Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-08
WAR CLOUD IS
OVER BASEBALL
Magnates in Quandry as to
Most Advisable Method
to Pursue.

New York, Feb. s.-Baseball men
had something more serious to think
about yesterday than the baseball
strike. The present crisis in inter-
national affairs offers a serious prob
lem for magnates and players. Cap
tain T. L. Huston, part owner of the
Yankees, was the first of the baseball
men to offer his services to the army.
Captain Huston was captain of en-
gineers in the Spanish-American war
and yesterday offered his services to
his old regiment.
The tense situation, according to
Captain Huston, may hit baseball so
hard that the baseball parks will have
to be used for training camps for
troops. He says that an opportunity
may confront the players to rally to
their country's service as ardently as
they do at times in a close game on
the diamond.
Instead Of the players getting
higher salaries" said Captain Hus-
ton, ut may be that we will have to
declare moratorium in baseball. 1t
will be we'll for the club owners to
look ahead, for te the situation proves
as serious as it now promises to be,
the game Is sure to suffer. While 1t
is too early to make definite changes
in our plans, in case Of war there is
=,
SO the present rules now in force in
the game governing the number of
players and training plans would have
to be changed.
Players Ranks May be Depleted.
1T isn't improbable" continued
Captain Huston, that the ranks of
the players will be depleted If there
is call for volunteers. The proud
record Of O'Hara, the former out
fielder of the Giants. who made a
great name for himself in France
fresh in the minds Of the ball players.
O'Hara's skill proved Of great value
in the throwing Of hand grenades."
President II. N. Hampstead Of the
Giants stated that as yet the club had
made no change in its plans, but he
could foresee that II the war situation
developed changes would have to be
he would not be surprised II the num-
ber of players on each club was cut
down to sixteen instead Of twenty-five.
I'VE will have baseball. anyway"
said Mr.. Hampstead. I understand
the Spanish-American war in 1898
had little effect on the baseball sea-
son. We may be compelled to change
our plans later, but we will do nothing
at the present time"
NWncrOuS Clau&e8 fOSNDl0.
The severing of diplomatic relations
with Germany may lead to numerous
changes in the plans of tho baseball
men, although 1t was pointed out yes
terday that the war did not stop the
game in Canada. although the patron
age at the games was seriously af-
fected.
1t is not improbable that many Of
the club owners in the National league
will follow the suggestion of President
Weeghman Of the Cubs and make
deep cuts in the contracts of the play
ers who have not already signed. In
any event, the plans Of the Players
Fraternity are likely to be disastrous
ly affected.
President David L. Fultz of the
Players Fraternity stated last night
that in the event Of national crisis
such as that now impending there was
only one course to take. In baseball
e. everything else, he stated, all diff
ferences would have to be set aside.
No change. however, has yet been
made in the situation among the
players.