The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-07-27
SPORT S


charges.
The trustees desire to make a further
statement in this connection as follows:
The game of baseball like all ath-
letic games is of interest to the pub
lie only when there is absolute GER
tainty that the game is being played
on it's merits. Any reasonable suspi-
cion that such is not the case ire
trlevably kills all interest therein.
1t is with regret that the trustees
feel obliged to say that during the
present season of baseball in Honolulu
there has been a growing public suspi-
cion that the games played by the lea
que were not played on their merits.
The trustees have had and have no
evidence that such suspicious are well
founded.
The trustees believe that as to a very
large portion of them, at any rate there
is no foundation.
Believing such suspicious to be I'M
founded, the trustees have looked for
the reason for such groundless suspi-
cion and find as an undoubted fact that
during the entire season there has
been a growing disposition On the
part of those interested in the games
to bet on the results
1t has also unequivocally come to
us that a number of bhe managers,
hackers, captains and players of the
various teams habitually bet on the
games. Among those betting on the
grounds at the game in question were
at least three policemen, showing that
there has been practically no restraint
put upon the practice. The trustees
believe that this practice is utterly
demoralizing to the game and to faith
in fair play. When a man has money
bet on a game, especially if he has
bet more than he can afford he is in
suspicious frame of mind and is pre-
pared to believe that any misplay is
the result of fraudulent intention.
Thus the ground is laid for suspicion
on every hand
Not only is a fertile ground for sus-
picion laid, but where there is an at
moshere of suspicion of wrongdoing
and strong incentive for so doing, there
| is much greater chance for wrong be-
! ing done than if such incentive does
not exist.
| The trustees are of opinion that a
strong stand must be taken against
| betting on the games by those inter-
/ ested in baseball or it will be the ruin
of the sport. This belief does not rest
on theory alone. Some fifteen years
ago a similar condition of affairs to
that now under discussion existed in
| Honolulu when a prosperous baseball
| season was broken up and a fine base
! ball field with fences and grandstand
became a total loss through the proven
selling of a game, which created such
a revulsion of feeling and distrust that
/ baseball was broken up for several
! years
We believe that the same results VIII
! follow now if gambling on the games
| is not stopped
We do not believe that all betting
on the games can be prevented but if
the managers, captains and leading
| players and hackers of the teams will
take a stand against it, pledge them
selves to do what they can to prevent
| it and make betting on any of the
games a ground for expulsion from the
teams, it will cause a radical change
for the better.
| We therefore recommend to the
league that rules be formulated and
adopted by the league carrying the
foregoing suggestions into effect in
the hope and belief that the sport
which we all so much love may be
continued in the premier position which
it has heretofore occupied among the
healthful and delightful exercises and
entertainments of this Territory.
H. M. WHITNEY,
]. M. DOWSETT,
L. A. THURSTON,
CHAS. F. CHILLINGWORTH,
D. PAUL ISENBERG,
Thrustees Honolulu Baseball Associa-
ton
On the motion of Bob King second
ed by c. j. Falk, the report was &C
cepted and ordered spread on the min
utes.
The games tomorrow will be between
the Honolulus and Oahus, the Punahous
and Kams. Both games look good.