Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-23
0. B. GETS REPR|EvE
FROM BAKERS ED|CT
Secretary of War May Heed Plea
of National Commission
For Modification.

Washington, d. c.. July %. Decision
on the request of representatives OF
Organized Baseball that the effective time
of the .work-or-fight" regulation as they
apply 10 professional baseball players be
extended to the end of the present season
was postponed yesterday until tomorrow.
This action was taken so the National
Baseball Commission could present
brief setting forth its views IN the matter.
Provost Marshal General Crowder gave
hearing to representatives of the
Washington American League club pre-
paratory to making n report to Secretary
Baker with recommendations as TO
whether the Sccrctary's order making The
new regulations Immediately applicable
to the PLAYERS should be modified so as not
to interfere with this years schedule.
Representative Nicholas LonEworth, of
Ohio appeared on behalf of August
Hermann. chairman of the National
Commission, and asked that the decision
be postponed So the Commission could
formally present its case General Crow
der said he was prepared Ia make his
recommendations, but would postpone
further action until Wednesday if the
representatives of the Washington club
present agreed They did and the matter
went over
Manager Griffith of the Washington
club announced that his team would
leave for st LOUIS SO as TO play the game
scheduled for Thursday unless President
Johnson directs otherwise or arrangcs a
game nearer 10 Washington, SO rs to save
travelling expenses If the decision Of
Secretary Baker is unfavorablc
AMERICAN LEAGUE WILL WAIT
Cleveland. July - At n meeting Of
American League baseball owners, called
bv President r. b. Johnson here late
Yesterday. 10 take action on Secretary
of War Bakers decision that baseball ls
non-essential. definite action WAS post
poned pending q meeting OF President
johnson and War Department officials on
the '-Work-Or-hght regulations as they
apply 10 professional ball players The>
meeting probably Will take place Wednes
dav Pending the final decision, the
American League teams will play out their
scheduled games
Il is understood that the two other
members of the National Baseball Com
mission Chairman August Hermann and
John X Toner, president of the National
League Will JOIN Mr. johnson in presenting
10 War Department officials reasons for
tho modification Of tho new regulations.
An optimistic fcellnC preFallCd among
American League cluh-owners after to-
iavs meeting that some concessions will
bc made at the coming meeting in " ash
ington 10 permit the carrying out OF this
wear schedule
All the American League cluh-owncrs
we're reported here today Chairman
Hermann was here 10 confer with Mr.
Johnson MIR Hermann left for Pitts
burg tonight TO attend the meeting Of
National League owners in that city to-
morrow and Mr. Johnson left tonight for
Washington
President James G Dunn, OF the CIcve-
land American League Club who on
Saturday announced that the local park
would bc closed after yesterday double
header after today's meeting said the
Cleveland Club viii play its scheduled
game here on next Thursday, provided
the status OF the 'work-or-hght order
rs applicable 70 professional ballplayers
il definitely settled by that time Other
wise he said Cleveland viii not play its
game with New York on that day The
games scheduled for Cleveland az Phlia-
delphia today and tomorrow have been
advanced and previously played, leaving
the Cleveland team idle until Thursday