South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-27
BASEBALL MEN
GET A RESPITE
Work or Fight Order viii Not
Apply to Game Until
September !.

The ruling means that profession
al baseball players Of draft age viii
save until Sept 4 20 find essential
occupations or 90 IN the army The
baseball mana gers asked 10 make
the time Oct IS. The time fixed
by the secretary is I'VE weeks short
II the hnish OF the major league
season.
The secretary's decision pointed
out that the baseball managers had
been able 20 show only 237 players
who would be affected by the order.
SO as 20 give ample time for re-
adjustment. Mr.. Baker said he
would fix the date AT Sept. L.. The
Winning OF the war. he emphasized,
was the task before the country
Wrong Impression Feared.
The secretary said that the limited
extension OF time was given because
OF the representation made that
baseball players may have been put
in "A less favorable attitude than
others affected by the regulations
because OF their reliance on his
statement that the question Of their
inclusion in the terms OF the order
would not be decided until a case
had arisen he made 1t plain, how
ever. that the war department is in
teres-ed solely In the Strengthening
Of the nations military forces. as the
winning Of the war is regarded as
the first consideration.
Provost Marshal Gen. Crowder
Mr.. Baker said. had reported that il
was not clear 10 him that the game
would have 10 be discontinued even
if the order were made Immediately
applicable. as only 237 major league
players would be affected.
Regrets Action Necessary.
While regarding il as unfortunate
70 have so wholesome a recreation
as baseball destroyed, the war sec
rotary said il would be a much more
unfortunate thing TO preserve even
so wholesome an amusement by
making an exception in favor Of
baseball PLAYERS, which is denied 70
great classes of persons in the United
States who were imme diately asso-
ciated with processes of the national
daily life more fundamental than
any mere amusement.
There was this difference. he said,
between baseball and other indus
sries classed as productive, base
Dan is more integrated at least in
the sense that its successful conduct
depends upon the preservation of all
the major leagues scattered through
out the country. while in most occu-
pations the work or night order has
merely a series of local and more or
less personal affects.
Text OF Order.
Sec'y Bakers order. in the form
of memorandum for the provost
marshal general says:
"A petition has been flied for an
extension OF time within which pro-
tessional baseball players shall seek
essential or productive employment.
and the order asked is one which
viii extend until oct. Is. 1915 As
grounds for this request il is al
legged that there are but 237 per
sons affected by the so-called work
or sight order; but that, in spite of
this small number, their taking
would lead 20 the immediate break
ing up Of the entire game
"A hearing has been had on this
subject by the provost marshal gen
eral. who reports TO me that it is not
clear 10 him that the game will have
70 be discontinued even If the order
Is made immediately applicable.
Purpose Of Ruling.
THE purpose OF the work or fight
order. SO far as the war department
is concerned. is 10 strengthen the
military forces OF the country and
not TO control the labor situation.
Incidentally il will undoubtedly
have the effect OF adding 20 the
number OF persons usefully en-
ployed. and decreasing the number
II persons uselessly employed. In
this way the order will strengthen
the military forces by making IL less
necessary 10 exempt for industrial
reasons men who would otherwise
be taken into the military service.
This is an indirect result, but one
OF very great Importance. and III eN-
ceptions are made or postponements
are TO be made in the enforcement
OF this order. IL Will require a very
careful study 10 determine whether
those exceptions ought 10 be the per
sons IN whose behalf this petition is
fled or some other group out of the
large number affected by the order,
many % whom have already COM
Piled with IT, and brought about
readjustment of the trades and oc-
cupations which they had previously
followed.
Suggests Use Of Older Men.
ct think 10 would be an unfortu-
nate thing 20 have so wholesome a
recreation as baseball destroyed If 10
can be- continued by the use of per
scus not available for essential war
service But IL would be a much
more unfortunate thing 90 preserve
even 20 wholesome an amusement
81 making an exception in favor or
Baseball PLAYERS which is denied 20
ereat classes of persons in the
United States whose occupations
have been held similarly non essen
tIal although they are immediately
associated with the distribution Of
food and other processes OF our daily
Efe more fundamental than any
mere amusement.
.For these reasons 10 seems 20 mo
entirely proper and fair 20 extend