Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-20
NON-ESSENTIAL
(Continued from Pace One)

( we TEE
. "'The arguments in this behalf are
three ir number:
1-Trat baseball is "a business n
which a very large investments o.
money have been made, lnFolFlhs
the erection of properties useless ahe'
improbable unless permitted 10 ps
continued in the use Of when thes
we're erected; and the appilca'loh Y.
,e g,,iations to members OF profess
sion.l baseball teams would SO .''
disorganize this business as 10 oe
strov It and render this properly
temporarily valueless.
"Two-that the occupation OF
professional baseball player -'eQulres
q very high degree of specia. tram
ing and skin, precurabie only by
substantially exclusive ueFo'lon u
the time of persons aspiring to be-
come professional players SO 'naI
there is not much likelihood OF stch
plavers having any other available
occupation or fitness for any other
occupation at all, adequate in its re-
turns to maintain for themselves ana
their families the standard OF hvlng
which has been established on the
earnings in their professional occu-
pations.
Three that baseball has been ac-
cepted as the national sport of the
people of the United States that it
afford wholesome Outdoor relaxation
and enjoyment to large Numbers of
the American people and is to many
workers and business men of the
United States almost tn, only oppor-
tunity for such recreation; SO that to
bring about the cessation Of profess
sional baseball would work a social
and Industrial hard far out of pro-
portion to the military loss involved
by the exemption of the limited num-
Der of players in question.
Upon each of these grounds sepa-
rate comment is appropriate.
AS to the first, the situation OF
professional baseball iiffers in no
wise from other civilian peace time
business which by reason of the
stress of war and its demands upon
the industries and energy of the
country must be content to bear
whatever burden is imposed by tenn
porary inactivity while The number of
men affected by the order may be
suihclent to disorganize the business,
many OF the players are beyond the
present draft age and it is by no
means certain that complete disor-
ganlzation of the business would fol-
low adherence to the order as made.
AS TO the second: Baseball PLAYERS
are men of unusual physical ability.
deXterity and alertness. 1t has been
necessary for US in this country to in
sttute processes of rapid industrial
training, and it is quite inconceivable
that occupations cannot be found by
these men which not only would re-
!leVe them from the o7us of non-pro-
ductive employment but would make
Them productive in some capacity high
~ useful TO the nation This change
will be welcome by the individuals in
volved and its usefulness to the coun-
try. both direct and indirect, is obvious.
The third consideration is, of course,
the serious on2 and the one which has
brought about the present appeal to the
President. The stress OF intensive oc-
America in normal times is such as to
give tn highest Importance and social
value 20 outdoor recreation. 1t may
well be that all Of the persons who at
tend such outdoor sports are not in need
of them, bu. certainly very large pre-
ponderance of the audiences in these
great national exhibitions are helped
physically and made more efficient, in
dustrial,y and socially, by the reIaxa-
ton that they there njoy. But the
times are not normal; the demands of
we must all make sacrifices, and the
non-rroductive employment Of able
bodied persons. useful in the national
defense. either as military men or in
the industry and commerce of our coun-
try. cannot be justified The country
will be best satisfied IL the great selec-
tive process by which our army Is re-
cru1ted makes no determinations
among 'en. except those upon which
depend the preservation OF business m
dustries Of the country essential to the
successful prosecutor of the war.
Il am. therefore, of the opinion that
the regulation in question should not
changed but, rather, tina. the scope
of its provisio-s should be so enlarged
as to include other classes of persons
whose professional occupation is solely
that OF entertaining. Our people will be
resour0eful enough 70 find other means
! of recreation cnd relaxation if there
he not enouPf persons beyond the use
full military or Industrial age to perform
such functions. And they will be wise
and patriotic enc ugh not to neglect the
recreation necessary to maintain their
efficiency merely because they are call
ed upon. in t. G obvious public interes.
70 sacrifice Il favorite form of amuse-
ment.
The appeal is denied and the order
, Of the local ard district boards is ar
! frmed"
Pres. Tener's Statement
| Cincinnati, JULY 1a.-Presldnnt Ton
or of tho National League. after read
! ing Secretary Bakers statement rel
! alive to baseball as it is concerned
! in the work or fight order said:
! Il have read Secretary Raker's de.
csion in fun and baseball interest
will comply with the finding III srir-
| it as we'll rs III action. AS good cit.
/ lions our obligations are TO respect
constituted authority. II baseball
comes under tho classification of q
non-essential occupation we will most
/ gladly make the sacrifice of our bus
mess interests in the country's wei