Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-05

~ IL, tne decision OF the neduS OF OTSt
after Labor Day is and long will be a
Johnson Was Right
ALTHOUGH Ban suffered defeat at
\ the hands of the other moguls,
there is no doubt that he was right
in his contention to close the season
not later than August 20. BY closing
on that date, the players would have
ten days in which to make final ar
rangements for getting into some es'
sential industry. Doubtless most of
the players have already been angling
for essential jobs. Even those who
have made arrangements to get such
positions must have few days in
which to settle down to the work.
Now, according to Secretary
Bakers ruling, the players were to
have landed essential jobs by Sep
tember l or be drafted Immediately
into the service. Looking at the sit
uation in this light. it is hard to
see how any other view of the mat
ter could be taken than that advo.
Gated by Johnson. He thought that
the players should have about ten
days in which to settle up their af-
fairs and get into the. line of work
prescribed by the Government. Hence,
, he set August 20 as the date for the
ending of the American League sea
son. +.
But the National League from the
start could not see stopping before
September 2. At the meeting in
Cleveland, Barney Dreyfuss, pleni-
potentiary of the National League,
made such an impression on the
American League magnates that they
voted over Johnson's head and de-
y cided to play the series after Labor
rDay.
II 1t is not improbable that, despite
Vthe plans of the moguls, the au-
thorities at Washington will look at
the matter as a def and will put a
crimp in all possibilities for a worlds
series by simply ordering those play
ers who are not at essential work to
60 Immediately to camp. Baker has
said that he did not wish to injure
baseball, and upon this statement the
magnates of the two major leagues
are presuming TO override him and
the United States Government which
he represents as Secretary of War.
The moguls might at least have
y Ena "
tension. But they did not. They took
& the bull by the horns and tossed him
defiantly back at Mr.. Baker, packed
\ their grips and went home.
To Boost Billiards
+ A TOURNAMENT to revive the
worlds championship 1872 bill
Hard game will be held in Boston be-
ginning November /, according to an
announcement sent out by the Bruins
4 ck-Balke- -Collender Company. AL
Of the best players in the country
will be invited to participate and the
winners are to receive cash prizes tc
be donated by the Brunswick Com
4 pany. Alp the gate receipts, it is an
+. nounced, will be turned over to the
American Red Cross fund.
This tournament no doubt will be
quite interesting, but it is barely pos.
sible that Champion Willie Hoppe
will send in his entry. Willie ha.
held the title for years and is will
ing to defend it against any man il
the world. but he must make his OWL
terms. He will not start in with {
group of players and go through thu
Tournament unless he is paid for it
This does not mean Willie lacks tn,
patriotic spirit. He mas donated thou
sands of dollars to war charities ant
always has been willing to do hi
bit. But he has professional engage
ments which net him a large sun
and should not be expected to civ,
them up without remuneration.
Il am willing to meet any man il
the world for the billiard champion
ahip," said Hoppe the other day, "bu
my opponent must prove he is sin
care by making a substantial sid
~ O0l. i Will wager any amount, Du
$4,000 is the lowest l will meet al
comers under those conditions"
as II Is the object of the Brunswick
1alke- Collender Company to stim
y Mate interest in billiards and hol
Z championship Journeys every ninet,
4 1ays. Players who compete in tn
/ }burnament are permitted to chal
Muge in the order of their standin
~ the close of the matches. All Q
~ Is a boost for the game, but wha
nod will it do without Hoppe?
S X0E5IYA KUMAGAE added to his lon
string of tennis laurels by trimming
a - decisive manner. Harold l.. Taylo
~ - the finals of the Metropolitan Law
rennis Singles on the Crescent Athleti
X EIlb courts In New York. kumag ga
4 owed his versatile style by abandon
g n his net game and playing entirel,
IN back court His loop drive com
11o1x baffied his younger opponent
~ 4lar41 = deshing but srratic gam