The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-03
DEFENDS BLACK SOX
SQUIRE BROWN APPEALS FOR
 LOYALTY.
Adverse Criticism of Home Team by Men Who Bet Has Caused Some Generalization in
 Its Ranks.

xLS fkdukS.
 Baseball affairs in Montgomery are in pretty ugly shape. While the home team Is partly responsible for this condition, some of the blame rests with the patrons of the game in Montgomery.
 Here Is team that has been playing ball in the fastest minor league in the United States for one month and nearly two weeks and with the exception of Clarence Childs in the infield and Elan agan in the outfield the personnel is today just what it was when the season opened May 25. This augurs we'll for the keen insight and good judgment of Manager Whistler, and that Lew Whistler has not only made splendid manager but full filled to the letter every call made on him cannot be denied by any unprejudiced or undisgruntled person.
 No unprejudiced or undisgruntled per son can deny that with one or two excep- tions the team has been playing excellent ball. Numbers of times the individual and team work have bordered on the sen sational. That the team has won the ma jority of its games and played faster ball on the road than on it's home grounds Is not surprising when the preposterous state of affairs in Montgomery is taken into consideration.
 On the road the fast, earnest hard working game of the Black Sox has earn ed for them not only the respect but at times the unstinted praise and applause of the patrons of the game in the various town they have visited. When a baseball
 team gets back to its home town the To- cal pa ,rons of the game are supposed (and as a general rule in other towns they dol to encourage them In every man. ner possible. Here in Montgomery the Black Sox have been subjected t, not only the severest and most unjust criticisms and arraignments, but to downright abu- sive language.
 Now to be reasonable and look at this matter in calm, impartial manner. Say you were working for an employer who. at your every mistake, abused and vili- fled you until by his constant nagging had you thoroughly. completely hacked" until you found it a difficult matter to do anything right.
 Ball players are only human after all is said. Of course the few rank" games that have been played on the home grounds are not to be condoned. but who is to blame? Every man on the team has been playing ball to the best of his abil- ity expecting naturally that their efforts would be appreciated here of all places. Imagine the situation, you just persons. when the home patrons of the game hurl in vitriolic vials at he heads of the Mont
 
 anger and injustice.
 The cause of the trouble is plain to even the most dense person. A few persons
 who have 50 cents or $1 bet on the game begin this yelping the moment an error is made. Right then, perhaps, if the player who made the error was encour- aged and helped along he would in all probability have played better ball than ever. On the contrary, however, he Is cried down until he hardly knows wheth- CT he is standing on his head or his heels and is absolutely helpless.
 These small gamblers inaugurate the kicking but strange to relate several peo- pie who never bet one cent on the game follow in the wake of the yelpers. There is rule that no betting shall be permitted in the grandstand but it has not always been as rigidly enforced as 1t should be. When Judge Kavanaugh was in Montgomery the other day he called attention to this and remarked on the disastrous results sure to accrue from the gambling eleZent.
 Hereafter therefore, the management has determined that any person caught making a bet. not only In the grandstand, but on the bleachers or in any part of tho grounds, shall be summarily elected from the inclosure.
 We all want baseball and clean base ball (and professional ball is about as clean a sport as can be had) and the only way in which this desirable end can be at- tained is to eliminate as far as possible the gambling element. If this is done those of us who love baseball for the pure sake of the game will come pretty near to having our wishes gratified. Squire Brown The appended communication is from a well known citizen and patron of the game:
 Editor The Advertiser,
 I wish to enter a protest against the absurd. useless and childish kicking (un- der the new dialect "knocking') being done in Montgomery over a few lost games.
 There is not a real reason why Mont gomery should lead the league; except by the law of chance, the odds are one to eight. All things being equal (and they are supposed to be made equal by league laws governing the salary limit the clubs should range around the 800 mark in their percentages.
 By brillian spurt in the opening of the baseball season Montgomery forged ahead and eventually led the league for a short time. Until that time Little Rock had held the coveted position. By the same process. whatever it may be. other clubs have taken on their spurt, and Montgom- cry is now third or fourth or whatever 1t may Dc eOuhS' EolliCNOpOII iS NuC laii- ender. Is there any more reason why Shreveport should be last than Montgom- cry first?
 Because by this law of chance our team loses a game or two; commence this | ridiculous and childish kicking or knock ing that would discourage any lot of men 1 in any kind of business
 Baseball is within itself the cleanest, cheapest. most healthful recreation with in the grasp of the tired. overworked clerk or employer. The management in this place have provided the best accom-