The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-09
BASEBALL WAR BENEFITS
none BUT THE PLAYERS
Club Owners Lose Money and Rumor
Is Being Circulated That Work
ing Agreement Will Be Formed by
Feds and Organized Baseball

New York, Jan. 9.-Although the
new year opens with no signs of peace
on the baseball horizon there is re-
port circulating in the ranks of organ
lied baseball that some form of work
ing agreement will be reached between
the Federal League and the major
leagues before the beginning of the
1915 pennant races. Both organized
and independent baseball is understood
to be awaiting the decision in several
eases of players contracts now before
the courts.
The leading officials of the leagues
now opposed to each other are chary
about being quoted regarding the pos
sibility of peace pact but it is well
established fact that the discussion OF
plans to bring about the desired result
has not been dropped entirely. ma
lority of the magnateS are convinced
that another season of conflict such as
marked 1914 will prove disastrous from
financial standpoint and must be
avoided if possible.
Just which side will take the initi-
ative depends upon the outcome of the
cases before the courts. Once final de-
eision has been rendered and the vari-
Gus interests have learned their legal
rights and future line of action, a de-
termined effort to reach an understand
ing may be expected. As pointed out
by a prominent club owner in recent
private review of the situation, any
other attitude will spell financial dis
aster. Under the present conditions the
only person to benefit by the eontinu-
alton of the baseball war is the base
ball player. While the magnateS admit
that he is necessary adjunct to the
business there is no intention to turn
the business profits over to him in their
entirely.
The extent to which the carrying of
football handicaps the runner S speed
was the subject of an interesting dis
cussion at recent meeting of gridiron
veterans. 1t was pointed out that al
most without exception in long sprint
down field after picking up a fumbled
ball, the runner is gained upon by pur-
suing PLAYERS although not always over
taken, due to an advantage ait the
start. 1t was the general opinion that
any given player could sprint the 100
yards of the football felt from sec
ond to second and half faster with
out the ball then when carrying the
leather. Several coaches who were pres
emit stated that they would experiment
under both conditions next autumn in
order to test their theories.
That the proposed tour of South
America by major league baseball teams
during the winter of 1915-16 will be
Il financial success and boom for the
sport south of the equator is the con
tident prediction made by several Amer
lean business men cOnversant with con-
ditions throughout the southern con
tinent. Baseball is frequently played
by Americans residing in the principal
cities of Chile, Peru, Argentina and
other South American countries. These
games never fail to attract the natives
who watch the play with interest. The
younger generations are taking TO the
game and already play fair baseball /
Leagues composed of native players are
predicted within the next ten wears
and speaking on this point returned /
American said recently:
In the natural course of evolution, |
the intricacies of American baseball |
will be mastered, and the national pas
time transplanted south of the Panama
Canal. Climatic conditions are as ia
vorable to the success of baseball in
South America as in the United States. /
while the interest shown there in 9th .
er sports shows the existence of embryo |
baseball fans [ am certain that in .
time amateur baseball will be followed
by the professional league and it is not
dream to imagine that some dav .
South America will send team north .
for real world 5 series.
Norman S. Faber, former Brown .
University mile runner and now
Rhodes scholar and member of the relay
team at Oxford University in writing
of Undergraduate life at the English
University states:
''The activities among underpradu.
ate also tender to broaden the Rhodes
Scholar for they. too are different from
those in American universities anil here
| believe that, in one particular at
least, Oxford has valuable lesson TO
teach the colleges in the United States.
This is her system of athletics and
which provides exercise and competition
for everyone and not for a imitel
number of stars. In the afternoon. all
Oxford men, almost without exception,
take part in outdoor games of some
sort. | do not discount the Importance
and the value of the university teams.
but | wish to encourage the building
up of a system of athletics that will
cater to every student. Regular exer-
else and competition on the athletic
field are essential to both the mental
and physical development of an eff