Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-15

It did not ALLEVIATE the affection OF
the American public for the game it
self-nothing could do that-but it
caused a revulsion of feeling by the
fans against the methods in vogue in
the conduct of it. 1t has become in
creasingly apparent in the past few
years that new deal all along the
line was inevitable. 1t was bound to
come, being only a question Of time.
The war will hasten it.
Although absorbed in the problems
presented in the direction of his club
in what proved a futile struggle for
Mitchell. field director of the Chicago
National League club. found time
while the issue was yet undecided In
Boston to voice some pertinent com
ment on the situation base ball finds
itself in and the prospects for its re.
have been freed from the yoke Of au-
tocratic misrule and the menace to
the world Of kaiserism and kultur
is removed. Mitchell's observations
prove his knowledge Of the game is
not confined to ability to supervise
activities on the diamond.
'eBase ball will change after the
war" said the manager Of the Cubs.
."There will be a decided readjustment
of affairs and. I believe, the mag
mates will find that the game has
been benefited by the war: In the first
put base ball back where it belongs
a game for the amusement of the
people and not something in which
players will have the say by demand
ing exorbitant salaries. The stipends
of the men will be reduced and the
sport in general will be conducted
along less expensive lines.
saThe days of big salaries have
ended. Most players have been over
paid for the last six or eight years.
but they will not be after the war,
or next season, if the magnates de-
eide to reopen, which is probable. Ine Inc
big money paid to ball players has
made it impossible for many ball
clubs to go along making expenses.
The men have not thought about this
to date, but they will have it brought
home to them when the war ends
and they get back in the game and
try to get the same contracts. Then
will they realize how soft it has been,
aCommercialism in the game is on
the wane. Base ball is to get back to
the level when contracts were not the
first consideration, but winning ball
games was foremost in the minds OF
everybody concerned. That is the way
it should be, and ! predict base ball
will be more popular after the war
than ever before because there will
be so many more interested. Men
who never played before because
they did not have the time will be
fans. There is no doubt in my mind
that many will make an effort to get
into a league of some kind after they
return from abroad. I have heard
that men of real base ball talent have
been unearthed in the ranks of the
American fighting forces as result
of the encouragement given the game
by the military authorities, and this
increases the prospects of the sport
being greater than ever"
Base balls increasing popularity in
France and England, due. of course, to
the boost given 1t by the American
overseas forces has become the sub
ject of considerable newspaper COM
ment, especially in England, where
some Of the sport chroniclers fear tina,
q more strenuous game than cricket
will find favor after the war. A cham
pion of the typically British game
writes in the Manchester Guardian Al
follows:
One or two writer's in the Londor
papers are telling US once again thai
cricket. as we knew It in the past, /,
gone forever. II 1t Is to survive aftel
the war, they say, 1T must be livenei
up. Arguments are put forward II
favor of Transforming the great game
into a thing Of immense rapidity-s