El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-21

Jew YORK. Feb. 21.-The bright
M prospects that both the Yankees
and Giants enjoy, Of having been
SO strengthened for the coming season
that they will be factors in their re-
sDective races. has. even this early in
the year. and when billiards are rag
ing. acted as a most encouraging slim
illus to the interest Of local fans;
When lovers of baseball can be SO
chances OF their favorite teams. dur,
ing the snow furry times, there Is good
reason TO think that the game is on
the eve of big boom.
There Is no doubt that the era OF
peace that has just been launched IS
the chief cause Of the revival OF inter-
est. for there are any number OF peo-
ple who have been followers ana anu
supporters Of the game LOT yed1Is ZEE
as ex-president Taft so plainly ana
aptly expressed himself at the recent
anniversary banquet Of the National
league: -.
bcres for the past two years.
But the time has arrived whereby
the sport and its promoters can be
said to have emerged from the pore
dom stage and are now started undet
new and encouraging auspices ma
win appeal TO real lovers Of the game
and draw back to the fold many VINO
were kept away from patronlzlng the
sport by the enhancement caused ~
the constant chickering's due TO the war
between organized baseball and the
Federal league.
Game VIII Never Die.
The national game will never dle IN
the hearts of those who have once hau
admiration for it. There VIII De az
times. as during the last Two E ears'
loss OF iBterest occasioned by ADVERSE
conditions. but the real fans are al
ways anxious to renew their fealty 70
the sport and thousands OF those WHOSE
interest was lessened by the unlor lu H,7
ate circumstances OF 1914 and 1915 Will
welcome gladly the improved cOndltlons
that will prevail this year and 1t Is 10
be hoped, for many years TO come:
The readvent into the clubs OF or
ranized baseball Of the older players
who jumped to the Feds and new stars
who have been developed durlns tlS
war viii not only strengthen the va,
rious teams Of the two big leagues an n,1
the minor organizations, but IT VIII
also have the result OF making lhe
leagues better and more evenly pal
anced. thereby improving the chances
of there being closer races ana surely
there will be better playing than there
was last season.
That will be brought about, not alone
by reason Of the supposedly superior
teams that every manager VIII be en-
abled 70 put on the field. but also
largely on account Of very small
percentage Of the players being under
more than One-year contracts.
They cannot dawdle along the com,
ing season, supinely cOmplacent ana
supremely Indifferent as to errors. poor
hitting bonehead playing and other
faults that managers. owing 70 conol-
tons were forced 70 overlook.
Players Must SHOW Speed.
To be sure Of their jobs for 1917,
every player will have to show ana
show big He viii be obliged to earn
his next seasons contract as II VIII
not be ready made as 1t has been Tor
three years past
long term contracts who did not take
advantage OF them 10 become indiffer-
ent. careless and 'sOldiers,' but 1t can
rot be denied that there were many
some Of the latter have been shifted
90 other clubs than they played with
last season. and il viii be interesting
70 note how they will perform under
different conditions and surroundings
They viii find it necessary TO double
their exertiOns, and IL will be no easy
task for them TO do so.
That the general run OF players sal
aries win be reduced is a foregone
conclusion, and will be the direct re-
suit OF the losses Occasioned by the
war and the war salaries paid 70 play
ers. under more or less compulsion.
some should Not Kick.
Not many Of the players who re.
NAMED loyal TO organized baseball
made direct demands for increase OF
their salaries or were "hOld-ups" but
still they were all financially bettered
and largely so by reason Of the war;