The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-17

Every professional baseball player II
directly concerned in the prompt effort
Of two members Of the St. Louis Browns
to clear themselves and their teammates
Of q serious accusation by the owner OF
the club. This IS a charge that vitality
affects tho interests Of every player.
II It stands. It will breed dtstrust or the
high ideals Of the sport and cast re-
Election upon the honesty OF those who
play tho sarne for Living.
But 1t Will not stand. am inclined
TO believe the entire controversy Is the
result Of Ill Judgment in giving publicity
10 the remarks Of an owner hot under
the collar. because his team is losing.
l can readily understand the failure OK
the Browns this season was bitter
disappointment to Philip Ball, and
particularly calling defeat administered
lust after a run Of hard luck was c1l-
max that opened tho Walls Of wrath.
AS understand it. a newspaper man
happened to meet Ball just after this
game, and, while the nnaSnate was still
swayed by passion. he made certain re-
marks that created 2 sensation "oen
they appeared IN print.
ID to this point. there Is every reason
TO excuse the unfortunate criticism. II
\ lust had to come Off the St Louis man
chest. But. If he persists in seeing sin
lister motives in tho actions OF indiV1d-
hal PLAYERS, then tho issue must DO
fought out to the bitter end Baseoall
cannot afford to ignore It
want to 80 on record right mere oy
saving that in my career Of nearly TWEEN
=. years "a a player and manager. l
nave never discovered one instance OF
baseball player laying down Their
ore sorne who crack under the well
kno1E, strain at times and others VINO
nerhans lose their nerve in a pinch. But
il is foolish to say that player--es-
nectal1y a big Lacquer with a reputation
10 rnaintain-wil deliberately lay
down" and subject himself to harsh CRIT
cisrn merely to spite manager or
Hub owner.
Aside from an almost fanatical de-
,,re TO preserve the integrity OF the
mort. players arc too sensitive to crls-
Icisn, and too anxious to better their
standings to belittle themselves mere
" TO satisfy a grudSe-
There will always be Disbursements
and bitterness. but It Is my observation
that. when n man is in the thick OF the
fray. he doesn't pause to consider what
RI. effect Of a good or bad play Will
have upon his boss. The eyes OF inc
public arc ON him then and ne IS 1uiiS
ewsra OF his responsibility to that pub
MANAGERS and club owners hould az
.-cIsa extreme caution in their lc
n+t,rances when they undertake --.-.p-
SIn,-v measures. The National League
took prompt measures to combat the
assertions of Horace FoEel rev years
aro that tho race was dSec TOT 'ne
Giants.
suoh charges create no sensation when
rnade by outsiders. but the &c. OF Gu Q
yo1 nrnClatTntnQ
scen6al inst after the loss OF an I'M
,o-+ert sarie, was too fragrant an Of
tense to be overlooked.
A. no showdown. Fogel utterly de-
nt.d he had made these charges. out
ma evidence was OVERWHELMINGLY
axainst him and he WAS ousted from the
league. It must always be said OF MIN.
however. that in his calmer moments ne
always vouched for the honesty OF the
garne.
c. To,,is affair Is a family quarrel and
that he Will not interfere. But Johnson
was ureparine to act. and stopped only
when Phil Ball assured him his remarks
were miaconstrued and that ne Ola not
accuse any member OF his team or lay
ing down" even II two Of them inferred
he did.
II will be unfortunate II this matter
SINNERS down to a question or FeracitS
between Ball and his interviewer. Man
AYERS and others. prominent in the game
are often quoted TOO literally. bass
ball writer exercises q certain license
that is seldom abused. and. for the most
part. the quoted remarks do not bear IN
subjects that will ever he disputed
But in serious matters. these public
men should carefully guard their utter
ances II they are taking decided stand
in any important controversy.
On the other hand. an interviewer
shopA make sure that . statement