Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-21
BASEBALL AND OTHER SPORTS NEWS
WILSON SIDES
WITHBASEBALL
Players Nonproducers, but
Majors May Complete
Season of 1913
RULING IS SPECIAL

Washington, June 81.
/ Baseball players, under the work or
! fight draft order, are to be placed by
| Major General Enoch II. Crowder, Pro-
vost Marshall General, In the class OF
| men engaged in productive" oc-
cupations, but. under special Presidential
authority, they are to be permitted to
| complete the present season with their
respective teams before going into some
other line of owrk or joining the army.
This is the decision reached by the
Administration in what has been one
of the most troublesome problems that
has come UP under the work or fght'
order. Baseball players. team owners
and fans everywhere have been anxious
~ awaiting the answer of the War De-
partment on the question. The inter-
pretations will be as complete as pos
sible to relieve the local boards of
responsibility and to obtain the fullest
degree of uniformity throughout the
country.
Applies TO Players
General Crowders first announcement,
| in which were given general examples of
work that would not be regarded as pro-
| ductive, that Is, for the success of the
/ war, gave reason to believe that baseball
players would have to go into some other
| business or fight The clause which was
| taken to apply to them was that which
| included all men of draft age engaged
in amusements of any sort. games. etc.
except theatrical performers. Immedi-
ately a cry went up throughout the
country, particularly where the big
league baseball teams held sway. de-
claring that professional baseball would
be ruined II the men were forced to do
other work or go into the army.
Newton d. Baker. Secretary of War.
announced in consequence that a special
investigation would be made of the base=
| ball situation and that the verdict would
| be given later. The case was taken up
| with the President. with the result that
after long consideration a decision was
| reached.
General Crowder's order will not be
changed. but the baseball players, due
| to the request of President Wilson and
| Mr.. Baker, will be allowed to continue
through their present seasons.
Considered Unfair
To call the men to the colors now,
the officials hold, would be unfair to the
men as well as to the public which Is
! interested in organized baseball Con-
! tracts made months ago still continue.
| Baseball. unlike other lines of work,
cannot be easily recruited with new
| players. There are few other businesses
where the men of draft age cannot be re-
placed with others older men, so that
n general hardship will result. But not
baseball.
Almost every big league team. it is
understood. will be affected by the de-
cision. Figures in the hands of the
War Department are that most of the
ba seball players are within the draft
age. although many of them now are in
deferred classifications.
1t Is a question what the men will
be able to do when they are compelled
to quit the game at the end Of the sea.
son. Many of them are not trained in
any special line of work. The saar.
question will be important for them. too
What they will be able to do Is bound
be something for which they cannot
receive much pay.