The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-11-06
Major League Club Owners
Pleased With 1917 Results;
Most Teams Made Money
Club Owners Say It Is Patriotic Duty to Operate Leagues
Next Year as Governme mt viii Receive Possibly Mil
lion Dollars in Taxes on Receipts Of the GameSi Pub
lie viii Pay the Tax

ST. LOUIS, Nov. S.--Calamity howters
In the ranks Of major league magma tes
are extremely rare. shortly after the
close OF the past season the Post-Dis-
patch wrote letters TO the major league
club owners, requesting an opinion on
baseball In general. matters connected
with the game. an expression as to
whether the 1917 campaign was finan-
cial success, the war tar and Its prob
able effect on attendance. and an out
lire Of the policy Of the major leagues
next season.
Not all OF the club owners replied, but
a representative proportion did, and a di
gest OF the answers reveals that not one
kick was registered against conditions
ne they prevailed In 1917. In the Ma
tional league three maSnates whose clubs
finished In the first division and n sec
ond division club owner, who only the
year before participated In the worlds
series, expressed themselves as being sat
isfied with results obtained In 1917.
Most Clubs Broke Even.
chief among these IL Harry Hemp
stead, president and owner Of the New
York Giants Mr.. Hampstead holds the
opinion that most major league clubs
broke even or made a profit He admits
seasons, but that II exists at all Is suf
ficient basis for the belief that baseball
hasn't lost It's grip
William F. Baker. president 81 the
Phillies. states that so far as his club
is concerned, 1917 was satisfactory
year. He has no complaint TO offer con
ceruing attendance and receipts, but adds
that he Is going away on a vacation trip
with the purpose of forgetting baseball
until the annual meeting OF the league
which is scheduled In December
August Hermann. president H the
Cincinnati club, ssys:
The past season was not the most
unss satisfactory In the history Of the game,
as some have been led to believe. | am
sure, having the conditions IN mind ss
particularly the major leagues. should
have nothing to complain o.
believe the game can BE- conducted alons
| the ~ me lines II has been condiscted IN
the past. but necesvariiy vial have to
seek lower level +"
Game should BE Continued
Thus, three first division nrasratet
! have spoken their minds and painted
! A bright picture. Charles Ebbetts, owner
OF the Brooklyn club who won the pen
nant In 1915 and proved dismal disap-
| pointnents last season. comes forth win
a plea that baseball should be continued
| In 1918 He cites three reasons. via:
II is the patriotic duty OF owners u
continue operations as by 10 doing the
government will receive from baseball In
ferests over a half million dollars tpos-
slbly million dollars) In taxes annually
The public will require recreation dur
ing the continuance OF the war.
Professional baseball would be Sc
riousiy Injured property Interests de.
stroyed and thousands OF young men
deprived Of the emoluruents OF the
| game n II were dlscontlnued.
Ebbetts further adds that he believes
the game should he continued along pre-
cise)y the same lines as II has been our
| ing the past is years. and that salaries
should be paid consistent with the in
| come
in the American League. where ciut
owners maintain consistent attitude oi
reserve because Ban johnson In officia
spokesman, proba bly, the most interesting
answer received is from Phil Ball, own.
er OF the Browns, whose club finished
seventh Mr.. Ball does not see why the
past season should be pictured In disma
terms
Drew 40 Wei as Before.
He maintains that the clubs which
were up I'm the race drew almost al
well az they ever did. on course, sayl
Ball. the clubs that were down did not
draw and for that matter never VIII. Iht
season as a whole, says he, considering
the unsettled condition OF the country
was very satisfactory.
Ball does not feel that he can answer
the question concerning the future pol
ICY OF the major leagues because a,
many conditions may arise within th'
next few months that any prediction
made now might have 10 be ohanget
| later.
Frank ]. Navin, Of Detroit, also hold.
the opinion that the past season was no
bad one by any means. He blames poo
weather for whatever sethacks baseball
encountered and particularly is this tru'
he says. in the minor leagues. He citei
that In Detroit, four Saturday and al
equal number OF Sunday games were loo