Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-01
NEW LONDON FANS FAIL
 10 SUPPORT TEAM
Attendanees at Games Are Small
 May Lose League Ball.
TeIephone 4s7-5

Judging from the attendance at the baseball games at Plant field, since the opening of the season, the residents of New London do not want to be represented by a team in the Eastern league. The lovers of the national game have not support cd the best team that has ever rep resented New London and from the standpoint of a baseball enthusiast it is unnecessary to continue in the business of catering to the amuse- ment of persons who show their ap- preciation by refusing to patronize the home club aside from calling up on the telephone and obtaining the results of the games from the newspaper offices.
 At the expenditure of several thou sands of dollars, Commodore Nor ton F. Plant obtained a franchise for New London in the Eastern league Under his direction there was or ganized a combination of 14 players and a manager of recognized ability and that combination of players has led the league since the opening of the season.
 It would be an easy assignment for that team to bring another baseball nennant to New London, but when the incentive of support is lacking, if is not encoura ging for the promot- CT of clean sport to continue to foot the bills and it is not an incentive for the players to continue to play the game up to the standard of those faithful few who patronize the gate.
 Wednesday was an ideal day for baseball, but the fans of New Lon don did not show by their patronage that it was different from a. day in November The attendance at the game between Lowell and New Lon- don was slightly in excess of 300 in- cluding the women folks who were admitted free to the park and to the grandstand. This was discouraging to the directors of the New London baseball association and to the play CTS and the impression prevails in we'll informed circles that the days of league baseball in New London are nearing an eLd.
 It is an acknowledged fact in New England and other cities outside of New London that a baseball team is a valuable asset to the city In the progressive cities the merchants have shown their appreciation of granting f 07f holiday to their hard working clerks for the purpose of witnessing , -.-dlth giving spirit in the open air In some of those cities it has been advocated that Sunday games be scheduled and those games on the working days and on the Sabbath days have been well attended but JubN4ii5 lIDul lHe support QlSDIaYed in New London that spirit is lacking
 Strangers visiting New London \ rec with the argument of those who are always alive to the inter- ests of the city, that no other con- munity can display the same equal ity in natural beauty and environ ment; in the democracy of its in habitants and in the neighborly in fuenCes that are always in evidence but those strangers are obliged to express surprise that Q clean sport is not patronized.
 Commodore Morton F. Plant has been a great benefactor to New Lon- don and it has never been doubted that he will continue to favor the city and the county which he has se- leCted for his permanent home. That he is slighted by the on-interest dis played by people in a game in which all red blooded Americans are sup posed to be interested is regretted by many persons. but the hope is ex- pressed that there will be sufficient interest aroused to hold baseball in New London.