Evening star., 1915-01-18

ming to realize that Subterfuge has no
part in the successful promotion OF
the national pastime. The game mas
been injured greatly therefrom the past
season. And though it is still honest
and always will remain SO, the vacillat-
ing attitude OF the many mercenary
players has doubtless raised vague sus-
picions in the public mind in some
quarters. No one blames a player for
selling his services to the very best
advantage. But a contract. written or
verbal, is a sacred thing. Evasion
through technicality is no sound ex-
cuse for dishonor. Let the least cor
ruption creep into the manipulation OF
the game and the careful work of years
will be destroyed. The base ball player
has as much at stake in the present
fight as any one. The outcome means
no less than his future"
II present conditions in JuareZ con-
tinue the chances are that Jack john
son and Jess Willard will fight before a
| paper house" when they battle for the
championship in March.
| frankie Conway, featherweight
fighter, has Just returned from Juarez,
where he had fight, and he tells this
story:
"The house was jammed. and I
thought my fortune was made. till 1
learned that every Mexican in uniform
marched through the gate free of
If the door tender made any protest
the Mexican generals drew their
swords and the privates began to tug
at their revolvers: The promoters are
ldefenseless, and these fellows do just
as they please. We had about S22 gen.
erals, SO private soldiers and an un-
counted mob of their friends at the
show, and the cash receipts, paid by
Americans who bought tickets, totaled
$4S7.''
! Clyde ('Iizzie") Wares, the utility in
fielder of the ST. Louis Browns, will not
be seen cavorting aroun dthe coaching
lines in American League parks next
season. 'Lizzie' has become a manager.
Owner Hedges has put him in charge
of the Wichita Western League team.
with which the Browns have some sort
of an agreement about developing
players. Wares was one of the Browns
best attractions because of the pecul-
| field.
| Realizing that it has nothing to lose
and everything to gain, the Federal
League has carried organized base ball
| into the courts on the charge that it is
a trust. In Chicago next Wednesday the
| battle will begin. 1t is sure to be his
| tory making struggle. Should the Feds
| move meet with success the national
game undoubtedly will undergo many
changes, SO far as its management is con-
cerned.
| If the Feds are turned down by the
courts their future will not be of long
duration With the new contract in vogue
in organized base ball it Is impossible
| for the outlaws to add any seasoned ma
| terial to their ranks, without which they
| cannot hope ever to compete with the
| major leagues, and heavy financial losses
are assured. There was nothing left for
| them to do but bring the suit which is
| now pending. Everything the new league
| has now is at stake.
| Base ball has been operated under
the national agreement for the last
! twelve years or more. and 1t is a mat
ter of fact that the game has prospered
| under this system. Not only have the
| players been benefited thereby in keep
ing with the general progress that the
| game has made. but they have had
their pay increased to such an extent
| that it Is now possible for competent
player to get enough money during a
ten-year career to keep the wolf from
the door for the remainder of his life.
| The law may find flaws in that agree
ment, but the chances are the game