Every
one of nine chances offered him was &C
cepted, and he participated in a pretty
double play. On tne bench Ohio's ball
playing judge is quite a different person
age, but it is noticeable that he bestowed
several of the latest of his Official plums
upon amateurs.
Nearly every court house in both League
and Association circuits can turn out its
full quota of judicial enthusiasts. Judge
Maxwell, who heard the celebrated Al
Johnson observation-disclosures suit, was
probably better versed in the game and the
merits of the case itself than were the
learned gentlemen who plead for the varied
interests involved. Baseball is truly the
national game, and the gods of the bleach
ers love 1t no more than some of the fore
most statesmen and scholars of the land.
Before General Harrison received a pass
port to the White House he was plain
member of the Indianapolis order of base
ball cranks. President Garfield found rest
full pleasure in the game.
Secretary Foster has taken all the de-
grees since he accepted the treasuryship
portfolio. Senator German, of Maryland,
is one of the old Nationals. Solicitor Gen
eral w. II. Taft is pronounced enthusi-
asst, and thus the list might be extended.
One of the most famous college pitchers
who ever twirled balI-C Hammond
Avery, of Yale college-turned his back
upon professional life, refusing a place
On Chicago's roster aud embracing the law
instead. Later on one of Avery's success
sors-Will Hutchison-listened TO the voice
Of Uncle Arson.
Prophecies of peace have failed so often
n the past when signs seemed so propi-
-ious that it is exceedingly Improbable to
attempt TO diagnose the case of the war
ing magnates. Their pulses are normal,
and no matter what the outcome may be,
certain 1t is that the leaven of renewed
is at work. The cooks are keep
ng their receipts 70 themselves, and If they
Are successful the public will be hidden to
he feast The last peace conference was
broken Up by meddlers with no moneyed
interests at stake and that blunder will
not be repeated. The abrupt adjournment
If the National league gave evidence of the
adoption OF some plan calculated to bring
order out OF chaos, but until their hand is
shown it i. Idle TO speculate on the result.
The majority of the leaders on both sides
-ealize that peace must come sooner or
alter.
To battle on means TO drag the game /
till closer TO the precipice OF ruin down
which all viii plunge il the suicidal strife !
S continued. 1t Is significant that most /
# the attacks upon Charles A Prince /
ince he hoouobbed with the League mo- 1
yuls have come from Chicago, where the 1
lew lambs II baseball have never suffered i
he pangs of Icing shorn- If two clubs in ]
Boston were such gold mine as has been
pictured, then il is passing strange that i
he cations have NOT all I
)een fulfilled RES MILFORD. JE
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