The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-26
THUMBS DOWN IN BIB
TILL WAR IS OVER
Boys In the Army Dead
Sore on Big League
H. Ball.
BY MILTON eRoNNER
A. Stan Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. "a
Here is big news for all the millions
Of American baseball and sport fans
-Pershlng's army is dead sore on big
league baseball and the healthy young
athletes who have not gone into the
army, setting up various and Sundry
excuses as to why they are not fight
ing the Hun.
had heard this from quite a num-
Der Of officers and men who have re
turned to this city from cover there, "
but thought the report somewhat ex-
aggerated. But now here is the proc;
which has just come to hand, the tat
est issue OF 1.-THE Stars and Stripes"
the official newspaper printed in
France for the boys Of our gallant
army.
The paper has a scathing editorial
under the caption sport for Who's
Sake!" in which 1t says five Ameri.
can aFtillerymen who coveerd them
selves with glory at the Marine did not
ask 10 be allowed to wait over a bat.
lie and come in on the next Then il
sarcastcally speaks about Ty Cobb
being quoted as saying he will enlist
at the close Of the present season, and
roaSts the baseball magnates for cali
Ing professional baseball an essential
Industry.
But the real hard American punch
comes on what used TO be the sport.
ing page. There is an announcement
that not until an allied victory brings
back peace will the paper print an
other sport page Says the sporting
oaitcr:
"Sport as a spectacle, sport as an
entertainment for the sideiners, has
passed on and out. Its glamor in 4
competitive way has faded. It's lead.
ina stars are either in the iron har.
ness o fwar-or forgotten-until Ger.
many is beaten.
"'The Stars and Stripes appreciates
IN full sports Adding value and the
countless Thousands OF trained men il
has sent into the line Put these men
have given up the glory Of the sport.
ing page boost and the old action
snapshot. They are not 10 be men.
toned today because their job has
taken on another hIs
There are tennis I'D golf cham.
plons. football players galore, track
stars without number. boxers and ball
players who have traded the easy
glory they knew at home for the hard
unglorlfIed grind OF the line, or the
bloody heritage Of the western front.
"And their fame here belongs with
the mass, not with individual men
ton Whatthen is left in the main for
= sporting page printed in France.
within hearing OF the guns? Such
headlines as these-'Star Players Dive
for Shlpyards or Farm TO Escape Work
or Fight OTder'-'Cobb Is Thinking OF
Enlisting This Fall - Fulton and
Dempsey Haggle over Purse'-'Wil-
lard Refuses to Fight'-and so on
through q countless list that doesn't
make any too heroic an appeal TO those
living and dying IN tho mud and dir,
% the front 5000 miles away from
home.
"'The Stars and Stripes is printed
for the A. z. F. not 20 help perpe.u.
ate the TenoWn Of Ablebodisd stars.
Who, With unusual QuAl;flcA.ioas for
war OF uSOIu! MA. o,NctSd 70 hssr
only he basiaSss IS usual sloCan
tb'vS their eountFy'S call for help IN
ths RftAtSst Var she taS ~'sn known.
Ihoso e bet 80 Big LeGSus todNy 10.
thia paper 70 cOver-OLl that league
Uinos ita Oay among the stations