The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-23
Amateur Sports Will
Survive Through War
Professionals Will Have Hard Shedding During Coming
Year; League Baseball May End With 1918 Season, If
War Continues; Football to Stay.

For the duration OF war. at least, 1t l
seems certain that amateur athletics |
will replace the professional contests in /
the sporting world, plans having been |
made for keeping up the spirit of the |
former, no matter what may come. |
while, as the nation plunges deeper into |
the bloody battle across the seas it Is !
probable that the popular support f!
which has enabled the professional ath-
lete and promoter as well to prosper
will falter and gradually cease.
If the war continues for two years
or more. 1t is very probable that the
only form of athletics will be that fur
nished by educational institutions.
Every effort will be made to continue
athletics at colleges and high schools,
no matter how distressing the situa-
ton may become, as it has been found
that the trained youth makes a better
fighter and drawer battler than the
lad who has never engaged in regular
physical exercise.
"Pug" Is Doomed.
The prize fighter and the profes-
sional wrestler is already fading from
view in sections of the country and at
| the end of another IL months the expo
! nents of the fistic art will either be
working at their old trades. or else will
be in training for fighting the Huns,
| The military authorities have recog-
nized the necessity for training soldiers
| in using their fists. which sometimes
are the most effective weapon at close
quarters but there the usefulness of the
| pug ends
Baseball will always be the national
sport of the United States. but even
though the magnates have made ar
rangements for playing another season.
it is improbable that an attempt will
be made to arrange a schedule for the
summer of 1919 unless the war ceases
before that time. Many club owners
will have a hard time sliding through
the 1918 season unless radical changes
are effected. such as cutting the sched-
ules. slicing the bank president salaries
of the players. and decreasing ex-
penses in general. AS the transporta-
ton situation grows more acute, rail-
, roads will refuse to undertake the haul
. ing Of ball teams on special trains. it is
: believed.
"iHOr LEAGUES OUCetSdIus
Minor leagues have been advised to
suspend operations by major league
magnates, though it is limited that this
advice was given for selfish reasons
only. Besides the larger majority Pf
. baseball players in majors and minors
. are Of draft age, and will be called te
. serve early. Indeed, a number have en-.
!, listed, while over half a hundred more
: haveNnnounced their intentions of TAX.
ing up arms before another season
rolls around. The flood of ridicult
heaped upon the suggestion made b!
President Ban Johnson of the American
league, concerning the exemption o
It ball players, has revealed very clearl!
It the trend of public opinion when tn
It professional ball player is considered.
n The Northwestern league, closest t
n Montana folks. will probably open it
o season, after having played a curtaile
% schedule in 1917. The addition of Port
l. land will not strengthen the circui
le much, in the belief of baseball follow
= ers. Portland was in the Northwestern
/, some years ago, and the fans displaye
er@ but little interest in proceedings a
Mercedes class B park. After havin
TT enjoyed Pacific Coast league ball. tn
is next thing to the major league article
l. the slugging matches which so fire
er uuently occur in Blewett's league wi
IN find little favor with Rose City fan
lie Butte and Great Falls may have the
Dis berths if they want them, but thel
I'd, Is some doubt as to whether the d
nd rectors of the Montana cities will cal
IT'S to take another try at the game. II
1917 season, short thought it was, hay
ing been disastrous one. The stat'
a. of the players. yet to be determine
will have much to do with final decisit
an regarding the operation of the Nortl
d. western. which played its thirteen
~ season in 1917.
,,v Football Will Reign.
alb Football, next to baseball the bi
,ay gest attraction in the sporting line. W
w. continue to flourish, though colleg
ire will undoubtedly confine themselves
Ill their own territory in seeking opp
hin nents, and cross country. inter- sc
W. tional games will be a thing of the pa
ust The average college player is over
md and eligible to the draft, generally b
to ing a healthy. sturdy creature. wit
DIN out dependents of any sort and. what
to more, eager to fight. The recruits FRI
title football teams throughout the count
Tia IL gathered at one place. would ma
ain a formidable army, though it Is II
that SOMA colleges preferred tooth