New Britain herald., 1917-11-24
FANS CONTINUE TO
 HAMMER JOHNSON
On All Sides Indignation Is Ex- pressed at Exemption Idea

New York. Nov 24.-The popu.A. clamor raised by Ban Johnson't ridiculous suggestion that the Gov. ernment should exempt 288 major league players increased in volume yesterday rather than subsided. John e0n is being lambasted as few base ball officials ever have been. He has been offered the presidency of the In AAd Club and has been informed there will be no use in him declining the omce. He has been elected by prac- tically unanimous vote.
 &ditorially Johnson has been DAnned to a crisp in the leading East oEn and Southern papers. The most hitter denunciation of his action has come from among baseball men, par tlcularly in his own league. Tho idea 10 70 repulsive to the New York Amer icAn League club. owned by military mHn, one of whom is now at the front. ehA& Col. Ruppert sees red whenever ho things of 1t. One shudders to eA1nk of what Cap. Huston will do Wh0nhe reads "somewherc in France" . newspaper containing the story of Bans suggestion.
 However, tho man who is more in- dignant than any ono else is the aver ago American citizen. The writer had the privilege to hear several citizens express their sentiments abount Ban. They would have done credit to a Tommy. President Tener of the Ma clonAl league had the foresight to sec that phase of it as soon as he read Johnson's suggestion for the first time.
 New Ran Players in Service.
 'eWhat will the man in the street nAY3" said Tener. What will the mothers, fathers. brothers and sisters of boys now In France or in our train lng camps say to such an abhorrent Uuggetion? I can well imagine it. I know what I would say if had a son in service and I would shout it from the housetops."
 The more ono analyses JOhnsOn's plan or suggestion, call it what you like, tho more audacious it appears. The audacity of an amusement pro- moter putting "the high standards of his particular amusement above the welfare of g. country at war is shocking to the sensibilities of the average American. The fault with baseball is not that it has given too many active athletes to the country, but too few.
 Another brazen part of Johnson's suggestion is the manner in which he offers his bench warmers and extra pitchers to the Government, saying i've would willingly sacrifice these men" AS a matter of fact all clubs are contemplating cutting down to eighteen men any way. But the idea of turning his least competent players over to the Government strikes at the heart of the democratic idea behind the selective draft, whose primary aim was to put the millionaire's son on the same plane with the son of the vil- lage shoemaker and the $15.OOO a year Iris Speaker with the $500 year colt pitcher Were such plan adopted 1t would be favoritism of the rankest sort.
 There Is no doubt that Johnson's stupid remarks have straned the re- lations between the two big leagues. "It has given baseball 8 hard knock, and we must suffer with the American league because of it. However, Pres ident Teners strong statement will help a lot to show exactly where we stand. I think the Governor hit the nail right on the head. His statement on Johnson's suggestion was the best he has made since his connection with the National league.
 Ebbets Explains Stand.
 Charles Ebbets and Ed McKeever. owners of the Brooklyn ball club, have sent a circular letter to all the clergy of Brooklyn explaining their stand on Sunday baseball. The Dodgers owners point out that inter- fering with the sanctity of the Sab bath is furthest from their thought.
 Ebbests quotes the old blue law of 17s7 which prevents Sunday baseball. and if carried out to the letter would alao prohibit shooting, hunting, fish, ing, playing, gaming or other public sports, exhibitions or shows on Sun day. He shows that this law is only enforced inasmuch as it pertains to baseball and that its repeal would per init citizens to enjoy mild forms o1 Sunday recreation which are now per mitted only by subterfuGe.