The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-01
Baseball in Alabama.

The friends and lovers Of the noble. valor-
Gus, and approved game. science. art. and
mystery of baseball will yell with rage. IL
they don't faint with surprise. when they
hear Of the Southern outrage which has
been donc to that glorious sport. Some
person, presumably we'll meaning but evil
IDENTIFY humpbacked and knock -knecd in his
intellcctuals. has introduced into the Lcgis-
laturo of Alabama n bill providing that
every professional baseball club in that
State or coming into that State shall pay
a tax Of $500 year. Instead of treating
the bill us the vaporing of a crank. the COM
mittce to whom it WIS referred amended it
by provision for Il tax OF $50 on every
player in n baseball game to which an adj
open to various constructions. The first
skeptical impulse is to attribute to the de-
sire of Alabama Legislators to be put on the
deadhead list at baseball games. Tho
amendment is directed not against pro-
fessionals merely. but against all players.
for it is not the admission fee that makes
game professional. Under the Alabama bill
the University Of Georgia couldn't play
with the University Of Alabama or the
Selma Nonrarcils with the Talladega In
vinciblcs. and charge Il ton-ccnt admission
for the purpose Of covering cvpcnseS, with
oVn fattcning the treasury Of Alabama with
a fine. So hat the bill might bc regarded
as a measure for the benefit OF Alabama
legislators with n fondncss for baseball.
1t would be unjust. however. SO to regard
1t. From tho somewhat hystcrical Joy OF
the Alabama newspapers which discuss this
measure it is clear that Alabama regards
baseball as Il sin and a shame. What kind
of baseball is put up" in Alabama? What
sort of professional mines infcst the State :?
According to our esteemed Alabama con-
temporary, professional baseball is tho
rottenest Of frauds" Not in this part Of
the country. If it is in Alabama, Alabama
has our sincere sympathy If the tax is for
revenue. it will he a failure. because it
stands to reason that people will not go to
see game which is the rottencst of frauds,
and so the mines cant afford to pay the tax.
If the tax is imposed because baseball is Il
sort of NAHUM prohibitnm. if not an evil in
itself. the Alabama idea becomes little
more Ineligible. Our own opinion. how
ever. is that the Farmers Alliance objects
to baseball games because they tend to
distract the people from thinking
about the low price OF cotton and the
high wages Of plutocrats, and are liable to
interfere with meetings of the Alliance held
in the vicinity of n baseball ground. Still.
the Alliance and the national game might
be reconcicd according to Alliance princi-
pies. Instead of taxing baseball players.
tn" State OF Alabama might provide base
ball nine for every six counties in the State.
and admit members OF the Alliance free
upon presentation OF their ticket Of mem
bership. Professional baseball clubs usu-
ally belong to an association or alliance.
any way. There ought to be tho best OF
good feelings between tho two organiza-
lions. BESIDES. the Alliance people Of Ala
bnma really need recreation Men who
habitually tear up finance. political ccono-
my. politics. and the whole frame Of things
should have Il change. Two hours week
on the bleaching stands would heal and
perhaps save some large but shattered
minds in Alabama.