Evening star., 1909-02-24

five players are carried in addition to a
contingent of farm hands, control OF
whom is retained under the option. system
The retention of players for whom ciuh
has immediate use should be regulated.
The number should be restricted to elsht-
cen from May to September l, so that
the second division clubs may nave
chance to strengthen and the minor
leagues to build UP their teams. which are
annually depleted by draft. ConSesuor
of talent in the major leagues should not
be permitted to the extent that IL Is Pfac-
ticed. No club should be allowed to carry
more PLAYERS than will safeguard 1t
against the ordinary accidents OF the
game. Some have more players than uni
forms, and when at home the substitutes
appear for practice in traveilns sull'
and therefore are unavailable Tor emer-
gency duty The point is raised not FOR
the purpose of promoting economy in the
operation of major clubs. but to pro
test against the injustice of the system
TO the ond-diviSion teams OF the amer
lean and the National leagues and the
minor leagues.
Some of the forty-odd base ball play
ers who made $40 114.J 4.J2-almost hall OF
the gross receipts-out of the five games
which constituted the worlds series, are
Iabcring under the delusion that the rep
resentatives of the two big leagues.
which provide this source OF revenue Tor
them, do not deal fairly with them In
the division of the money. They chal-
lenge the right of the commission to re-
ceive 10 per cent of the proceeds and
charge that this part of their earnings
is spent In excessive entertainment and
convivial enjoyment by Chairman Herr
mann and his associates. The contest
ants for the worlds championship are
expert at base ball, but, with few eX-
ceptions. are lacking in business acumen
They cannot appreciate that series OF
games between the respective champions
of the National and American leagues.
played by them on the cooperative plan,
would net yield to them as much money
as they derive from 90 per cent OF the
first four games. under the national COM
mission whose connection with the series
is accepted by the base ball public as a
guarantee of integrity and sportsman
ship.
The PLAYERS. who suspect the commits
sion have not the confidence of the public
to the extent that they imagine. There
are no Cravers. Nichols. Halls or Dew
lins in the profession and there are no
more crooked games. but the parks would
not be packed unless there were leagues
and the worlds series would not be fix
ture unless controlled by the commission
The impertinent request that the players
be permitted to have a representative
count and check tickets should be ignored
by the commission. The honesty of Herr
mann. johnson and Pliliam as individuals
and officials, and McRoy and Heydler,
the business agents of the commission.
has never been impugned. and surely
their records and regulations should safe
guard them from suspicion by those
whose interests they are promoting with
out compensation.
Fielder Jones having announced his
positive retirement from base ball. Presi-
dent Comiskey made a good selection
when he decided to appoint Billy Sullivan
as manager of the Chicago White SoX the
coming season. Sullivan should make
successful leader, the little backstop
has cheerful disposition and knows base
ball thoroughly.
Sullivan has for the past half dozen
years or more ranked as one of the best
catchers in the profession, CHASING with
such men as Johnny Killing, Lew Criger
and Roger Bresnahan.
Fielder Jones was a hard worker and
If this great outfielder retires from the
game, as per his latest announcement
base ball will lose one of the finest all
round players that ever graced the dia-
mond.