The Washington times., 1906-11-11

truth LIaL l4le pQbl4e Il NOT 50 lAhen IN
terested in ethical distinctions between
amateurs and professionals as il is in its
pardonable curiosity about men whose
praises are sounded every day in the
newspapers.
DR.. Grants proposition is to have
special events for professionals at anna
teur meets so that whoever is holding
the games will be free TO offer as mucn
money as he sees nit in order 20 obtain
the entries which Will be most pleasing
10 the spectators. Some such idea as
this should be adopted, and the sooner
The better.
Baseball Change Imperative
DR.. Grants proposition To amend the
rule which professionalizes a man who
plays on a baseball team with profes-
slonals is OF vast Importance not. only
'n Washington. but throughout the
United states. Something must Doe done
ana should be done at once. If the rule
We're enforced To the letter its ramifca-
lions would dIsquahfy a vast majority
of the amateurs. There would be a
reduction To az absurdity. with the re-.
suit that the ~ A. L. would be a Joke
and new union based on logic and
good sense would sweep the country.
Baseball is the national game. IL is
played On every backlOt. there is hardly
a boy n the United States not born
blind who has not tried il. and there
are few who have risen 10 any proIai-
nence or been in the game for years
who have not at some lime had for q
team-mate a man who has received
money Tor athletic services. 1t Is "a
great levcieT Outside Of the purely
| professional teams. Il man is on nine
as a rule, because it Is formed among
the players of his neighborhood, his
! lodge, his club, his church or other
Tor some other such purely loocal rea-
( son. and he gives his services out of
personal pride IN the success OF his
/ team.
Another STANDARD Necessary.
| II q member OF his lodge OF church.
or fellow-employe of the firm Tor
/ team in the field has in the past been q
/ professional. there are Few who will
give the matter IL thought. ana there IS
no reason why they should. Baseball IL
I Il pastime. frequently indulged in on
/ the spur of the moment, and 10 apply
/ to * the laws which govern field and
]
| competition, Tor which long preparation
/ is necessary, is an absurdity.
! Simon-pure amateur teams are. OF
| course. possible, but in baseball matches
, the question OF amateurism should be
/ lett 10 the managers OF the teams or
! the officials Of the league. and the a \
| l. should not be brought into the dis
| cussion. The A a. L. some years ago
/ attempted 10 maintain jurisdiction over
! baseball and had TO give it up as
! bad job largely for the reasons here
gwen, and for il TO apply its microscope
/ 70 a mans past and 20 judge his base
| bah career by the standards I'm other
athletics is mere folly.
Would Kill Athletics.
/ Playing on team with a professional
is now as good ground for suspending
an amateur as il ne had accepted
money. II every man who is now class
/ ed as am amateur We're 10 tell the abso-
/ Lutte truth about the times he has been
on "A nine which had a paid battery or
| crack hitter there would be a sad fall
4 ing of IN :he entry lists for some meets
/ scheduled for the coming winter.
! The notifications proposed by DIT
Grant will have to be carefully wOrded
! in a common sense fashion. for it is
rot intended TO abolish altogether the
/ line Of professionalism I'm baseball, but
the doctor is practical and experienced.
AMI is fully equal TO the task. Here's
hoping ne will succeed. for the A. A. L.
cannot afford to ignore its own present
I laws, nor can it safely enforce them.