Evening star., 1918-07-27
GRIFFITH PRAISES
BAKER'SDEC|S|ON
Says secretary's Ruling on
I "Work or Fight" Order Is
Just and Fair.
By DENMAN THOMPSON.

ST. LOUIS, July 27.-"Eminently just
and fair" was the comment made by
Clark Grifith when apprised Of secre-
tary Bakers decision with regard to
base ball.
"Mr. Bakers characterization OF
base ball as a clean. healthful sport
is q high tribute to the game and Is
exceedingly gratifying ts those who
have it's best interests at heart. The
courteous consideration accorded my
self and the other representatives OF
the major leagues during our recent
conferences in Washington by Secre-
tary Baker, Gen. Crowder and other
officials of the government made q
deep impression on US. None doubted
that the request for an extension OF
fight order as it Affects the players
would be given through. careful
thought and decided impartially on its
merits.
Secretary Bakers ruling that play
ers in the draft age may have until
September before the work or fight
order becomes applicable to them
limits the season to five months and
thereby brings about reform in
the sport / long have advocated. His
expression Of the belief that there are
enough men outside the draft age to
permit full season to be played next
year proves he 10 not unmindful of the
future of the sport. i regard 1t as
signifying that the government fully
appreciates the value of base ball as
q medium OF relaxation, and rs
means to aid in maintaining the
morale of the public
nn> vu5vI rr,4 III.
you may be assured that the game
will not die Given this respite in
which to set our affairs in order and
look to the future, plans win be
formulated for the resumption OF the
game in major league cities next
year. Many of the present-day stars
necessarily will be missing. but the
best available playing talent will be
procured, and am confident the fans,
realixing the handicaps under which
we will be operating. will accept our
best in the spirit in which It II Of
fered and go along with u.s. feel
sure there never viii be q return to
the long six-month season. The
leagues should open about the 23d or
24th Of April and close on a corre-
world series contests arranged so that
by October the slate for the year
should be clean. Much bad weather
at both ends of the campaign would
be avoided in this manner and the in
terest of the public better maintained"
Manager Grfffth sees in the curtail-
ment of the schedule an excellent
chance for the Washington club to
win a pennant for the first time in
history. He believes there is no doubt
that the schedule will be played out
as now drawn, without any altera-
tions, save for the playing Of Sunday
games in the Capital. until Labor day,
Monday, September 2. Including Sum
day games at home and postponed
contests. the Nationals have thirty
foreign fields and twenty-five in the
Capital. The team is now In third
place, but half game back of the
Indians an donly Ave and a half
ing % Red i son. OK The Re reeords or sf of the Two
clubs to date justify HIS belief that
much Of Bostoh's lead will be whit
tied down on the current road trip,
especially in view Of Washington's
from its old jinx, the Browns. and
the expected slump Barrow's club
seems to have struck in Chicago.
Grif's only regret Is that no fur
ther games are listed for decision be-
tween the Red Sox and Nationals un-
less a single contest is worked in at
Washington on Sunday, August 25
He Is confident that II 1t came to a
series between the Nationals and Red
Sox to decide the pennant the bunt-
ing would be hoieted on the flagstaff
at the Georgia avenue grounds.
Masteson Works Today.
Grin plans to send Ed Ma.teson to
the mound today. in the third TIT Of
the set with the Burkomen- '.Thfe
Texas weather we arc having here
should just suit Matty," the pilot said
today. He is game as . pebble and
knows how to pitch. look for him
to hang UP his fourth staight VIC
tory this afternoon"
1t is likely Ed Hovifk will be dele
gated to start the fourth and flnal
contest against the Browns here to-
morrow, with Ayers in reserve. Harry
Harper will pitch the opener against
the White Sox in Chicago Monday.
Grin received wire from the SOUTH
paw yesterday. asking for instruc-
tions, and he was directed to proceed
20 fha WfnAS, alta, nj cat T., eh -