The Washington times., 1916-10-14
johnson Would Lower
World Series Prices.
And Prevent Scandal
Promises That American League Will Make Fight
for Minimum to Aid Re al Fans-"We Must Get
!. Out Big Stick" Thun ders Boss of Baseball.
BY, W. J. MACBETH.

NEW YORK, Oct. H-The annual So
ries Of games between the pennant win
ners OF the American ana National
Leagues for the baseball championship
Of the world win be played at popular
prices In future II Ban Johnson. presi-
dent of the American League, has his
way: , -.
present." declared johnson yesterday
afternoon, as he was about to leave for
Chicago, threatens to Jeopardize The
fair name of the game In public opinion.
we can never stand for that. Baseball
II clean: 1t must be kept clean.
THE worlds championship series was
begun some years ago under the aus
pices OF the National Commission rs a
true sporting proposition. II soon be-
came an established institution-the blue
ribbon event OF the year.
"We propagatsd II. drew up rules ia
protect the attraction from the least
breath OF suspicion. We felt that the
players who were loyal and earnest
enough In their efforts to win a PEN
mont and represent a major league In
the greater championship should have
some Of the accruing profits.
I'VE made handsome provision for n
players pool, TO be divided 90 per cent
to the winner and 20 pos cent to the
suspicion of hippodroming, the COM
mission ruled that the team winning
the first fodr games should be ae-
knowledged the world champion. and
a. o further incentive to have the en-
gaging teams establish their claims as
specify as possible Il was decided
that the players should share In the
receipts of the first four games only.
This world Series" said johnson,
became very popular at once. II is
stu popular. But 1 blush to confess
few instances ciouded the sportins
precepts Of certain major league opera
tors. Year by year prices have ad-
vanced. until now the world series has
assumed a mercenary character that
was never intended. and which should
never be tolerated."
The eyes of Mr.. johnson snapped.
There's some housekeeping to be
DONE" he Numbered, land it's going to
start where the most dust Of discon-
tent has gathered.
II have talked with my colleagues OF
and l think they fully appreciate my
point. l h~-e always been strongly OPP
posed to the gradual increase in worlds
series prices of admission that now
have approached an exorbitant extreme
at least so In my humble opinion.
"It takes two to make an argument"
said Ban. II am sure of the support
OF my colleagues. And think car
safely promise fandom on behalf OF
the American League that a scale OF
prices more just to the purse OF the
great general public which supports the
game will prevail in future. Far better
no world series at all''-and there was
no doubt of Mr.. Johnson's earnestness
-'than that fandom should be plucked
or conditions tolerated that permitted
the most humble bleacher patron to
Eel that he was being Disseminated
against In the annual fall classic.
II, quite as readily as any one, APP
preciate that the world series has out
grown the capacity OF existing baseball
parks. Prices that obtained at the
series just closed might be defended.
Compared to football and championship
boxing matches the baseball admission
tax would appear paltry indeed. These
arguments have been advanced to me