Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-15
DRAFT BOARD DECIDES
IN FAVOR Of A PLAYER
Pitcher Joe Finneran, of Yanks,
Permitted to Play as
Glass A Man.

the New York Americans pitcher, was
notified by his local draft board in East
Orange, y. j., Saturday that he will be
permitted to continue his profession as n
hig league ball player
Numerous ball players throughout the
country have been called before local
draft board and ordered To secure es-
sential Jobs since Provost Marshal Gen
eral Crowder's work or fight" order went
into effect and the ruling IN Finneran 3
case is the first instance where local
board has made decision, allowing ball
PLAYER to continue as such with deferred
draft classification.
Finneran, who lives in East Orange,
has a wife and child. and under the select
i've draft was placed in Class IA. Two
days ago he was summoned before his
board and questioned about his occupa-
ton. Finncran told the members ot the
draft board that he was professional ball
player and depended upon the game Tor
his living
The boards answer TO his plea was sent
tn him Saturday In deciding to allow
Finncran to continue playing baseball
the East Orange boards ruling establish
cs a precedent and has caused lot of
hope among professional ball players
that baseball will be regarded officially
ms being an essential occupation.
Whether the East Orange boards do
cision s IN accordance with instructions
from the government officials in Wash
ingtnn has not been definitely establish
cd \n official ruling from Washington is
expected soon, rs many players who have
been ordered by their bo ards to drop base
ball and secure other Jobs have filed causes
for appeals.
Up TO SECRETARY BAKER.
Washington, ID G., July l5.- The de
ciSior as to the application Of the work OF
fight order to baseball players probably
will he decided upon the appeal of Eddie
Ainsmith catcher uf tho Washington
American League Club. 4 brief carr wing
the appeal of Ainsmlth from his local
board here. which Thursday ordered him
10 engage IN useful occupation or loose
his deferred classification, reached Secre-
tary Baker late vcatcrday
Tho brief which was prepared by Clark
Griffith. manager of the Washington club.
avere that AmSmlth and other players
affected are not seeking exemption. and
all that thcy ask IS that lf they have been
granted deferred classification they hc
ENInlitlfu ~ iltlHA II anu tbulllltht tlbt
profession the same as workers IN other
lines From thc standpoint Of the public.
tho appea asserts. baseball is essential.
II is pointed out that baseball players
have joined the col0rs gladly when placed
IN the FIRST class.
Secretary Baker studied the appeal late
Yesterday. il became known today. but
no mtImatlon was given as to when !
decision might be cXDPctCI
DRAFT GIFTS bon GEARY
PhladcIphia. Pa. July lj-Thc long
hand of the sclcctivc draft reached into
tho ranks Of the Athletics Saturday and
selected Bob Gcarv, young rIght-hsndcd
pitcher, VIII" has tviricd 4 number Of
very c>crllcn; games since hitting his
stride about month ago, ms best feat
locally beng 4 shut ont victory over the
Nc,, \ ork lanks on Tuesday. Julv ,
GCarv Is in Class IA and has been ex-
pcctlng call for the past two weeks. He
left last night for his home in Cincinnati
and expects 10 leave for camp early this
week George Burns IS the only other
rrg,ilar Mackmau III Class IA. though
shannon, Dugan and Dykes are among
the 2I-vear-nlders who registered this
June shannon and Dugan are booked
under Local Board No 81, this city,
while Dykes is in the Bryn Mawr district.
oUINLAN MIST REroRT.
Scranton, Pa. july l5.-Out6elder
Tom Qaunlan, formerly with the Chicago
Americans. who has been playing baseball
IA one Of the shipyarCls around Philadel
phIa, has been certified for service in the
National Army by the Local Exemption
Board No 1. and ON july - will be sent
70 a training camp Nearly 200 young
men viii go from this district in the next
draft quota Quinl3.n : the property Of
Columbus. in tho inercan Association.
DRAFT BOARD DI>MISsrS VERNON CASE.
Salt Lake Cny. tab. July l5-W hen
members Of the Vernon club. Of the Pa
rItc Coast League responded 10 summons
TODAY before q local draft board TO show
cause why they should not engage in es-
eential work or be placed in Class IA. the
board decided not TO examine them be
cause the club was about TO disband. The
summons were dismissed and no record
made Of the eases
DRAFT BOARD RULES oN BASEBALL
Boston, Jluv H. Baseball was claSsed
;,9 i non-productivc occupation by the
Brighton local draft board Yesterday
in deciding a test ease brought by John
Park Henry catcher for the RostOn Ma
tlonaI League Club, against Provost
AiarshuI-General Crowders work or
hight order
The board found that the amount of
relief from war strain furnished by the
earnc was overestimated by the registrant
in his affidavit, and that baseballs finan-
cial contribution to the war was no
larger materially than the voluntary sac
rhces Of many millions Of citizens"