The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-05
SAYS MANAGER
KILLED SPORTS
NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSION
Err DECLARES MONEY TOO
MUCH THOUGHT OFF.

New York, Jan. 5.-Police Commits
sioner Baker OF New York was one OF
the speakers at the Barney" Dreyfus
baseball dinner in New York recently.
He said the managers of prize fighters
and the owners Of race horses had
killed the two sports in New York, and
strongly limited to the baseball men
that it was up to them to conduct their
article properly or the same fate
also gave assurance to the baseball
men that the New York parks would
be. properly policed hereafter, some
thing which former Police Commits
sioner Bingham did not think was
necessary.
"As former resident OF Pittsburx,
which was my birthplace, and where
the early years of my life were spent"
said the commissioner, "I am pleased
to be with you on this suspicious oc-
casion, and congratulate the PittsburE
team on it's great achievement in win
ming the pennant this year"
"Pittsburg is to be congratulated on
having such baseball club to repre-
sent it in the National league. So few
really good things, according to the
press have come out of Pfttsburg
within the last few years that 1t is
very refreshing to welcome the Pitts
burg baseball club and it's representa-
tives and associates to New York.
"The baseball managers have a great
responsibility resting upon them. I
hope they appreciate that baseball is
now. the leading game OF outdoor
sports in this country, the game which
used to attract only men, but which
now has among its strong admirers
and enthusiasts tine ladies. It is a
game that the small boy learns TO play
In the street usually before he learns
anything else.
Horse racing as sport has fallen
into decay in the United States. Box
ing has also gone by the wayside. and
there must be reason why these two
sports, which only a few years ago
were so popular, have been almost
abandoned by the people. Those who
have followed sporting events for the
past few years know the reason.
Managers Think Only of Money.
Zone of the principal reasons, to my
mind, is the greed OF the managers
who conducted the racing and. the
boxing bouts throughout the country;
they seemed to look to the gate re-
ceipts only. Conditions became SO bad
that the sentiment of the public arose
against these two sports and when
public sentiment is aroused and takes
sides with what is believed to be an
evil, 1t is sure to succeed.
The people are now turning toward
baseball for their amusement; that is,
to a great extent, and the responsible
ity rests upon the managers whether
this sport is going to maintain the
great popularity that 1t has today, or
whether, in looking solely for the gate
receipts, they are going to spoil its
chances In this country. 1t is I'D to
them to provide comfort and security
for the people who visit their grounds,
and rowdyism should be prevented.
"a strong spirit of rivalry should ex-
list between the clubs. If the time
should come when baseball in either
the National or American leagues be
syndicated-by that mean one club
controlling an interest in another--de.
cay will Immediately set In, because
you cannot fool the people all the time.
Just as soon as the public learns that
ii is witnessing ball game between
two clubs which are controlled by the
same parties confidence In the sport
will wane.
Asks Support for Empires.
'It seems to me that one OF the
methods that could be used effectively
to preserve order at the games would
be to have the public fairly understand
that the decision of the umpire stands,
and that the players. though they may
disagree with his decision, should be
prevented from showing any hostile
demonstration toward the umpire dur
ing the game. because the spectators
are largely made up of partisans. and
any cue that is given them by the
action OF the players 10 readily taken
up, and then disorder arises,
y have very strong ideas as to the
part the police should play in handling
the crowds in this city at places of
amusement, but we can only 20 so FAR
legally. AS said before. IL the man
ayers of the clubs will be liberal in
their care OF the people VINO come to
see the games, providing for their COM
fort and protecting them from the
ticket scaIpers outside the fence. the
work of the police will be easy as well