The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-24
EXEMPTION SCHEME
ASsAIltO BY I[Atg
NstAon1L League Head Scorns BIN
Iohnson's Prosoal As Unpa-
trfotic aud Scifish.
RUPERT ALSO PROTESTS
storm Of Dtsfnvor Grects Project TO
Ask Freedom From Military, Ser,-
lee for Bah Players.

h~hf0NGA Dan johnson mas DEUuklk
Town heap of criticism on his own
aead by suggesting that the major
iHague baseball players he exempt
rom military duty SO that baseball
could be continued next season The
everest protest comes from President
+"hu j.. Tener of the National league
"ho stfted emphatically yesterday
mar Johnson has no authority what
ever To Imply that the National league
WOULD also ask for the exemption of
is players
II the National league were TO ask
ne government to exempt it's ball
niayers from the draft said Presi-
dent Tener. ~ would -walkout Of this
"'Hce. The sugs sstiou of such thing
p tirae like The is SO preposterous
hst il strikes oae sousrely I'm the face.
The National lra que will SIX no spe-
,iqt favor"
President Tener said that he would
nor go one inch toward Washington
. ask l'reSide II W1lsoa or the score
AIRY ~ war FOR special fl vors for
baseball
II think" continued President TER
er. 'it mos. unpatriotic TO suggest ttfst
baseball should even appear TO shirh
it's duty at this time. when so many
parents sra giving their Sons and
NfEFt fAG8CI 1ISfffGS5 lEhFECSE& Nf Y
ing their best men to the services OF
our armed forces and are making
other sfHrlrces for the benefit Of our
country
Wants to HELP government.
President Tener stated tust after
war was declared that no sshail would
DO Its Share and that the national
game would have TO be seccndary con
alteration. He Ia even more emphatic
on this point now III seems 10 ms
hat nothing could be further from
the purpose Of baseball than this pre-
tcsal We cannot ask the government
- grant us the slightest favor" he
said
''Rss rail- continued the National
lsasua head. lis a. trifYtng thing com
pared to the gaining Of liberty for the
nations Of the world | cannot state
90 strongly that the National league
HAS no sym psthy with any selfish plan
s.f animation ~csr- I-~ rrrrz~
ness or it's players. II will not ask
special exemption for any of it's hall
PLAYERS. The National league viii con
,iinue TO help the government In every
way possible
Johnsans nntlnJely suggestion has
met with much sffsfavor. even tn hts
own league. and one OF the frat 10
President Jacob Ruppert OF the YAM
seees. whose partner In the ownership
IT thu New York club Is Ga ptain L
l.. Huston, who Is now In France
colonel Rupert was highly tncensed
over Johnson'w weird suggestion
ca psair Huston is nsw in France
helping his country win thn war" ne
said. II certainly arm moi In favor OF
asking exemption for ball player
while ray nartner ans their esia pi9yer''
IL riskfnx his life IN the service
Secretary John p. Foster OF the
Giants said that the New York club
would never lend the slightest ap-
prevail 10 sucf1 "a suggestion as John
sons President Hsra pstead and the
New York club" he said. would he
rlxd TO see any of its players In the
service. In case ssy of them are fall
ed in the draft the club stands ready
10 aid them in their patriotic efforts
TN every way possible.
Kan johnson Hedges.
After President johnson sa~ what
q hornets nest had been stirred up
among baseball men. he fastened 70
modify his statement as much as
possible He said that he made the
statement merely as suggestion TO
rpen discussion on the subject, es the
cd bv the draft IL President Johnson
rnads the suggestion merely 70 start
discussion. he surely succeeded
"ws were ready ftst Spring. saId
President johnson, 30 cfpse every ball
park. but no need for this was seen
nv the government. 1T ia clearly under
stood that the draft law fs not design
I'd to wreck any business The presi-
dent doesn't want that 10 happen,
Hence the time seems ripe for a dis
rusrfor OF 5ust how the law would be
administered to give baseball precise
IN the same safeguards that are AT
torded to other businesses, no more
or no less. The problem Is To equaifse
.mong the clubs sacrifices which must
\. made and which the American
Isayue In ready to make"
The most surprising thing about the
.rvr~stsoo OF the American lessus
,,residcnt is that he should be the nrst
"a ,oos for special favors for the BAH
,,isvere N his league. when he was so
aathusisEtic about getting all the
American league PLAYERS under INIT
tsry training il tho South last spring
and even continued the daily drilling
al many OF tho parks during the sea-
son.
,hs hest drilled club, and this was won
10 the St. Louis Browns. Baseball
nan cannot understand why johnson,
srtar starting the ball players on the
nroner path to become good soldiers
should suddenly SHIFT his point OF view
ana want TO have them exempt.
Iohnson's suggestion has been
.rnwned upon by the draft ofncials in
washington. and one OF them said
s.sterdav. II suppose tennis PLAYERS
81 leaders In others sports should
!. exempt with the ball players.
baseball players are exactly the sort
~ men the country needs as hgnters;
,hey make the best bomb tnrowers,
petition In Bankruptcy.
>~,.,oh 7. Davis, OF Fulton, yester-
.,~s rntt,ipu IN bankruptcy In