The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-11-23
National League Head
Scorns Ban Johnson's
II Proposal As Unpatriotic
and Selfish Storm of Dis
favor Greets Project to
Ask Freedom Fronf Mill
tary Service for Baseball
Players.

u
tary Service for Baseball
Players.
New York. Nov. 23-President Ban
Iohnson has brought down heap OF
cr1ticism on his own head by sug-
costing that the major league base
ball players be exempt from military
duty so that baseball gould be con-
ttnued next season The. severesf
protest comes from President John
X. Tener OF the National League, who
stated emphatically yesterday that
Johnson has no authority whatever to
imply that the National League would
also ask for the exemption of its
players
'-If the National League were to
ask tho government to exempt its
bail players from the draft" said
Preaident Tener- IT would walk out
Of this ONCE The suggestion Of such
thing at n time like this is SO pre-
posterous that it strikes one square1y
In the face. Tho National League
win ask no special favor"
President Tener said that he would
/, NOT 20 one inch toward Washington
/; r1faxy of War for special favors for
' baseball.
II think continued President
1 Tanner, cit most unpatriotic to suggest
4 that baseball should even appear TO
I ehirk its duty at this time, when SO
many parents are. giving their sons
(: md when other business interests are
/. giving their best men to the services
:! ~ our armed forces and are making
( other sacrifices for the benefit Of our
\ country" .t1
Wants to Help Government.
M President Tener stated Just after
war was declared that baseball
would do its share and that the ma
tzonal game would have to be a sec
, ondary reconsideration He is even
more emphatic on this point now. SIT
seems to me that nothing could be
further from the purpose Of baseball
than this proposal We cannot ask
the government to grant us the
\ nz1Ehtest favor" he said.
Baseball" continued the National
League head. sis a trifiing thing COM
!, pared to the gaining OF liberty for
the nations Of the world. I cannot
+. state too strongly that the National
" League has no sympathy with any
selfish plan Of discrimination in favor
X of It's -buSiness or it's playars It will
mot ask special exemption for any Of
~ ban players. The National League
WIN continue to help the govern
msu< I'm every way possible"
Johnscn's untimaly suggestion has
met with much disfayor, even in his
own league, and one Of the first to
protest against the suggestion was
PreAdent Jacob. Rupert Of the
b Yankees. whose partner in the own
y; ersz1ip OF the New York club is Capt.
T. L. Huston, who IL now in France.
Colonel Rupert was highly incensed
over Johnson'6 weird suggestion.
captain Huston is now in France
W helping his country win the war;" he
lid II certainly am not in favor
"A asking exemption for a. ball player
#h1le my partner and their employer
= r1skfng his life in the service Z,
Gecretarv John 3. Foster of the
iG1ants said yesterday that the New
York club would never lend the
;s1ightest approval to such a sugges-
IfIon as Jo1insons. President Hemp
stead and the New York club" he
IDa1d would DE glad to see any of 4ts
players in the service. In case any
of them are called in the draft the
Ic1<xb stands ready to aid them in
their patriotic efforts In every way
POSSIBLE"
N After President johnson saw what
IL horne<ss nest had been stirred ur
among Baseball men. he fastened to
modify his statement as much al
lpoa8fb1e. He said last night in Chi.
Ecaxo that he made the statement
fmersiy as q suggestion to open dis.
cussion on the subject. as the ex-
lfstencs OF certain clubs was msnacet
Mbr the draft. II President johnson
lmade the suggestion merely to star
;dfscusston. he surely succeeded.
F"SWe&were ready last spring" sait
PreeidShk johnson. "to close ever!
loalI Dark but no need for this wa!
lSeon by the government. IT is ciearl!
understood that the draft law Is no
daakGned to wreck any business. TIL
lFrestdent doesn't want that to- hap
iDen. Hence the time seems ripe TO
n discussion Of tust how the Law
would be administered to give base
ball precisely the same safeguard
that are afforded to other businesses
mo more or no less. The problem L
Ito eouali1e among the clubs sacri
f1ces which must be made and whicl
the American league Is ready t.
make"
Inc most SURPRISING LnlHB 6D0uC III
M suggestion of the American 1eagu
president is that he should be tn
f1rst to look for special fayors for tn
ball players In his league. when h
was 30 enthusiastic e!6out getting a.
the American league players unde
military training in the South las
spring and even continued the dali
\ drilling ct many Of the parks durin
the season.
johnson offered a prize OF $500 70
the best drilled club, and this wa
won by the st. Louis Browns. Base
ball men cannot understand VIII
.JohnsoA, after starting the ball play
.ers on the proper path to becom
GOOD soldiers. should suddenly shit
Dis point of view and want to hav
them exempt.
J0hnson's suggestion has bee
Crowned uDon by the draft official
&n WaRhinGton. and one of them sal
FesteFdaT, II suppose tennis player
ind 1saztsrs In other sports should b
kweampt with the ball players Base