Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-01
SUNDAY BALL PLAYING.

The members of the tWO professional
ball clubs involved in Sunday after
Moons game on the Island grounds
were arraigned in Justice Rogers
court yesterday and were fined hVe
dollars and costs each, a~ggregatlng
s210. The penalty was promptly paid,
presumably out of the receipts OF the
game. and there is doubtless a fair
balance left on hand! Financially,
therefore, this particular violation OF
law was a success. The thing, how
ever, is not to be commended, and the
Register trusts that the management
of the local team will, upon reflection
and consideration, determine upon a
different course and stick to the old
time and lawful custom Of playing
upon week days only.
The best public sentiment in Wheel
ing is not prepared to countenance
Sunday base ball by professionals,
even if precautions be taken, as in this
instance, to caution the audience to
refrain from noisy demonstrations of
approval or disapproval. 1t is a too
radical departure from custom, it de-
cidedly infringes upon the just peace
and order expected upon the Sabbath,
it sets a bad precedent, and be-
yond and above all, 1t is a vio-
lation of the law of the State, as W.T.
ness yesterdays punishment. Those
good citizens who live in the vicinity
OF the ball park are entitled to the
assurance that they shall not be an
noyed or interferred with in this man
ner, while the public at large is not
prepared to see this radical step tax
en-. If professional ball may be play
ed, why may not the theatres open,
and Wheeling thus become a second
St. Louis, where, at least a few years
ago, the bands were in full blast In
front of places of amusement on Sun
day evening, and ~horse-racing and
ball were regular Sunday afternoon
~recreations. 1t may be argued in ex-
tenuation or justification that some
worse things than ball playing are
countenanced or allowed in Wheeling
on Sunday. Granting that this be
true, it does not follow that the bars
must be entirely thrown down, and all
respect for law and the conventional
ties lost sight of. That there is
Sabbath desecration-much worse than
base ball, in violation Of law, tools
a fact not 10 be either denied or com
mended. But, as a rule, these things
are inconspicuous and therefore at
tract little notice. But a professional
game of ball is another and different
matter. It is seen and heard by all
men. 1t brings thousands of people
together, and thus constitutes some
thing more than a violation of a stat
ute devised for the good OF society
at large. If the management S the
Wheeling club is wise. It will accept
the result of yesterday as final. and
drop a programme which can only
result in additional and perhaps heav-
Ter penalties. while arousing public
sentiment to the point reached some
ten years ago. when the players were
summarily marched off the diamond
soon after the first bali was pitched.
What gives the Sultan so much ar
rogance is the fact that IN the past
the European powers would not allow
anyone to give him a proper drull-
bing. Russia would have driven the
Turf ont of Europe in 1878 had it NOT
been for England and the Congress of
Berlin, and since then some of the
powers always interfered between the
Porto and trouble at an opportune
time. 1t will probably be so again
should the United States proceed to
the extent of making a naval demon
stration as 4 means of collecting that
little bill.
THE QUALITY OF MERCY.
We are all liable to error, at some