Evening journal., 1918-07-08
owners Will FIGHT
TO SAVE BASEBALL
Appeal OF Hornsby's Case
Expected TO Bring Off.
cial Ruling
PLAYERS ARE
DISSATISFIED

1l0OEt 19A 4 II ~
II begins TO look as though organ
lied baseball VIII be compelled tc
nght Provost Marshal General Crow
der's "work-or-flght order to prevent
being put out OF business before IN,
close Of the present season. The action
OF the local draft board OF Fort Worth
Tex, IN ordering Rogers Hornsby. stal
Of the 81. Louis Cardinals, 10 quit base
ball for more essential employment will
bring the question 10 an issue unless
General Cr0wder promulgates a new
order that Will define the standing OF
professional ball players. Hornsby is
understood TO be receiving a salary OF
$500 a year from the st. Louis club
and while he Is making no fight against
being drafted In his proper classlnca-
ton, he Is prepared 10 Tight the work
or fight" order through an appeal.
There is no doubt that the uncertain
ty Of the players standing Is not only
responsible FOR many OF them jumping
their contracts, but Is affecting their
playing. and as a result lowering the
class OF baseball the public IA asked TO
patronize IN the big leagues. II was ex-
pected the summOning or the entire Bos-
ton National League team before the
draft board would bring an Official rul-
ing but this case has been postponed
until the Braves return from their west
ern trip, and more unrest has been
caused among the players by H0rnsby's
nhn National umH AnInnInun
Leagues have declared they will appeal
the case OF each player ordered TO quit,
and as these appeals VIII take consld-
erable time, Il Is hoped TO finish the
present season. An Official ruling by
General Crowder would clear the mat
ter at once, and be much more satlsfao-
tory. even though It were TO take many
players from the game.
Reports concerning the "w0rk-or.
hight" order and Its connection witt
baseball continue TO circulate. One day
/ Il looks as though the game were 10 gS
right on as usual and the next bring
the news that various draft boards ar
preparing to summon all professiOna
ball players and order them 20 qul
wasting their time" on the dlamOnl
and seek more essential employment
Many players are so afraid they VIII b
dragged into the war OF ordered to 'ge
regular job" that they are breaking
their contracts with organized baseball
] to Join Industrial teams.
The seleotive draft and the "work-or
fight" order have given baseball sew
eral hard raps and they have brought
the player 20 his senses and shown hin
just how important he Is TO the public
welfare. II Is only a couple OF years
ago that the players organization was
planning 10 take the magnates by the
throat and squeeze them until their
bankrolls cried for mercy. Now they
are falling over each other I'm order 10
accept Jobs In shipbuilding and muni-
tl0n plants for less than half the sal
ary they have been earning on the ball
field. For example. we have been in
formed that a well known player is
employed as an inspector" In one Of
the plants at a salary Of $50 a week
and receives $50 extra for each game
he pitches. As the plant teams play
only every Saturday. this gives the
player 300 a month and he works In
the plant eight hours a day.
The employment OF ballplayers by
munition plants and industrial leagues
for the purpose OF having them play
with their teams once a week Is a mis-
take and unfair Players have taken
advantage OF liberal offers made by the
agents Of these organizations and have
used them as an excuse to eySde the
draft. thus causing baseball 10 be held
up to ridicule by portion Of the pub
lie which does not understand cOndi-
tions. II has also caused players to
forget their obligations 10 the club
owners and caused a baseball contract
TO be considered mere scrap Of paper.
Harry II. Frazee. owner OF the BOs-
ton American League club, was the first
OF the magnates to show 1ght against
the league raiders. When Babe" Ruth,
his star pitcher, quit the Red Sox In
and a day or two later was
advertised 10 pitch the Fourth OF July
game for the Chester team Of the Della
ware River Shipbulldlng League, Frazee
Immediately consulted attorneys and
prepared to apply for an injunction
against the team managers TO prevent
them playing Ruth and threatened civil
suit against the shipbuilding plant for
damages. 10 is evident that either the
player or the plant agent became
scared. for Ruth telegraphed to the Bos-
ton Club asking II he could rejOin the
team and played In Philadelphia on July
4 instead OF at Chester.
Several other players who are report
ed TO have been dickerlng with indus
trial league agents have since abandon
ed the idea Of quitting organized base
ball and will take their chances Of be
Ing ordered into other employment by
the government. For the last two weeks
these Industrial league agents have been
extremely active among big league play
ers and have managed TO tempt several
more away. Miles Main, Of the phillies,
who begged Pat Moran TO allow him
10 so home 10 give his ~iame arm a
rest" Is pitching for one OF the plant
teams and has done more twirllng in a
week than he did for the Phillies since
he has been with the club. Manager