The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-01
LACK OF DASH
ONE OF ILLS
OF BASEBALL
Penalizing of Aggressive
ness Has Taken Thrill
From National Game
(By Associated Press.l


Kansas City, Mo-, Sept. Frank
comments upon the Ellis" of base
ball, with the declarations that ag-
gressiveness has been taken out Of
professional play by the umpires and
heads Of many leagues who were
trying to mimic Ban Johnson" were
made here today by E. w. DECKER
son, president OF the Western league.
He asserted that loss of thrills for
the spectator, with poor attendance
as the result, has been caused by too
much penalizing of players who
went into the games with spirit and
dash.
The apparent falling off of In
terest in baseball in some parts of
the country. in my opinion, is due to
the fact that the life and fight has
been taken out of it by book" presi-
dents who order their umpires to
fine players whenever they show the
least signs of aggressiveness, Dick
erson said. The result is that the
players have determined not to
throw their money away and cease
to display that spirit which is to the
public as seasoning is to food.
There was a time when players
were more than aggressive and
carried things too far, so that IL be-
came necessary to stamp out rowdy-
ism. 1t was then that Ban John
son came into the game and kept
aggressive play within the boundary
lines of decency by insisting on re-
spect of umpires. Dozens of presi-
dents since that time have gone to
an extreme. In doing so, they have
taken sentiment away from the
players, and made them go about
their work as If it were cold blood
ed business proposition.
Need Right To Fight.
What baseball needs is the right
for the players to fight for every
point so long as they do not delay
the games. When they do so, the
fans will fight with them and go to
the games because their feelings are
aroused. / sooner would fine a
player for visiting on the field with
an opposing player than for 'charg-
ing when aroused over some close
decision. The public must have its
illusions while games are in progress
or half of the pleasure is taken away.
Players who visit on the field destroy
that Illusion.
Aggressive Club Pays.
SHOW me club that has a
scrappy manager and bunch of
fighting players In a league that
does not make aggressiveness a
crime, and viii show you a club
that is doing a paying business.
Look back and see IL the leagues
that have passed into nothingness
are not those which gave autocratic
powers to the umpires and denied
the fans that upon which their senti-
ments are built. Umpires with chips
on their shoulders, backed by presi-
dents who were trying to mimic Ban
Johnson, have done more to lessen
the interest in baseball than all
other causes combined
There is not the slightest reason
why baseball should be stopped on
account OF the war In fact, base
ball should thrive even more now
than in times OF peace, for. when
the boys of America get into action
the public will wish to have its mind
taken of these somber things by
baseball and other sports.
Toronto has contributed more
men to the British army than per-
haps any city in the United States
ever will send to Europe. Last year
was the only city in the In
league that played to a
profit. This year the Toronto club
viii lead that league in attendance,
ana the International is having one
Of its best seasons.
"The Western league stands for
baseball. 1t is playing 20
a greater business this year than 1t
has at any time since the Federal
league broke into the game and
placed premiums on unfaithfulness,
thus lessening the public's respect
for the players"