New Britain herald., 1918-05-24
CROWDER MANDATE
MAY end BASEBALL
Enforcement Of "Work Or Fight"
Order Will Wreck All Leagues

feet that all men of draft age en-
ployed in non essential work must
either fight or work by July 1 came
hurtling like IN exploded shell into
the American sporting world yester-
day, with professionl baseball feeling
the greatest impact of the conclusion.
If Gen. Crowder's order is enforced
to the letter it will mean the crush
ing of Americas national pastime-
the big league baseball championship
races, the total eclipse of pusilism at
least for the duration of the war, the
elimination of wrestling and will
mildly affect the racing game as we'll
rs professional golfing and tennis.
However, the big force of the order
strikes at the heart of Americas
greatest individual sport-baseball.
The other sports might weather
Gen. Crowdor's order, but baseball
cannot if enforced. The tennis and
golf men affected would only be a
handful, as the great majority of pro-
fessionals in this branch of sport are
men we'll past the draft age and are
employed by sporting goods houses,
either in the manufacturing or sales
department.
Racetrack followers will be hit more
by the order than the sport itself
The great majority of trainers are
men above the draft age, while the
jockeys are kids in their teens. The
anti-loafing law enacted in New York
state, and which is being favorably
considered in other states, would elm
mate handbook men, racetrack touts
and other idlers without Provost Mar |
shall's orders.
Would Close Ball Parks.
If it is the intention of the Govern |
ment to close big league parks for the !
duration of the war the order of Gen. |
Marshall will bring it about, as it is |
the one sport which absolutely would |
be rendered helpless by the strict en-
forcement of the order. Two hundred |
and thirty-seven big league players, |
approximately IS per cent. of the |
men now manning the big leagues, |
will be affected by the drastic order.
About forty including such veterans !
as Rhody wallace, George Gibson and !
Terry Turner, are above the thirty |
one-year-old mark, while q handful !
of youngsters, such as Ross Young, i
Herbert Thormahlen, Joe Dugan and
Morris Shannon, are under the limit. !
The rule practically would hit all
the great stars of baseball, most of !
them married men with families, as !
Ty Cobb, Walter johnson, iris Speak
er George Sisler. George Burns. Os-
car Felsch, Ray Schalk, Roger Peck
inpaugh, DIVINE Bush, Rogers Horns
Nv, Lew Mccarthy, Benny kauff, lack
w heat and Jim Vaughn.
The blow came like Il bolt of light
ming from Il clear sky to most of the
baseball men. Baseball officials ana
, executives seemed to think that II the
Government cared to have big league
baseball terminated for the period of
essarv would have been a suggestion
to that effect last winter. Instead,
when it was suggested that the big
leagues close shop last summer. Sec
rotary to the President Joseph Tum-
ulty issued a statement in which ne
said the President saw no reason why
baseball should not go on in it's GUS
tomary manner.
No Specific Ruling Issued.
Few of the baseball men around
town cared to discuss the question at
length owing to the rather vague Ian
guage of the order. The general
opinion is that the order has not been
aimed specifically at baseball players
and that Gen. Crowder has no desire
to kill baseball.
/ Both Secretary John Heydler of the
National League, from New York,
and President Tener of the league,
from Pittsburg, tried to get speci-
fc ruling from Gen. Crowder yester-
2day as to how the new order will at
/ fleet ball players, but Gen. Crowder
said no Interpretation of the order
: will be given until specific case IS
drought before a draft board after
July /.
In the absence of President Tener
Secretary Heydler did not care to eX-
Hpress an opinion on the subject for the
league. Like other baseball men,
TIeydler says he had been under the
impression that the Government en-
couraged baseball and desired to see
he big leagues remain in action.
Discussing the matter. President
Baker of the Phillies said: IF the
government wants us to stop we are
nerfectlv willing. If our players are
needed for more important duties we
will gladly give them up. However,
Ne had not believed that the man
bower of the country had been taxed
o such an extent TO destroy Anerl-
as leading sport. :
"On1v recently when the Govern
lent gave orders permitting Sunday
aseball in Washington, SO that the
yar workers in the capital might
ave a. place to go on the Sabbath, we
onsid cred that to be another indorse-
,ent of baseball by the government, | ;
nd that it considered it a useful war
version"
warhop's Case An Example.
THE fact that military men took
,nsnicuous parts in baseball affairs
CO had been taken by baseball men
an Endorsement of their business.
threw %