The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-27
BALL NAGNATES
LAY PLANS FOR
WORLD SERIES
With Bakers Ruling On
"Work Or Fight,
Way Is Opened
by Associated Press. J

New York, July 27.-Expressing
| satisfaction at the action of Secre-
tary Baker in exempting ball play
ers from the work or fight" edici
until September /. baseball officials
in this city turned Immediately to
the question of the world series,
where it should be played md when
They opposed strongly any sugges-
ton that the series should be aban-
doned, saying such action would
bring keen disappointment to civil
ians and fighting men alike.
There was talk among officials OF
the National league that some
double headers should be introduced
AS no officials Of the American
league teams were in the city. their
attitude Is unknown here.
Washington, July 27.-Professional
baseball players were given untlt
Sept. l to seek essential employment
or to be called to the colors in an or
der issued by Secretary Baker yes
terday denying the application OF the
National Baseball commission to have
the effective time Of the work or fight
sional baseball extended to Oct. 10.
The secretary said the limited eX-
tension of time was given because OF
the representation made that baseoall
players may have been put in q less
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 de-
He made it plain the war depart
ment Is interested solely IN the
strengthening Of the military forces
as the winning of the war Is regarded
as the first consideration.
Provost Marshal General Crowder,
Mr.. Baker said, had reported 1t was
not clear to him the game would
have to be discontinued even II tne
order were made Immediately apple
able, as only 237 major league players
would be affected.
While regarding 1t as unfortunate
to have SO wholesome q recreation at
baseball destroyed, the war secretary
said it would be a much more unror-
tunate thing to preserve even SO
wholesome an amusement by making
an exception in favor Of baseball
players which is denied to great
classes of persons in the United
ated with processes of the national
daily life more fundamental than any
mere amusement.
There was this difference, he said,
between baseball and other industries
classed as non-productive, baseba!! ls
integrated at least in the sense that
it's successful conduct depends upon
the preservation OF all the major
league teams scattered throughout
the country, while in most occupa-
lions the work or fight order has
merely a series OF local and more OF
less personal effects.
Secretary Bakers order, in the FORM
of q memorandum for the provost
marshal general, follows:
"a petition has been Rled for an ex-
tension of time within which profes-
sional baseball players shall seek ess-
sential or productive employment and
the order asked is one which will ex-
tend until Oct. Is, 1918. AS grounds
for this request, 1t is alleged that
thes o-called work or fight order; but
that, in spite Of this small number,
their taking would lead to the imme-
date breaking up of the entire game.
''It is further said that the notice Is
too short to allow the leagues TO
adapt themselves to the ruling. and
that the failure Of the clubs to ad,
themselves to the ruling is due to the
fact that the secretary of war caused
1t to be known through the nswspa-
pers that the question OF the applica-
ton Of the order to baseball players
would not be decided until an actual
case arose.
"a hearing has been had on this
subject by the provost marshal gen
eral, who reports to me that II is not
clear to him that the game will have
to be discontinued even IL the order Is
made Immediately applicable"