Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-12
FAIRNESS IN NATIONAL GAME
Better Conditions Exist Since Estsb.
ilshment OF the Commission.
MANY HARD PROBLEMS SOLVED
PInvers ShouId See what - to the
Interest oG the Maunate Is Apt to
he 10 Their own Interests
~ We'll.

! Fairness and equity to all men are two
factors which have predomnated i'm the
National commission, frequently referred
/ TO as the supreme court Of base ball, since
| its creation
! For that reason alone II should be con-
/ tinued. No better Endorsement could be
given TO its efforts to control a sport
/ Of the widest possible range in one coun-
| try-and large country, too-with so many
4 diversified interests.
/ The practical organization OF base ball
began in 1870 Since the first attempt 10
| bring method into the management OF the
! pastme from a professional standpoint,
there has been no era in which the game
/ has been so popular and so ably handled
| as IL has been since the National commits
| sion has been in existence.
| The reelection OF August Hermann, bet
| ter known as Garry" to the craftsmanship
Of the commission. promises a continuance
Of the present capital state of affairs. In
connection with the presidents of the two
major leagues he has handled affairs SO
well that justice has been the invariable
rule and not the exception.
The player who enroHs himself today in
the professional class knows that he is
assured of a respectful consideration of
any claim which he may make, and II the
merits of the case are with him ne is GER
tain Of decision in his favor.
Hard Problems to solve.
There have been knotty problems before
the National commission in the past and
there will be knotty problems in the future,
but there has yet to be shown a disposition
on the part of the men who compose it. to
act other than from the sincerest motives.
Players occasionally believe that their
rights are infringed upon. They thought
so when the National commission ruled
against post season games of doubtful de-
STABILITY Yet the player must learn that,
to maintain his own livelihood and to pre-
serve the national game in the highest re-
pute he must lend his assistance heart
lily TO its good as the owner.
TO the player it may appear light trifle
that a worlds championship team. or any
part of it, should go to another country
and be beaten in a series of games. The
player understands the reasons better ;han
the casual observer. The player knows
that the same amount of energy and de-
termination TO win Is not likely to be in
jected into game in which a champion
ship is not at stake as will be i'm evidence
in the persistent effort Of league season
in the United States.
The man who does not study base ball
as an attraction is more inclined 10 take
surface view Of the game and consider
that any championship team which has
been beaten has had its prowess "smudged'
little
Inviting Trouble.
More than that, IL II is right to play
post season series with one set Of players,
it is quite as right to play them with all
sets of players, md the first thing organ
lied base ball would have to face would
be a series OF contests in which discipline
would be thrown to the winds and the
regulations of players would be blighted
If base ball is worthy what the American
public considers it to be worth, it cannot
afford to have shadows cast upon sue
oessful season by very disgracefuI and
ordinary post season.
The players should feel every bit as much
pride in their achievements as lis felt by
the owner-more, IL anything. They should
never be guilty of conduct which mars the
esteem in which they are held by the
public.
Their interest in the integrity and good
repute of base ball is as important, more
important. II anything than that of the
club owner. To them it is a livelihood
Better therefore, that all possibility Of
scandal be eliminated than that there be
the slightest morsel of scandal to roll under
tongues which are as keen 10 relish II in
one kind Of sport as another.
New Drafting Rule.
Not all may understand, under the orna-
mental verbiage which is necessary to pro-
mulgate base ball rulings, the new depart
ure taken by the commission in regard to
the drafting Of players.
In brief, IL clearly provides that no major
league club in the future is TO be permitted
TO draft some player from a minor league
club for the benefit Of another minor
league club or major league club.
A severe penalty has been provided which
will probably put an end to that sort of
thing, II II ever existed. The rule is well
intended and will be we'll enforced.
Each base ball club in the game should
stand for Itself, whether It be a major
league team or a minor league team. Il
is manifesty unfair to players and to other
clubs II any one club organization shall
work conformity with another TO recruit
players for third, The new rule means
that the opportunity In base ball for a
: free and open trade and exchange OF play
, ers is to be kept strictly on an honest basis.
, The unfairness OF permitting any one
: team 10 help build up another at the ex-
pense Of six other clubs in the same league
e is so evident that Il needs particular