The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-31
CITY MUST HELP
AMATEUR LADS
4 ITO BUILD PARKS
Amateur Commission to Send
Committee Before Admins
trative Board Soon.
WILL ASK FOR So, 500
Needed to Establish New
Grounds and to Improve
Those Already Established.

Richmond's Administra tive
Board will be asked to do some
thing tangible toward helping the
bows of Richmond. AT a meeting
of the Amateur Baseball Commits
sion, held last night, 1t was de-
cided TO send a committee COM
posed of Colonel John s. Harwood,
James Disney and DR.. Charles
/ Labenberg before the administra-
tive tribunal of Richmond and ask
for s.. 500 to help the amateur
ball tossers improve their playing
grounds. The growth of amateur
! baseball or rather the growth OF
interest in organized amateur base
ball, since the movement began,
Just two years ago, is best shown
by a recital of facts and figures.
The first year OF organization
there were 100 boys and men
taking part in the games. To-day,
just twenty-four months after
wards, there are registered with the
secretary of the Amateur Com
mission some 1900 boys. Where
four parks took care of all the
games played during the first
season, eighteen parks are now
needed. And there is no limit
to the growth of the organization
except such limitations as can be
provided against only by municipal
aid. More parks are needed and
those already existing need i'm
provement. The commission has
provided seventeen of the eighteen
parks with which the coming season
must be started. But many of
these parks are parks in name
only. They need grading and
other attention. The city is being
asked to help.
Good Accomplished is Obvious.
The good that organized base
ball has done needs no recital.
Youngsters who formerly tarried
on the streets now don their uni
forms and take part in healthy
competition under laws made by
men who have given time and
thought to the problems. Best of
all, the boys themselves are the
greatest aid in seeing that the
laws are obeyed. The lads recog-
nize law and order; are made to
understand that obedience is es-
sential and that they must be
manly and fair. Not only do they
stav off the streets during the day
time, but after the game is over,
they are tired and ready to go to
bed and sleep. All of these facts
will be told the administrators.
They will be asked to help further
the work by appropriating enough
money TO carry 1t on successfully.
1t has not been decided Just when
the committee will appear. AT
present Colonel Harwood Is out
OF the city. and nothing will be
done until his return.
James Disney Elected.
John Dunn. new president of
the Capital City League. and by
virturc Of his new office a member
of the commission, resigned as
vice-prcsident, thereby leaving a
vacancy. The commission unani-
mously elected James {. Disney,
manager Of Murphy's Hotel, to the
office. Mr.. Disney last night
thanked the commission for the
honor and said that he would do all
that he could to further the work
Of tho organization. He IS a great
admircr Of tho game and especially
of the game as played by the
amateurs and will prove great
help towards carrying out the aims
and ambitions Of those who are
helping the cause along.
The report Of the rules commit
tee was adopted. The principle