Evening star., 1918-02-02
BY DENMAN THOMPSON. !

There has been another leak In the
news concerning the plans Of the major
league owners for the coming season.
When a group of the leaders OF or
ganized base ball assembled in Pitts
burgh recently to frame the 1918
schedules some enterprising Smoky
city scribe learned that the American
League had decided to open its sea
son in the east Monday. April 10. In
stead of Tuesday. the 18th. which was
set as the official starting time for
the National League. Ban johnson
evinced much peevishness over the
premature announcement Of this fact.
said he was annoyed that it had become
known and forthwith announced that
the opening date might be set back to
the 10th.
The latest leak conveys the in
formation that the big leagues will
raise all admission prices S or 10 cents
and give to the Red Cross the difference
between the regular admission cost.
plus the war tax, and the increased
admission fee, thereby raising sum
estimated at more than 100000 Tor
relief work. The consummation OF this
Of the internal revenue bureau, which
has the suggestion under consideration.
There will be no annoyance felt at the
headquarters Of the American League
over this latest leak. however as the
boss plumber, Ban johnson, is the
1eakee. According to Johnson. club
owners of both circuits approve the
scheme. and only, official sanction by
government officials Is necessary for
its adoption.
.ur,dar +,;S pl,n h1eo char oaofs ypo,.1dE
cost 80 cents, pavilion seats $50 cents,
grandstand seats 85 cents and box
seats S1.10." Johnson says. Thus on
each ticket there would be 2 or cents
left over after we paid the war tax.
This would be turned over to the Red
Cross and the total for the season
based on last seasons hgureA would
amount to more than 100000. The plan
now is being considered by the internal
revenue bureau and, understand. has
met with its approval
Patriotic fans will not object to pay
ing a little more for their base ball
when by so doing they will aid so
worthy a cause as the Red Cross, but
the added cost undoubtedly will hurt
the attendance somewhat, as the fans
are compelled to hurdle increased liv-
ing expenses all along the line and will
have. .correspondingly less to devote to
amusement and recreation. 4
However, Of the four admission class
es enumerated by Johnson. only two
will net anything for the Red Cross with
the prices announced by the American
League boss. Each bleacher seat at
so cents and each grandstand admis-
sion at So cents will net cents for
the relief fund, as the war tax In the
former case is 8 and in the latter
box seats however, the scale Of prices
provides for payment above the regu-
lar fee of the revenue levy only, with
out anything over for the fund.
Contract signing among members of
the Washington club showed signs of
renewed activity yesterday, when the
duly executed document Of June Cass.
the DesMoines outfielder, reached Man
ager Griffith through the mail, the
western Lacquer being the only player
to get in line for the coming season
since last Saturday. when Craft and
Ayers came to time. Coincidentally
Griffith announced that Outfielder Ellis,
who was obtained in the draft from
Birmingham, had been turned back to
the Southern Association club. the pilot
figuring that with Shotton. Rice. Milan
and Cass. and with Shanks available fer
relief duty. he will have no place for
the Dixie recruit. Grifith never has
seen either Ellis or Cass in, action, but
from what he has heard the latter Is
the younger and faster of the pair and
gives more promise as a hitter.
Battling Nelson, the man who put
Hegewisch. ILL.,, on the pugilistic map
and made life miserable for a. small
army of aspiring lightweights over q
long span of years. invaded our eanc-
tum today with Messrs. White and
Armstrong, the latter being the inven-
tor of boxing dummy. which the trio
is interested in having the govern
ment adopt for training soldiers Of the
New National Army. The merits Of this
contrivance have been demonstrated to
Dr. Joseph e. Raycroft and other mem
bers Of the commission on training
camp activities and the question OF its
adoption has been taken under consid-
Grafton.
Nelson Is enthusiastic over the train
Ing being given the embryo s0ldiera In
the cantonments Of the country xnd
Pitched by 1t, - {. 5.
..In my opinion this war 1tM rfoxN