The Washington herald., 1917-04-10
HOW Will Big WAR
AFFECT BASEBALL?
Prsident Tener Believes Game !. in for
Great Season.

With one eye focused upon the de-
yelopments Of the conflict beyond the
seas. baseball is clearing its decks for
action. Not since the Spanish American
war. in 1885. has the national sport con-
| fionted a season so fraught with uncer-
tainty as the one that looms ahead. but
ofhcials who control the game, 30 far a.
the major leagues are concerned, have
adopted policy Of watchfuI waiting.
There viii be no, hasty action. Too
much money has been invested In the
sport and too many men are Dependent
upon II for their livelihood TO warrant
shutting down the ball parks now. The
pastime probably win proceed In the even
tenor Of its way until circumstances com
pei a change.
But at this time baseball men do not
anticipate such a contingency. They pro-
pose TO conduct the game Ike any other
well ordered business But II in the fu-
ture II should become necessary 10 90
Its share in the field organized baseball
will be ready to put aside bats and balm
for the rife eand take its place along
side the hosts'that are fighting for civil
lzation.
How is the war going TO affect base
ball?
That is the question many are asking
on the eve of the seasons opening. The
opinion has been advanced that the pub
iic mind il just. row SO occupied win
military topics that the national pas
time will not get its usual attention. On
the other hand, II is claimed by many
including some army officials, that base
hall viii receive more attention than usual
TO relieve the public mind from the ten
sion Of the seriousness Of the interna-
tional situation.
President John X. Tener. of the Ma
tional League. Is one who believes tha'
baseball is in for a great season. He
does not think that the war VIII anect
the game, unless there Is some great
calamity on land or sea. A national
catastrophe after the start Of the season
would, Of course, result in period OF
countrywide mourning, during which
baseball and all other recreation would
be affected for long period
However, President Tener points out
IL will take some time TO prepare the
army and put II into shape for the heid'
and there is no probability that tnis
will be accomplished until after the sea-
son which is about to begin. During
this period, baseball officials believe, the
public will need the diamond game as
necessary relaxation. II Is argued thai
Il could in no way interfere, with the
upbuildIng OF the army and would in the
meantime furnish recreation for the pub
lie at large, whose attention Will be oc-
cupied to a great extent with the somber
reflections Of the international conflict
1t seems to be the general belief
among the baseball men that the pres
ent season will be a banner one in every
respect. In the first place, the game
is back to normal condition for the
first time in many seasons. There are
in the game this season no internal trou-
bles to counteract the object Of the
game itself. The baseball strike and
the Federal League are things OF the
past. The rivalry between the clubs and
the two major leagues is more intense
because of this return to normal condi-
tions
Thus the major leagues, which are OBJ
ligated to their players by contracts,
will go ahead and play out their sched-
ules as planned in the belief that the
national pastime will furnish interest
and recreation at a critical period in our
national life, when such diversion will
be needed.