New Britain herald., 1917-02-03
CRISIS MAY EFFECT
 BASEBALL PLAYERS
Cubs Owner Predicts Salary Re.
 duCtion and no Southern Trips

si Chicago, Feb. 3.-That ball players will be among the first to feel the ef- 1 feet of tho present tense situation in I this nations foreign affairs was Lhe , statement made yesterday by Presi- dent Weeghman of the Cubs who add ed that those who have come under the wire with signed contracts may consider themselves lucky. A cut all along the line for those who have not already come to terms is among the certainties. he says, should there be a break in relations between this coun- try and any other That the spring training trips may also be wiped off the slate is not improbable, too, un less conditions should change for the better.
 1T can say that those ball players who already have signed for next sea- son may consider themselves lucky" said MT. Weeghman. There will be changes in the contracts to be sent out from now on, as conditions in this country begin to look little rocky for baseball. I am closely watching events, and expect to send the special train to California; but if war should be declared or diplomatic relations be severed between the United States and some other country. I am going to pull in rny horns. I am not going to be caught for any more outlay than I can help.
 There is no question that t',e men who have come to terms have all the advantage of the owners, as I think that had the foreign complications come a short time ago thcre would have been some substantial cuts in the contracts sent out. Just at present s1- ~1,1Jt Of course, the present trouble may blow over but, believe me, arl keep ing my ears to the ground for any un- favorable t:.rn.
 Tt will have to be economy all along the line for the baseball owners. No sooner does the tension due to the players strike talk lessen than it in creases for a more important cause | have not feared the strike of the play CTS at any time, but ir will be different should business be affected by war, or even the rumor of war. Of course l do not believe for a minute that base ball will be abandoned, even for one season, but it might be hard sledding for all of us and I already have start ed to take in sail.'
 Baseball owners figured that, having escaped bankruptcy during the last two years, Cne1r CTOuDleS were over and, with lower salaries in force next l year. they expected to recoup to a certain extent. With a serious turn in this country's international rela- tions, the chances. are that several would suggest abandoning the south ern training trips, which would save a lot of money and would not hurt much in the long run, as these trips have been considered by many to be not entirely necessary.
 The most expensive trip of them all Is scheduled for the Cubs, who have been slated to train at Pasadena, Cul.. It is figured that this journey. With the special train and all tncidentals, will entail an outlay of S14,O00 an amount which even in peaceful times is quite a chunk of money. The White Sox trip to Mineral Wells is likely to mean an expenditure of s1O, 900, while 1 the trip of the Giants to Marlin, Tex i as, will cost about as much as the ! Cubs journey.