Arizona republican., 1918-07-27
BASEBALL ORDER
 |S EXTENDED ID
 SEPTEMBER FIRST
(RepubIican A. p. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON, July 26.-Profcs- slonal baseball players were given un- lil September l to seek essential en- ployment or be called to the colors, in an order issued by Secretary Baker today.
 The secretary said the extension was given because of the representation that players may have been put in d lcss favorable attitude than others less fortunate by his statement that the or der would not be decided until case had arisen. He made it plain that the war department is interested solely in the strengthening of the military forces.
 Provost Marshal General Crowder, Mir. Baker said, had reported it was not clear the game would have to be dis continued even if the order were made immediately applicable, as only 231 major league players would be af- fcctcd.
 While regarding it as unfortunate to have so wholesome a recreation de stroycd. the secretary said it would he moro unfortunate thing to preserve it by making an exception in favor oi players.
 How Baseball Differs
 He said baseball differed from other tldSScu dS lloll- that it's successful conduct depends upon the preservation of all the major league teams scattered throughout the country, while in most occupations the work or fight order has merely series of local and more or less personal effects
 Secretary Bakers order, in the form of q memorandum for the provost mar shal general, said in part:
 The purpose of the work or fight order, so far as the war department is concerned, is to strengthen the military forces of the country and not 10 con trol the labor situation. Incidentally. it will undoubtedly have the effect of ad- ding 10 the number of persons usefully employed and decreasing the number of persons uselessly employed. In this way the order will strengthen the mili- tary forces by making it less necessary to exempt for industrial reasons men who would otherwise be taken into the military service.
 Unfortunate to Destroy Game
 ''l think it would be an unfortunate thing to have so wholesome a recre- alton as baseball destroyed. if it can Dc continued by the use of persons not available for essential service. It would be a much more unfortunate thing tt preserve even so wholesome an anuSe- ment by making an exce~tion in faVol of baseball players which is denied tc great classes of persons in the United States whose occupations have beer held similarly non-essential, althougi they are immediately associated witi the distribution of food and other pro cesses of our daily life more funda mental than any other amusement.
 Tt does happen that baseball i more integrated than any other occu patton in our country. at least in th sense that it's successful conduct de bends upon the preservation of all thu major league teams scattered through out the country while in most occupa tions the work or fight order has mere ly series of local and more or les personal effects.
 Secretary is Impressed
 "T am impressed too. by the repre- sentation made that baseball player may have been put in less favora bl' attitude by reason of their reliance oi my statement that the question of thei inclusion in the terms of the orde would not be decided until case ha; arisen.
 For these reasons 1t seems 10 m entirely proper and fair to extend tn time during which the readjustmen can take place. merely in order tha justice may be done to the persons in Tolved. and l do. therefore. direct tha the application of the order be made l. date from September first. The orde for the extension 10 the fifteenth 0 October is denied