New-York tribune., 1908-01-20

of the National Commission as a body and all
those interested in the sport who believe IN
equity and fair play Mr.. Pulliam is president
of the National League and a member OF the
National Commission. and in taking up TINS
fight has proved himself as strong an advocate
for justice and the rights of even ouending
players who may show disposition to reform
as he has shown himself fearless and aggressive
in keeping the game clean and free SO far as
possible from disorderly conduct The contro-
versy is not likely TO lead to a baseball war III
spite of uarlike signs. and in all probability the
resolution will be abrogated in due time. 1t Is
the duty of the National Commission to see that
it is If the National Association does not take
the initiative To what extent some fancied
grievance or personal enmity had to do with the
passage of the resolution followers Of the sport
care little but the resolution is an onence 10
fair play and herein followers of the sport care
r,uch Baseball players must be ruled with an
iron hand but Justice demands that any player,
no matter what the offence. should have a near
ing. and 1 agree with Mr.. Pulliam that this
resolution is not only in violation of baseball
law but in violation of true sport
It is hoped that the challenge issued on pc
half Of American colleges and universities TO
the universities and colleges of Great Britain
for 2 track and field athletic meeting following
the Olympic games in England this year viii oe
accepted. 1t would serve as a stimulus 10 the
sport here if a stimulus is needed, and pave the
way for a closer intimacy and stronger fellow
ship between the athletes of the two countries
II would lead also in all probability, to bet
ter representation of college meE on the Olympic
team which is TO be desired. Gustavus l.
Kirby. with whom the idea originated, and the
intercollegiate Association OF Amateur Athletes
of America which confirmed his preliminary
work and took the initiative, are to be congratu-
lated II the challenge is received in the same
spirit that il was sent, Of which there is little
doubt and there is time enough to arrange the
details. a meeting will result which will rival
the Olympic games in point of interest in TINS
country.
a correspondent has called my attention to
typographical error in my comment OF TWO
weeks ago on the remarkable growth OF the
automobile industry in this country, which l
meant to correct last Monday. 1t read: Twelve
years ago there were just fourteen cars IN this
country. and the drivers were looked on with
mingled feelings of pity and amusement Now
there are something like thirty thousand auto
mobiles in this country alone" 1t should read;
Now there are something like thirty thousand
automobiles in this city alone" 1t might be
well under the circumstances TO carry the COM
parison little further. Registrations show and
good Judges estimate that there are about TWO
| hundred thousand automobiles in use in this
| country. and that some ffty-ive thousand are
| registered in New York State There is an old
saving that figures never lie" Ergo. the DAY
Of the automobile has come and motorists are
making their presence felt
| long step in the right direction has been
| taken by the United States Golf Association
| through its executive committee in changing
| The plavfng conditions for the amateur cham
| pionship tournament. The earnest plea of one
! hundred of the leading players in the country
| could not be disregarded. The chief merit or
| the new system lies in the fact that the duff
fers,' are quickly weeded out, leaving fair field
| and real test for those who can survive the
| preliminary and first rounds. The ideal plan
! would be TO have medal play round OF thirty
| six holes cn the first day and all match play
| rounds at thirty-six holes. but this is impossl-
| HE with the size OF the field. But il is not and
| should not be the purpose of the United States
| Golf Association to discourage players who may
| have championship aspirations. The day may
| come when another Louis James VIII naSh out
| and perhaps last longer.
| The break in the Big Nine by the with
| drawal Of Michigan from the Western Intercol-
| legiate Conference has come at last, and judg-
| ing by reports is more less q relief Ii
| means however that the Michigan athletes
! will have to come East TO a large extent where
| as their real place and their dearest foes are
| in the West HERBERI'