New-York tribune., 1918-04-17
Brush Stadium .Sideliqhfs

One baseball riddle at least, the OPEN
ing game at the Polo Grounds, seems
to have been solved to everybody's sat-
isfaction. The titanic struggle in Eu-
rope appears not to have dampened the
ardor of the metropolis for its princi-
pal summer sport. And this fact should
be great source of satisfaction to all
interested in the welfare of baseball.
New York, better than any other city,
gives true line on thb yountry's sport
ing pulse.
One of the largest opening day
crowds of Polo Grounds history
watched the champions take the meas
ure of the Dodgers yesterday after
noon. More than 10000 jammed the
lower stand. The upper tier was al
most filled, while the overflow required
more than two-thirds of the bleacher
spaces. Seldom, except at a world
series game, had more people been &C
commodated in Brush Stadium.
The densely packed throngs were
demonstratlve enough at times, espe-
cially when some unusually clumsy play
was made, but there was not the Gus
tomary levity of opening DAYS. The
struggle for democracy seemed to be
appreciated fully by every one. The
greatest responses from the spectators
were forthcoming when the bands rem
dered the martial airs SO fitting for
such an occasion.
II the crowd behaved more sedately
than usual it also appeared more SOM
bre, too. The circumstance was diff
cult to understand until some amateur
Sherlock Holmes pointed out that the
usual representation of ladies was
missing. There was but sprinkling
OF gay feminine colors among the dark
hated thousands.
Possibly the absence of the ladies in
great numbers WAS accounted for by
the confusion incident to trying out
an entirely new system of gaining ad-
iniSsions,. No passes except those OF
tne baseball writer's were exempt from
the war tax. The people had not been
educated to the locations of The various
war tax booths, nor had it been clearly
indicated at which entrances the invi-
tations would be honored
furthermore, provisions for change
making in war tax collections were in
adequate. 1t was impossible to open a
number of the booths. because of q
ianor shortage. AS late as 3 O'Clock
INC iihe 10 the press gate had backed
up all the way to lb5th Street. There
- no doubt that many thousands re-
fused to submit to the Inconvenience
o. hghting their way To the war tax
booths And of the numbers who turnef
back disappointed the great majority
were women.
The Liberty Loan drive, which will be
carried on rcligiously al every base.
Dali park until the CAMPAIGN has ended
was inauguratcd with due ceremony a,
the Polo Grounds yesterday. Un
fortunately it waa impossible, owing tt
the big crowd, TO work the stands, ant
most Of the business was attempted af
ter the game, when the crowd, O,
course. was in more or less haste t.
xct home. Hereafter statesmen viii
canvas the stands during the time oil
play.
lieutenant Marty MeHaIe, Of the 22d
tD2inecrz, has instituted "A Libcrt,
l.oAr competition for major league
bascball players. HIe particular con
test ~ open 10 al players Of gfcatcr
!'c% YORK; three clubs Each $50 bond
county one vote for the manager Or
player dispoainH of il.
Manager McGraw, with saIe Of
af.lDo. oasliy led the Giants at the end
NJ yeztsrd3y's eom petition. Other salns
w@,e: KapT. 22D1; Zimmerman, s2O0;
Up3le aog DnrBs. Sf59 eaeb. iietchc,.
ryn@. F0;&e. J>araaU arn Hsaf.b, 800
~ tft, &ebapp. sallnc aud