The Washington times., 1911-03-01
BASEBALL FACING
GAMBLING MENACE
Leaders Aroused by Proposal
of Bookmakers to Re-
ceive Bets.
GOVERNMENT AID
TO COMBAT EVIL.
How Game Is Corrupted Made
Clear by References to Bits
of History.
By THOMAS KIRBY.

Reflection upon the developments Of
the last two days leads to the conyic-
ton that baseball Is today confronted
by the most serious problem in its
whole history-the advent on a larger
scale Of the professional gambling ele-
ment.
No matter how Indifferent Ban John
son. Garry Hermann, and the rest of
the most prominent figures in the game,
might appear to the activity of the
coterie of Kentucky bookmakers who
have offered to accept bets on the re-
suit of the league races, it is a fact
that baseball leaders are thoroughly
aroused, and realize that drastic action
must he taken to stamp out the GAM
blers.
As was announced in The Times yes
terday the Department Of Justice has
already started an investigation, hor-
ing to make case against the commits
sion company before the evil grows t.
any great extent.
Driven from pillar to post by ad-
verse legislation, and now findinfi rae
ing practically kill in this country. It
is not surprising that the profes-
sional bookmaker should look to the
most prosperous of all sports in which
to ply his trade. Today there is in
vested in baseball more than $780,
100000 and it is in order to protect
this vast property that the national
baseball commission will be forced to
immediate action.
History Is Recalled.
To say that baseball cannot be made
corrupt is mere sophistry. 1t will be
recalled that in fh
came so active that the game was actu-
ally threatened, and it was several
years before the scandal had died out.
At that time so brazen was the work of
bettors in getting close to players that
President Hubert was forced openly to
blacklist three players after conclusive
evidence had been produced to prove
that they had thrown a game at
Louisville on which large sums mad
been wagered.
Signal Tipping Expose.
The recent signal-tipping expose at
New York would tend to demonstrate
that the "anything-to-win'' spirit is not
yet dead. In connection with the case
on the HighIanders' grounds there was
never a suggestion that a bribery had
been offered, but in another instance
at the Polo Grounds an individual ap-
preached a pair of National League UNI
pires and offered $500 in real money if
they would make decisions that would
give the Giants a victory over the
Chicago Cubs.
Baseball, of course, cannot be blamed
for these abuses, but they are simply
pointed out in order to show some of
the many ways in which the profess
sional gambler might successfully ply
his trade in the national sport
1t is doubtful II the average fan could
be tempted to fall" for the future book,
so 1t will be the sure-thing gambler
against the book, and this would but
add to the seriousness of the situation.
Plan to Combat Evil.
How the baseball people will combat
the evil is, of course. not known, but
If they work in conjunction with the
of Justice it is not at all
unlikely that the bookmakers will array
themselves with the ball players, and
then there will be some merry doings.
There Is more than one disgruntled ball
player in this land, and it is this class
to which the commissioners could ap-
peal.
safety of baseball, and it Is UP TO the
Commission to spare nothing
in order to wipe out the menace before
baseball so degeneTates that IL will be
question of cash bonuses, and not real
ability that decides the contests
1t might be necessary 10 call a con-
Sention of the magnates, but even this
IS no extreme when the protection of
fans and owners is considered by the
oatronized sport in the world.