The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-30
From the New York Post.


 @ pressions of pleasure an ornate pass to all the major and minor league baseball games within the. scope of his authority. This week the police com missioner of the coIntry's chief city threat ems to close its most celebrated ball field as a "disorderly resort" if its management does not promptly prevent riot and the lnobbing of umpires. These two events are approximately synchronous with the an- nual product of magazine articles relat- Ing to the nationa, sport. Most of them are mere qualifications of the game. and make no attempt to explain the paradox of a pastime or business or an institu- tIon-which can be honored in the White House and threatened with outlawry by the New York police, without having it's patrons surp ised by either occurrence. In the dignified pages of the Century, how ever, Charles D. Stewart under the title of 'grhe United States of Baseball, has made serious effort to account for some of the mystifying phenomena of profes- sional ball
 The complicated organization under the national commission and the whole struc- ture of baseball law" are, as MT. Stewart points out, only the creation of popular feeling about the game. The public, which goes to horse races largely for the sake of the betting ring for some unaccount- able reason shuns baseball that is tainted. The success and recognition of profes- sional baseball today depend on Its repu- tation for absolute honesty It Is to satisfy the craving for sport above suspicion that Umpires have been clothed with their pie nary powers, and the severest punishments devised for the now almost unheard-of offense of selling game But this Is not all. ''The American wants the best playing the talent affords, and as the best work is always done professionally, he must have professional players. At the same time he wants a really partisan contest, battle between men who are so far removed from the desire for money that they would not win or lose for it. While the first requirement calls for professional, the second calls for an anna teus. He wants both at the same time; and how may this be?' The answer Is found, of course in the ''strong govern ment," which prohibits too frequent changes of players, making the team that represents a given city a fairly constant quantity, and loyalty more profitable to the player in the long run than treachery.
 All this, we are told, has been done be- cause the man in the bleachers has in- sisted upon 1t. He has applied the moral force that has regeperated a game that was in a sadly demoralized condition thirty years ago. And yet of all bodies of human beings ever assembled together, baseball crowd is one of the last from which to expect effective ethical impulses. It cannot plead ignorance, for it is as sophisticated as any that knew the gladi- ators' peculiar thrusts, and the popular Hons individuallzed snarls and springs in the Roman arena. It knows the umpire is the honest man, yet 1t howls "Robber,' and throws cushions and rugs at him for a close decision in the visitors favor. II backs up the home team in wranglings that every one knows are forbidden by the rules, even when the grievance Is real. There is, of course, a modicum of clean sporting spirit that could not be entirely extinguished from the breasts of grand stand full of highwaymen. But to believe that this crowd forced the adoption of salutary regulations at which it rages every day, is a strain on credulity.
 Of course, 1t must be said of baseball that, as 1t puts heavier responsibility than any other game on the umpire, 1t also puts a severer strain on the temper of player and audience. Job would have lost his reputation for patience if an umpire had called third strike on him when the ball. as in the ballad, went below me knee"
 But pardonable evaporation of both player and spectator Is not enough to ex- plain the spirit which boycotts losing team and brings golden gate receipts to one that wins, even by rowdy methods.
 It is the remark of some sagacious ob- server that this country provides great crowds for ball games every day or every other day, without apparently possessing any leisured class from which such crowds can come. The eight hour day does not permit a visit to the diamond at D. m. unless there is no allowance for the noon meal or time spent in transit. The occu- rations enjoying ''benlSing hours con