New-York tribune., 1911-04-17
COMMENT ON SPORTS
No Fear of Homeless Giants
Showing the White Feather.
NEED FOR POLICE AT GAMES
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

and Professional.
Homeless as they ere for the moment
,h. Giants arc no whit discouraged, even
though they must face a distinct handicap
,r nlavine on a strange diamond and thus
,ose the advantage that familiar surround
,nrs bring 10 a team playing on home
ground While John T. Brush and the
club and the players are deserving OF sym
rsthv. II IS quite possible that the loss OF
Iho or,,4stand at the Polo Grounds 10y fire
early Friday morning was blessing In dlS-
xt;ise The huge wooden structure was as
,s.e no doubt. az It could be made, but
vben crowded 10 It's full capacity, as II
vas on Wednesday. the menace from hre
was enough 10 make strong men quail Win
,he thought Of what tho result would be II
manic ensued. Mr. Brush has been anN-
.ous 20 build a modern flreproof steel and
concrete stand for some time. as hitting
home for the Giants. but his inability 10 Sc
cure q long lease has been an insuperahIe
barrier. He faces the same unfortunate
condition to-day, and must decide diff
cult problem before accepting plans for the
reconstruction Of the stand. It IS hoped.
however. that he may see his way clear to
auiId q reasonably freproof or at least
slow burning structure now that the loss
nas come and must be met.
Whereas. Frank J. Farrell. owner OF the
Yankees. did what was expected In Offering
The use Of American League Park TO the
Giants while their own grounds were Delns
restored his ouckness and good sports
rnanshjp in responding 10 the call arc de-
serving of favorable comment 1t has been
yroved more than once that Mr.. Farrell has
The happy faculty Of doing the right 'hin8
ct the right time.
Never before. perhaps since former Com
missioner Bingham removed the ponce
from the baseball parks IN this city was
the need for their presence felt so nuch as
on the opening day at the Polo Grounds
snd Il seems unfortunate that Mayor cay
nor did not sit where he could see the
lengths 70 which 50 many went In what
-bev were pleased 10 call Il little fun. Late
rcn,ers. both men and women. who trleo
20 crowd their way down through the aisies
90 find seats. were pelted with haus OF
loose paper. and were jeered and practically
fusulted II their good nature rebejIed ano
shev resented this form OF amusement.
The speciaI officers employed by the clup
ga what they could 20 preserve order but
.f. majesty of the law, in the way OF uni
formed police. was sadly needed 10 protect
.be women from what IN some cases
amounted 10 abuse end insult Men ana
boys who can derive any fun from pelting
women. even with such q harmless missile
~ ball Of newspaper. may be ranked
NTH those who viii tie a tin can 10 q dogs
rail and lombard him with stones. Ten
davs or $40 would be too light sentence
20 Ct the crime
Baseball is q wonderful leveller. 1t meets
5,U well the requirements Of great de-
ru,cracy for a national pastime. II has
been estirated and with fairness. that
1e.~-,. or more persons foCked to the parks
iu seven cities on Wednesday 70 see the
s..r. of two pennant races The Giants
entertained the biggest hest at tie no"
rcd. Polo Grounds ia this city but L
-.as thc same story # the other baseball
..rtvAs where ouening games rrere schcd-
-Iel and the crowds were made up or all
sorts and conditions Of men President
Taft I'D his part TO lerd encouragement 70
t.e sport by tossing out the hrst ball in
Washington. while Mayor Gaynor here
Na,or FITZGERALD IN Boston. Mayor-e'ect
of Public Safety Clay in Philadelphia, 10
ssv nothing of other state and city officials
mingled with the dyed-in-the-wool cans
and for the day at least gave themselves
,,n 20 the gripping fascinatons * the game
Rarely II ever. has d baseball year started
- auSpicious.y. and rarely. iT ever, was
tie outlook so bright for a successful sea
son / agree with Thomas j. Lynch, pres
cent OF the National League, that the high
water mark is sure u 10 reached.
Baseball runs in the blood of the TAFT
,samily. as IL does IN so many other fam
Ties IN this country. The Presidents
brother owns part interest IN he Chicago
club Of the National League, and Indirectly
went TO the rescue Of the Philnes some
thing over n year sgo by purchasing tie
park where the games are played in Philo-
delphia and leasing 81 10 the club FOR
Bong term az q reasonable figure. President
Tat himself is keen lover Of all out
door sports I remember we'll his words
after seeing part OF two baseball games In
ST Louis on MAY last year Be said.
The game OF baseball Ia a clean, straight
gport and Il summons to It's presence
everybody who enjoys clean straight ath-
Settles. II furnishes amusement 10 thou
sands and thousands and 1 Ike 20 60 tor
two reasons: F4rsl. because I enjoy Il my
self; ana second. because. II by the pres
eDce OF the temporary Chief Magistrate
such & healthy amusement can he enCOur-
sred, want TO encourage f." 1t was this
spirit, no doubt which led Mr.. TAFT 20 for
yet the cares OF state for the moment on
Wednesday and TO bring himself down 20
re happy level Of the most enthusiastic
Fan" IN tho eager enjoyment Of good
Fport
one swallow 6oes not mako "a summer,
neither does the loss Of one two or even
ruOr. games decide the winning OF p pen
nant-at least. not at this time Of tho
year. Every game counts. Il IS true, end
only two years ago the outcome Of SIN
gle battle stood between New York and =
National League pennant n not a worlds
Championship. but It Is the percoutaGe OF VIC
tories that counts GLOOMY Gus was right
on wednesday evening when he walled.
'T told YOU tho Giants would 'ose" and
strange 70 say there appeared 10 be many
who took q morbid and unhappy satisfac-
-iou uv Joining tie chorus The Giants
through no fault of Their own. must face
m endless amount Of unfair criticism this
yea. Ior tie simple reason that they have
been picked 10 win the National League
pennart. and consequently are expected 20
,lay riCit up % the mark - all times and
make the wish. the hope. which in a large
r1essurc is only father 10 the thought q
tausfylng reality. They arc expected 10
70 IT, too ip AprD Nav and June when.