New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-29

e clubs.
"The railway proposition will read
lily adjust ITSELF" said President Tener
Of the National League. "a; least. I
believe so. know that no clubs will
try 20 impose on the roads II it is
deemed advisable 70 remove passenger
trains. Tho players. am sure, have
quite enough interest in their profes-
sion 20 suffer whatever iEconvenlences
may arise.
Willing to Sacrifice
As matter of fact" President
Tencr continued. baseball mas been
and always will be willing 70 sacrifice
toward the common cause. II star
baseball players cannot always have
lower berths next summer they will
still be much more comfortably lodged
than the men in the trenches. I think
| can say for the National League that
u will submit most humbly 70 whatever
the government thinks is best for the
country's welfare.
There is no use OF crossing bridges
before We come 20 them" he concluded.
IF necessity demands Ii would be very
easy 70 revise our schedules from pres
emit plans. Until that necessity arises
why ANTICIPATED"
Government. control of railways nat
urally raises certain points that the
schedule makers will do well 70 estsb-
lish before next seasons draft of dates
has been announced. 1t was practically
agreed az the joint major leagues
meeting IN Chicago some time ago to
crowd schedules Of l54 games into a
PERIOD one week shorter than ordinar-
ily. Heretofore tho schedules have
been bit more long drawn out than
absolutely necessary. The season was
spriakled generously with "of" dates.
which were used by clubs either for
exhibition purposes or for playing of
pOstponements in way TO avoid
double-headeTs.
The great leeway of "of" days or
open dates was made possible princi-
pally because Of the fine schedule OF
fast trains between extreme Eastern
and Western wings OF the major cir
cults. Doubtless it will still be pos
siblc TO condense the long schedule
routine of daily games. IL necessary,
double-hesders may very easily be
booked. So many OF these bargain
attractions have 10 be played anyhow
each year.
Government control Of railways, how
ever. is likely TO effect one reform
which radical element Of the National
League has advocated most spiritedly.
That is a minimum roster limit. No
club is likely 20 add to discomforts BY
carrying lot of bench warmers II
baseball is 90 feel the pinch Of traffic
congestion.
Joint Schedule Meeting
The joint schedule committee OF the
National and American leagues will
meet soon after the annual conference
of the National Commission. Ban
johnson will represent the American
League; President John X. Tener, Sec
rotary John A. Heydler and Barney
Dreyfuss will act for the National
League. IL is not believed that John
son will reopen his fight for a schedule
of 15+ games at this late date In spite
of the new turn taken in transportation
problems.
As 10 a minimum roster limit, that
is a matter which will take ample care
OF itself. Both leagues retained last
years numbers-the American twenty
FIVE and the National twenty-five. Clubs
have the option OF employing less tai
simply as a means of preventing the
rich clubs from cornering the market
In all probability, most of the major
league clubs will hold 10 twenty men
or less this year, as a means of econ
omy.
The fate Of the scheme OF President
John X. Tener OF the National League
TO have the world series PLAYERS pool
in future shared by all Of the major
league talent save the two tailenders,
is to be decided at conference in
Chicago on Monday between Ban John
son and August Hermann, chairman OF
the National Commission.
That new world series rules in ref
erence to division of the spoils will be
ratified there seems no doubt. Mr..
Tener's scheme found great favor with
American League club owners. But the
latter believed only first division clubs
should cut in on the melon. This diff
ference of opinion can very easily be
straddled. II necessary. As a matter Of
fact, each league might have its play
ers split the pool to which IL was en-
titled as was deemed best. This Is no
question that entails mutual consent.
President Tener OF the National
League has just received a congratu-
latory letter from the secretary Of the
Military Hospital Baseball League. Of
England. This is an eight-club circuit.
composed OF American. Canadian and
English soldiers. For two years past
the organization has contested a pre-
tentious schedule, in which each club
met every other one in home-and-home
games.
Through the efforts Of Mr.. Tener, the
National League has continued from
the first to pstronize handsomely this
military league, and has kept IL bounti-
fully supplied in balls and equipment.
Last September the National League
forwarded TO London a handsome silver
ard gold trophy. known as the National
League Cup, 10 be presented 10 the
pennant winner OF the Military Hos
pital Baseball League. The letter Ct
acknowledgment has lust come TO hand