Evening star., 1918-12-01
REVISION OF RULES
FOR REFORMS DUE
eriff Renders Service to
Game by Proposing New
. Basic Laws for Base Ball.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

Sentiment for reorganization OF the
governing methods OF base ball, rapidly
growing in force in recent years, has
crystanized. The long and futile strug-
gle OF the minors to make both ends
meet, the commercialization OF the game
by the grasping tactics of the wealthy
owners. the bringing to the fore of the
political maneuvers Of the leaders of the
pastime and the blunders Of its directing
heads would have meant consignment to
tho scrap heap Of any business less
firmly intrenched in the esteem of the
American public.
The good ship Base Ball. the target of
attacks from all sides and menaced from
within by dissensfon among its officers
and crew, has reeled under the blows di-
rected at 1t and upon occasion has ship
ped little water, but there never has
been any danger of it sinking. Base
ball is a national institution. 1t will be
always with US, but not in the condition
prevailing since the gradual process OF
deterioration set in several years ago,
helped along by the Federal League in
vasion and topped off by the world war.
Time for Cleanup Now Here.
The time has come to clean up. Out
worn parts must be replaced. New ma
chinery, new men, new officers are
needed. Agreement is general that re-
forms are imperative. They will be ef-
fected. But what reforms and how?
This is the open season for Sugges-
tions. Many have been made. Many
more will be- And from the maze of
ideas, plans and proposals submitted
base ball will emerge better, stronger
and more entitled to the support accord
ed it by the public, without which it
would have no being and no reason for
existence.
Efforts now being made to re-
constitute the national commission
are commendable. Elimination of any
chance for bias or prejudice to figure
in the important judgments made by
the supreme court of base ball nat
urally will promote the welfare Of
the sport.
are required, but base ball has other
problems than this. In many respects
its basic laws are inadequate and
inequitable. and it is with the object
foundation that Clark Griffith has
evolved q new national agreement.
adoption Of which he will urge at the
joint meeting of the two leagues in
New York this month.
Its principal object is the emancipa-
tion of the player from his present
condition of practical serfdom in
which he is virtually chattel, sub
ject to sale. bargaining and trading
much as cattle, foodstuffs, lumber or
any other commodity.
Fair to Both Players and Owners. 4
In mailing an outline of this agree.
writer's throughout the country for
discussion" Griffith voices the belief
that it is an instrument under which
major and minor leagues could work
that would assure justice and equity
TO the players and owners alike; that
1t would prove a boon to the minors
as they no longer would have to pur-
chase players.
Three years ago a resolution pre-
scented by Griffith to the American
trading or bargaining for ball play
ers should be permitted. was voted
down on the ground that it was not
the proper time to adopt such a
asse au@Sen nns Of fhs faft tea
players were thrown on the market
at that time. 1t received serious con-
sfderation from thinking members Of
the organization. however.
This plan is the basis of the new
national agreement formulated by
Grimth and presented in an adjoin-
ing column of this issue. One of the
best features of his proposed gov
erning code is that it would assure
open negotiations" and put an end
to the secret agreements and tscit
understandings whereby connivances
and manipulations have been at
tempted to mislead the fans.
1t also would end the unsportsman-
like practice of the wealthy club
owners in buying pennants and place
q premium on good management.
Tho winning Of flags would depend
upon the. ability of the pilot to un-
earth talent and develop team work,
rather than the expenditure of huge
sums for ready-made material. Crit
dth's scheme is not free from flaws.
None could be devised to which ex-
eeptions could not be taken.
One Objection to the Code.