The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-22
is BASEBALL ROW
Big Chiefs at Loggerheads
Over Army Exemptions.
Ban johnson Suggests 1t;
President Tener Spikes 1t.

New York, Nov. 22.-Ban Johnson
stands alone with his surprising
statement that he will ask the gov
eminent to exempt Is ball players on
each major league club in this
country.
The National league will ask no
such favor.
President Tener today declared he
would not "go one inch towards
Washington to ask President Wilson
or the secretary of war for special
favors for baseball
Dooms All Minor Leagues.
Chicago, Nov. 22.-Not a minor
league in the country will be able to
start the season of 1918, in the opin-
ion of Ban johnson, president of the
American league.
johnson today said that the loss of
players, thru military service and lack
of patronage, thru thrift and interest
in military affairs, will render it i'm
possible for any but the major leagues
to survive next year. And the major
leagues themselves won't survive un-
less they receive government support,
he said.
I'm not going to ask any favors
from the government-set me right on
this" declared johnson. MY sugges-
ton that eighteen men on each Of the
major league clubs be exempted from
militi&y service is merely that-a sug-
gestion.
THE government has let it be
known that it wants baseball to con-
tinue. My suggestion only represents
that l believe to be the only condition
under which it can continue.
Exemption of a certain number of
men on each club would equ%lize the
effects of the draft One American
club has lost nine men thru the draft,
another six They are practically out
of the race as a result.
'[XemDtiOn of eighteen men WOuld
still leave six men from each club for
military service in the American
league and four in the National"
Ban Made a Bad Break.
Washington, Nov. 22.-That Ban
Johnson's suggestion for exemption of
big league baseball players should be
the beginning of his end" was the
official view expressed at. the provost
marshal generals office today.
Johnson's idea was extremely I'M
popular with General Crowder's
closest advisers and was rejected as
the worst kind of precedent"
Comiskey Says Grand Idea"
Excelsior Springs, Mo, Nov. "a
Charles Comiskey. owner of the
worlds champion Chicago White Sox,
is heartily in accord with the pro-
posed plan of asking the government
to grant exemption from military SER
vice to eighteen men on each of the
sixteen major league clubs in order
that baseball may continue during the
war
Yes, the White Sox can get along
with eighteen men," Comiskey said
this morning. when told of the plan as
outlined by Ban johnson, president of
the American league.
''It is a grand idea. Baseball will
do the government a lot of good.
am sure that the military events in
which the members of the Sox club
| a hi
influence in stimulating recruiting
We have laid plans to do even more
the coming season"
Il would not go an inch toward
Washington to ask President Wilson
or the secretary of war for special
favors for BASEBALL said the executive
of the National league, in discussing
| the proposal to exempt eighteen base
ball players on each club of the two
major leagues, as suggested by Presi-
| dent Johnson of the American league.
Calls Idea 'Unpatriotic."
Il think it most unpatriotic,' con-
| tinued Mr.. Tener, ito suggest that the
baseball man should even appear to
| shirk duty at this time when so
many parents are giving their sons and
| when other business interests are Civ
| ing their best men to the service of
| our armed forces. and are making
| other sacrifices for the benefit of our
| country.
1T seems to me nothing could be
! further from the purposes of baseball
1 We cannot ask the government to
| grant US the, slightest favor ANY
amusement or single business is a
| trifling thing compared to the obtain
| ing of liberty for all the nations of the
! world.
| Il cannot state too strongly that the
| National league is not in sympathy
with any selfish plan of discrimina-
| ton in favor of its business or players.
The National league will continue to
help the government in any way pos