New Britain herald., 1917-08-08
JOHNSON TO STOP
 GAMBLING IN HUB
Undesirable Element Having Bad
 Effect on Game in Boston

New York Aug. s.-President Ban Johnson of the American league has l gone to Boston with the avowed at tention of smoking out the undesr- able gambling element that has caused great deal of trouble this season at Fenway Park. Visiting players have been greatly annoyed by the picayune plungers of the Hub. | Indeed, the riding of the gamblers 1 has resulted in several fist fights be- 1 tween players and fans.
 1 Baseball" said MT. Johnson. "iS remarkably free from the betting evil We intend to see that the vice 1 is completely stamped out. Great work has been done here in New York toward purging the game of this | annoyance. There is no reason why 1 other cities of our circuit cannot be equally successful. The gambler has ] no place at the ball game. and he must go if the sport is. to continue above reproach."
 There was wild rumor floating about that MT. Johnson's contem- plated visit to the Hub had to do 1 with a possible change in ownership. It was whispered. that Harry H. Fra zee was beginning to tire of his bar gain. This, however. MT. Johnson denied point blank.
 "I see no reason why MT. Frazee should be discouraged" said John son. '"The worlds champions have done better this year than they did last. Barry's team has an excellent 1 chance to repeat. It is drawing well at home and on the road, and is sure of successful financial season. MI. Frazee always has appeared most op- tomistic to me. If he has ever thought of disposing of his interests I hare not heard of the notion. I think I should be quite likely to know if he were dissatisfied.
 ! Cincinnati Comes Back.
 August Hermann, president of the Reds, declared that Mathewson has re-esta blished Cincinnati as a real major league city.
 Our patrons have every confidence in Matty," said the chairman of the National Commission. They have been with him from the first and are l sticking in spite of the recent re- verses. No one expected Matty to win a pennant this year. If the club can manage to finish in the first di- vision every one will be more than satisfied.
 But I will give you one tip" Garry continued Ut will not 1e a great while before Cincinnati is rep resented in a worlds series. If we had had two more seasoned pitchers this season New York would not have had a runaway"
 Minor Leagues Under War Cloud.
 Major league baseball players farmed out to the minors under op- tional agreement of recall will not necessarily have to report back in the big show on the 20th of this month as heretofore. This particular rule which was framed some years ago to protect major league property from draft by rival clubs, was abrogated temporarily at special meeting of the National Commission in this city yes 1 terday afternoon.
 The elimination of this rule was prompted by conditions that have l arisen as a result of the war Most of the players in question are not needed by the major league clubs that hold ] their contracts Most of them are needed by the minor leagues, especial ly by the faster minor organizations. Naturally in the minor leagues players 1 are much younger than those of the National and American leagues The percentage of unmarried players is greater Wherefore it is expected that the minor leagues will be far harder hit in the matter of draft for the mili- tary.
 The National Commission has in dorsed a policy of indulgence on the part of the majors toward the strug- gling minor leagues. The abrogation he of players by major league clubs.
 It simply leaves the matter optional with them.