The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-06
SITUATION BOTHERS
BASEBALL MAGNATES
Some of Mogus Fear That Break With Germany Will Hurj
National Pastme This Summer-Captain Houston, Of u
New Yorks Volunteers His Services.

New York. Feb. 5--The present
German American crisis is causing
baseball magnates. managers and
players some concern. While nothing
official has been done regarding a
change of plAns for the coming sea-
son, all are giving a little thought to
what might happen. If the declara-
ton of war comes from one side or
the other. the National Baseball com
mission likely will take action and
some believe that playing will be sus-
pended.
Captain 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 cap
tain of engineers in the Spanish
! American war and yesterday offered
his services to his old regiment.
| May Use Parks for Troops.
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 high
er salaries" said Captain Huston. 1T
may be that we will have to declare
a moratorium in baseball. 1t will be
we'll for the club owners to look ahead.
for If the situation proves as serious
as it now promises to be, the game
is sure to suffer. While II is too early
to make definite changes in our plans,
in case of war there is sure to be
falling off Of patronage, so the pres
ent rules noN in force in the game
governing the number of players and
training plans would have to be
changed.
Ranks MAY BE Depleted.
1T isn't improha BILE continued
Captain Huston. that the ranks of
the players VIII he depleted If there
is a call for volunteers. The proud
record of O'Hara, the former outfield-
err of the Giants, who made great
name for himself in France with
Canadian regiment. is still fresh in
minds at hail players.
O'Hara's skill proved of great value
in the throwing of hand grenades."
President r. n Hampstead, OF the
Giants, stated that as vet the club had
made no change in its plans. but he
could foresee that il the war situa-
ton developed changes would have
to be made. President Hampstead
said that he would not be surprised
II the number of players on each club
was cut down to sixteen instead of
twenty-five.
1--WE will have baseball. anyway"
said Mr.. Hampstead Il 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 moth
ing at the present time"
Numerous Changes Possible.
The severing of diplomatic relations
with Germany may lead to numerous
changes in the plans OF the baseball
men. although it was pointed out yes
! terday that the war did not stop the
game in Canada. although the patron
I 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 Presi-
dent Weeghman, of the Cubs. and
make deep cuts in the contracts of
the players who have not already