Evening star., 1917-11-04

$4,000 men who now are undergoing
training for service abroad in the can
tonments established in various parts
Of the country the method invoked was
that of gigantic lottery by which
many men splendidly adapted for mill
tary service, including a large num-
ber of star ball players. were passed
over because they happened to get
numbers drawn far down on the la
bility list. Under the new system.
soon to be put into play, however, all
element of chance has been removed,
as the men will be classified and those
who are single and without dependents
will be drawn first. 1t is this feature
that Is expected to result in the loss
by the sixteen major league clubs of
an average of possibly as high as rs
per cent of their enrolled playing
strength.
Take the Washington club as an ex-
ample. Off the first draft the names
OF Rice. Foster, Judge, Henry and Shaw
now that Ayers number also has been
reached. Rice was granted exemption
because of physical isabilfty, while
Foster. Judge and Henry were exempt
ed on the ground of being married and
having dependents. What disposition
has been made of Shaw's case has not
been learned. but. being married, he
probobly Will be exempted, as will also
Ayers. who has wife and two chill
dren.
Aside from Rice, there are twelve
members Of the team who are unmar-
rfed and not over age, however, these
being Leonard. Morgan, Du Mont,
Menosky. H. Milan. Murray. Crane.
Craft. Lynch. Waldhauer. H. Thompson
and Harper. although 1t has been an
nounced the latter Is about to take
the plunge into the sea Of matrimony.
OF the dozen Craft. Lynch and Wald-
bauer are under age and did not have
the pitcher drafted from the Toronto
club. is not definitely known, and both
Morgan and Du Mont may be exempted
on the score of having dependent men,
bers of their families. although un-
married: but. as far as can be learned,
Leonard. Menosky. H. Milan. Murray.
Crane and Harper are at this writing
eligible for call to service on the Sec
ond draft and will be accepted barring
the chance of failure to pass the phys
ical tests. which may be regarded as
altogether unlikely.
1t seems reasonable to assume that
conditions obtaining on the local team
the fifteen other clubs in the big
leagues will be. on the average as
extensively affected as Washington
some of them more SO owing to their
having already lost from one to nve
men.
To fill the gaps thus occasioned the
majors will have to draft heavily on
the minor leagues as a measure of
Misrepresentation. This Is expected to
furnish cause enough in itself to COM
rel practically all the minor organiza-
tions which got by last season to dis
band. And It is bound to result in
lowering Of the quality of the sport
presented in the big show. but the
majors still will be exhibiting the most
artistic brand Of base ball to be seen.
and IL 1t proves to be true that the
public must have base ball regardless
of the stress of the times the fans
will continue to turn out and cheer
fully pay their war tax at the gate.
even though they are purchasing an
inferior article at an increased cost.
for it will be with the knowledge that
It Is the best obtainable.
At this time only about two dozen
major league players Of sufficient
known strength to be classed as ''regu-
lars" have enlisted or been drafted for
the u. g. fighting forces and 1t Is not
assured as yet that all Of these will
have to serve. An unoflcial list shows
that the Red Sox with Jack Barry, the
manager. and Ernie Shore. Dick Hob
litxell, Chick Shorten and Duffy Lewis.
and the Cleveland Indians. with Elmer
Smith. Joe Evans. Ed Klepfer. Joe
Harris and Guisto, have furnished the
largest number Of any Of the clubs.