New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-13
OPPOSE SUNDAY BALL.
MAYOR HEARS MINISTER'S.
viii Probably Veto Bill DeS'gned
for "Amdteurs.

| A ecore or more Of clergynen appeared against
the Sunday baseball bill, introduced Dy Aluei-
| man Mooney at tn hearing BEFORE tLe VIC!
Yesterday The bill aims to make 1t legal lot
! so-called amateurs to play ball on SuhuaS az
charge admission to the grounds. Mayor NC
| CIauop ebarnIv questioned the sponsors of the
| Hill and asked if it would not be possible Iol
| even professional ball players who do not depehu
| wholly on baseball for a livelihood TO orgLiiiN0
! clubs for Sunday playing. 1t Is almost oe,
| tainty that the Mayor will veto the Dill ne ID
| not satisfied that the definition OF the Term
| amateur is sufficiently clear and fears tha' II
| would be construed as to permit or ABUSES,
| The BILL if passed. would allow baseoaL % oe
,Iayed SUNDAY afternoons from to 6 o'clock in
| New York City. The ministers oppose IL De-
| cause they think it is an opening wedge 10 per
| r,it professional baseball Justice Blanchard
decision thew say, allows amateur baseball TO
he nIaved on Sunday now. and so there Is no
need for the present bill.
DIR. F. c. Igehart. president OF the Ne" 10TH
Methodist Conference, made the other ciergyLleh
start when he said in an imprisoned manner
ooh NAV God-bIast 1t. I say. Its funds they
all want in this COuntry-from OrCHdIu' VIM
got his $50 for every murder. down 10 lile'o
bovs who want their money 10 play. Ihese
people want to violate every law or the I'i'I
our eloquent friends will try to show that error
&c truth. but this bill is a fraud. Amateurs may
now MAY under the present law. beg your
honor to veto this bill"
DR. Overton said the bill was intended 20 Oei'e-
fit the ni-professionals and not the amateurs
The Mayor then wanted to know why the
definition of an amateur had been chah8eu III
the bill from the definition Of the American AS
ISOLATION of Amateur Athletes The Dill resdIus
as an amateur one who plays baseball FOR com
pensation on Sunday but not on week day ana
oP during
week. Dr. Overton said the definition was u
let boys and young men play the game for
money and have gate receipts Assemolymar
Mooney. he asserted is owner Of club IN
Brooklyn and wants TO make money.
Dr. F. Mason North urged the Mayor not 10
sign the bill. as it would lead to widespread
rowdyisrn in public conveyances by increasing
tho number Of baseball games fine game
would be made only commercial enterprise
Dr. H Halenbeck president OF the KINGS
County Sunday Observance Society and Dr- J.
0. Wilson, also of Brooklyn, were olne' '''''''7
ters to speak against the bill
Thomas H Evers was first TO reply 10 Tue
ministers He denied that Mr. Mooney managed
anv team. and said amateurs are constantly
| being nterfered with in playing oaseoalI on
! SUNDAYS "AIl these ministers make great
point about the money these young men VIII
get for playing on Sundays" he said. looking at
| the clergynen Il want 10 ask them X there Is
! one of them who will preach the Gospe! on sun
! day without his annual stipend?
Yes yesr' cried the ministers Bang went
| the Mayors gavel and Mr.. Evers resumed He
doubted the sincerity OF the bills opponents and
denied that 1t had the support Of the liquor deal
ers Many OF the clubs which would be bene-
fitted by the bill We're, he said supported by
Catholic churches and some OF the city magis-
trates are in favor Of the bill, among them Mag
Istrate Furlong OF Brooklyn Even Deputy
Police Commissioner O'Keeffe has said he is In
favor OF this bil.' continued Mt. Evers, but as
Commissioner had TO see that the law was OBJ
/ served
AT this remark Mayor Mcclellan cooked up
his ears and wanted TO know when Mr.. O hee1e
lad made IT, Mr.. Evers said h6 was quoting
newspaper interview.
According to Mr.. Evers, nine-tenths of the
boards Of trade in favor OF the bill He
mentioned, among the other supporters, the
Board OF Aldermen. the heads Of all city de-
partments in Brooklyn. Controller Metz, who
Gays If we have more baseball on Sunday We'll
have fewer highbaus' and Supreme Court JUS
tces Fifteen hundred attorneys, he declared
had sent petition TO the Code Committee at
Albany in favor Of the bill.
DR.. Richards, Of the Gymnastic Union, said
his fourteen-y ear-old son had told him If the
boys could not play ball Sunday they would
play craps. These gentlemen he said OF the
ministers have nothing else to do but hunt up
ways Of taking away the pleasure OF the work
ing classes"