Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-22
How now, Horatto?

How now. Horatio?
Months ago this column was inveign-
ing against the enty-one-player-
limit rule adopted by the National
League, and contending that it would
eventually work to the injury of the
ancient organization.
Ours was one Of the few voices
souawking In tho wilderness, and we
were informed by at least one base ball
authority of more or less weight that
It was mono Of our business. anyway;
that It was an unwarranted meddling
In the private affairs Of the base ball
magnates.
They were on economy bent, also
they thought they were taking crack
down the field of big league employ
ment; further than that. they believed
they were curtailing the activities OF
John J. McGraw and the New York
club, whose custom 1t was to carry
big reserve force of youngsters on the
bench in process of big league devel-
opment.
The economical magnates argued
that by putting on player limit the
young talent would be distributed
around among tho clubs that were
| weaker financially as well as physical
| ly. and not sewed up by the outfits
with the larger bank rolls, thus CIV
ing q better balanced race. They said
that twenty-one men were more than
| enough. and pointed out how In the old
| days Barney Dreyfuss won a pennant
| with only eighteen players. reckoning
| not on the changing times and ad-
| vancing conditions In base ball.
They Forgot Ban.
Likewise. they reckoned not on Ban
| B. johnson and the American League.
They thought Ban would follow their
example and enforce a player limit.
blu, up to date Ban has done nothing
Of the kind. ana today the National
League, seeking an excuse for the al
most total eclipse Of the old organiza-
tor in playing strength by the Amer
| lean League. are saying the limit is
| the cause.
We do not agree with that view. The
limit is merely one OF the causes There
are numerous others. 1t Is case OF
! dry rot setting in all along the line;
Of going backward. instead of going
forward; of carrying ball players old
beyond their big league tine. and OF
extending economy beyond the bounds
] Of good business judgment
One of the biggest clubs in the Ma
ttona1 League. hich formerly had the
most perfect scouting system OF them
all. has practically abandoned that sys-
tenn. Once 1t used to bring from TWEEN
ty-fve to thirty FIVE young bali players
collected through Its scouts UP from
the sticks every spring; this year 1t
has tagged only very few. and these
were secured in haphazard way.
Several other National League clubs
no longer have scouts. While every
American League club. including the
tail-end Athletics has an elaborate
system of beating the bushes for
he
depending on friendly tips. trades and
accident to secure their playing ma
terial. 1t cannot be done that way.
i The Crafty johnson.
There have been many changes I.
ownership in both leagues Of recen,
years. and today no more old-line has.
ball men are left in the American thar
in tho National. The difference seem.
to be that the newcomers to the Amer
lean are willing to be guided by the
judgment of their base ball associates
while some OF the newcomers to the
National want to apply method:
learned in other lines to base ball.
, The American has the advantage O.
being guided by the shrewdest ant
most far-seeing man In tho game. II
tho person of Ban B. johnson. who II
at once a base ball politician and clair
| vOyAuN 4u0 teootS SO0Ay - s.AS "'SS
spread belief that the National League
10 distinctly outciassed by the youngel
outfit.
The most recent demonstration o
Ban Johnson's base ball foresight II
his declaration that the worlds seriei
must be cleaned up. or abandoned. Tn
abandonment for couple OF year,
would be the greatest thing that coult
: happen to the National League. Thu
National League magnates would prob
ably rather continue having theil
league shown up by the American thai