Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-08
HERMANN SURE
BASEBALL IS SAFE
Declares Appeals Will Protect the
Players Until the Sea-
son is Over.

Garry" Hermann, chairman OF the
National Baseball Commission, who If at
Atlantic City, y. j.. for the annual con-
vcntion OF the F.lks laid aside the business
of the brotherhood for few minutes 70
discuss baseballs predicament in the
work-or-fight order.
Garry" was in an optimistic mood and
not for moment would he admit that the
major leagues arc in danger. Commenting
on the recent action Of the Dallas exemp-
ton board in ordering two minor league
PLAYERS TO seek work in an essential line
or he placed in Class |, he virtually ad-
mittcd that in so far as the minor icagues
are concerned the outlook Is very gloomy
He then proceeded to explain the diner,
cnCe between the status of the majors ana
that of the minors ,.
"Tbe action of the Dallas. Tex, draft
board is not ut all significant so lar MS the
major leagues are concerned" said Mr..
Hermann. Consider this, he contin-
ucd. According TO the working OF the
draft law. a man cannot be removed from
a deferred class and placed in Class ! tor
engaging in a su-called nonesscntini occu-
patton when to change his work entails
great financial hardship. In the case OF
these two men and other minor ieaguers
II must ne remembered that their salaries
are small, and it is patent that their earn
ing capaCItv in n more cssentla! industry
will b equal to-. If not greater than, "helr
baseball stipend.
''On the other hand, it is lualiy GER
tain that major league player would be
subjected 10 severe financial hardship 1t
called upon to give up q line OF work net
ting him anywhere from four tn eight
hundred dollars month to So INTO some
thing which would pay him far less. Take,
for instance, Groh, third baseman on the
Cincinnati Club Here is man earning
$500 monthly lie has given his lie To the
national game and is entirely unfitted Tor
any other line Of work. 1t would be OK
,ccdlnglv difficult for Groh TO make
living in any other occupation.
u see no immediate danger OF major
league baseball being forced 10 suspend
before the present season Is complete, at
any rate There il O certain routine To
bc gone through before definite ruling Is
reached as to the major league players
status in the work or tight order. he
matter will be appealed il an adverse rul-
ing Is made bv a local board. On test
case il will be carried TO the PRECEDENT II
need be. and all those things take time
II il I've deemed necessary to force major
league players into another line OF WORK.
the final decision will not be reached until
the present season is about over
However, | do not anticipate ruiing
adverse TO baseball that L. major league
baseball think til; when the Judges
in this matter consider what baseball has
done to help win the war, when they
realize that baseball is a business IN which
sonnet hing over So ,000, 900 is invested and
that il is the safety valve Of the nation at
war. they will not class II as among the
nonessental occupations
HoRNsBY CASE CRUCIAL.
Washington. ID. c., July Action OF
the local draft board at Fort Worth, lex,
Saturday in notifying Rogers Hornsoy,
shortstop OF the st Louis Nationals, that
unless be engages in essential occupation
he will be placed in Class IA Is expected
10 result in q definite ruling on the ques-
ton of whether baseball IS 70 be ciassed as
a non-essential business under the new
work-or-fight regulations.
Provost Marshal General Crowder has
repeatedly stated that he would make no
ruling on this point until ease was re-
ferrcd 70 him from local board for do
cision. There have been limitations,
however. that baseball would be clas-
siiied as a sport, though this season
schedules at professional baseball leagues
would be interfcred with as little as pos
s.ble
uoRNsBY MUST GET NEW JOB
Fort Worth, Tex, July s-Rogers
Hornsby, star shortstop Of the St. Louis
Nationals, was Saturday ordered by Local
Draft Board No. 10 engage IN an es-
sential occupation or be placed in Class
IA Of the draft He is the first major
league PLAYER 10 receive a work or fight
notice under the new ruling OF Provost
Marshal General Crowder. Hornsby $
home is IN Fort Worth.
HoRSsBY WILL APPEAL.
st. Louis. Mo. July s Rogers Horns
bv. shortstop for the St Louis Nationals,
who was told by his draft board at Fort
Worth. Texas, to engage in an essential
occupation or Immediately be classified
Ia will appeal from the decision of the
board. according to an announcement
SATURDAY. BY Branch Hickey, president OF
the Cardinals Hornsby received deferred
clasSti, alton because OF dependent, his