Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-16

with interesting games taking place, and 1
was agreeably surprised at the stiffness Of
the crowd and players. Most of the games
We're being played in thickly populated
nelghDorhoods, with seemingly no objection
from the citizens. While l am not alto
gether in favor of Sunday ball playing by
the major leagues, I certainly believe in
allowing the amateurs full swing with Sun
day ball playing, and think the cities of the
east could copy Chicago to advantage.
1t was recreation of a simple and cheap
nature, that made all better for the two
hours spent at the ball game. This army
OF youngsters Will develop many a star ball
player. although the majority of the stars
come from the small towns.
The meeting of the national commission
at Cleveland next Thursday after several
postponements is sure to result in strength
efing the bands of organized ball or weak
en- the structure to such an extent that
base ball property will decrease so per cent
in value. It's all up to three men-August
Hermann of Cincinnati. President John
son of the American League and President
Pulliam Of the National League
Should this, the highest court In base
ball. find evidence to convict any man OF
scheming to disrupt an organization they
have fully agreed to uphold for a term OF
years, and through the national agreement
signed to live up to every letter of the COM
pact. why, then, all blame be on their
heads.
The man who welches on his duty can
be no help to a national pastime, and
while no doubt great influence will be
brought to bear on the individual members
OF this commission nothing should count
but the facts and the evidence The great
game has prospered in the past as the re-
suit Of the conspicuous honesty Of the
ball players, even In the face of magnates
nod yncfs Tho.
players need no prompting to remain above
suspicion. Then why men holding official
positions in the game?
The two major leagues and the national
association Of minor leagues signed an
agreement to work together for a term of
years. 1t was an open game and no party
was forced to join the connhlna ton. 1t
looked good for all and proved so putting
the game on a sound footing for the first
time, and giving the minors the first show
for existence. Up to the time of the COM
pact base ball was a will-o'- the wiso sort
of business, the leagues usually going up
with the skyrockets on July f. The major
leagues prospered, for where the small fry
do well the big leagues are sure to bene-
fit That has been the accurate history of
professional base ball
In the case before the commission at
present 1t Is the American League that was
aimed at. The next time 1t may be the
National. You can never tell the direction
a worm may turn.
The national commission is no joke, and
the men who accept the honors must
rise to the occasion and play clean open
game, with no signals. The one great
trouble is to get at the right parties, for
usually the original microbe is seldom al
lowed in the open, preferring to engage
some one TO deal the cards he has stacked.
The minor league will be especially inter-
ested IN the work of the commission, for
the same parties accused of treachery
against the American League have made
oceans OF trouble for the mino-s In fact
they have been the only disturbing element