El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-28

10 merit thus making II an OBJECT LO4-
every team to fight to the very last
ditch.
Would Increase Interest.
Excellent arguments might be ad-
vance in favor of Herrmann's pet
. idea. Certainly there is every reason
with enthusiasm in cities like Pitts
burg, Cincinnati, Detroit and Wash
ington where but one league is estab-
lished- 1t would give the fan OF each
big league town chance to see big
league ball, its stars, virtues and
faults from every angle and thus
arouse an enthusiasm never before
known, perhaps In the towns which
boast both leagues it would give the
rabid partisians a clear line on the 9
spectiYe abilities of the home repre-
sentatives.
But best of all it would provide two
seasons each year. Before interest had
a chance to Wane over the regular cam
paign the prospect of the new order
of worlds series would be upon the
supporters of baseball. The cream Of
financial returns for the magnates at
present is the spring fervor of the fan
First division clubs reap the harvest
from April to October. But the fellows
ton for the general populace after
July 4.
Good for All Concerned.
Herrmann's scheme then appears .
public. 1t would be adopted in
moment if the magnate were as conf
dent in the public as he is in the
player. The chief objection raised so
far is that it might reflect on the
honesty of purpose in organized base
ball The magnates fear that the pub
lie might think baseball was being
hippOdromed in degree; that the
whole organization was money
grabbing scheme; that interests were
Id IN In
that the major leagues were one huge
combine, working toward one end, the
deception Of the public so far as hon
est rivalry was concerned. The pro-
moters are agraid that patrons would
lose confidence in the fidelity OF the
national pastime if the lines of friend
ship between the leagues were drawn
any closer than they are at present.
They believe that baseball is what Il
is simply because of the strong rivalry
or the apparently strong rivalry
that has so far kept the two circuits
distinctive institutions, each depending
solely upon itself.
August Hermann is broad minded
man. He credits the populace which
patrOnizes this grand sport with more
Intelligence than to be sWayed by any
petty bigotries. Mr.. Hermann may
be right or he may be wrong. He IL
not sure that he is right. But he very
wisely says: Let's give it a trial Tor
once; let US put it squarely up to the
people If they disapprOve we can 90
back to the old way and viii be nOth-
ing out" A very, very sensible argu-
ment, it seems. Certainly the second
division teams would be taking EO
chance at any rate.
Present Plan Causes bitterness.
The evils of the present worlds ser
les system are many. Not the least -
bitterness toward clubs absolutely out
Of the running when their time of eX-
perimenting arrives. No matter haW
fairly they may play disappointed con-
tenders invariably believe they have
always got the worst of it from the
trailers. They think the champion,
whoever it may be, was favored III
some way or other. They believe the
second division clubs deliberately Jug
gle the lineup in order to show favorit-
ism toward some rival. And so the
present system has developed countless
scandals. Why not give Herrmann's
pet scheme one fair trial anyhow?