Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-28
rail MERCER NOT
TO AFFECT CLUBS
Government Control OF Steam Roads
WIN Not Curtall Spring Train
ing Trips.
80 SAY BASEBALL LEADERS
However. II H. Not Known Whether
Teams VIII BE Given Same Rates
As Last Year.

Chicago, Dec. Achievement con-
troll OF the railroads will not curtail
the spring training trip of the regu-
lar schedule OF games during the sea
,on. according TO baseball authorities.
II Is taken for granted that Uncle sam
will be lenient with the ball clubs and
provide cars and mileage at the regu-
lar rates. Whether or not the teams
will be compelled to pay the full tar
IN or get the benefit Of party rates no
one would venture TO guess yesterday.
Both the White SoX and the Cubs
will continue arranging training
schedule for next spring. President
Weeghman Of the Bruins was more
concerned over the outlook than was
President Comiskey OF the world
champions. as the former viii trayel
almost twice as far in search of the
proper sport for conditioning, he
sought out a railroad official yester-
day 10 learn whether or not it would
he necessary to call off the trip to
California. but was told that the trains
probably would be running as usual
The White SoX will train in Texas,
and no difficulty is looked for in ar
ranging the usual schedule Of games.
1t Is almost completed now and will be
given out shortly Some time will be
spent al Mineral Wells. and 1t is prob
able that the athletes will taper off at
San Antonio. Games Will be played
every day on the way north.
IL will be the same with the Cubs,
excepting that the stay at Pasadena
will be shorter next spring, due TO the
S0-day training period in force in the
National league The team will play
the usual number OF games on the way
back
Radical changes are looked for in
handling the teams by the railroads
II is not likely that there will be many
special trains, and the athletes will
have to be more chummy on the cars
Uppers and lowers will have to be
used. and luxurious dining cars may
be missing. The old-style eating sta
lions may be the style instead.
Enforcement Of the three-cent rate
will mean a lot TO ball teams during
the seven months OF travelling. 1t vii
call for additional economy by th'
owners, who are already harassed bl
a numher of extras.
As to the actual travelling. the team
will be better of than the general pub
lie. as the railroads will know week
In advance the particular train oil
which they will go. If postponed
games were not taken into account tn
club secretary could hand the govern
ment the schedule at the opening o
the season and adhere TO it without in
convention to the close. This, 1t
vvrsQ f,T "a
officials to handle teams without tn
slightest friction.
As fast trains will be few and ia
between in the near future, the play
ers may have TO spend considerabl
more time on the rails; but even thi
is not certainty. as congestion is ne
the serious factor of transportation i
the summer that It Is in the winter. A
the government authorities time an
again have given evidence of their ID
sire TO have the national sport contil
ued on a normal basis. the ball clut
may be given considerable leeway an
he permitted to travel in the style
which they have been accustomed.
Johnson Optimistic.
II do not think that the taking ov,
Of the countrys railroads by the go
! eminent will affect the ball teams
any great extent" said Presidei
4 Johnson Of the American league We
terday.
III is possible that IL Wi. he mo
expensive 70 travel next year but {
the whole ] expect transportation "
be provided as Of old. | do not thil
the spring training trips will he i
terfered with, and as for comforts q
players should not complain. They a
not travelling in Pullmans back Of d
trenches"
President Johnson announced tn
Garry Hermann probably would cor
10 Chicago Monday and that the ne
split Of the worlds series coin won
he announced then. Mr.. Johnson
MED he had said that he would n
vote for Hermann as chairman of 4
national commission and no change
expected in the personnel OF tn
hndV