The Washington herald., 1918-07-27
BASEBALL TO
CONTINUE TILL
SEPTEMBER 1
Baker Orders Application
of ''Work-or-Fight"
Rule Deferred.
WORLD SERIES SOON
Looks Like Meet Between
Red Sox and Cubs In
August.
Baseball lives until september /

Baseball lives until September /.
This was the ruling Of Secretary
of War Baker yesterday in his de-
cision on the "work-or-Eght' order
as II Affects the sport. The decision
met the baseball magnates half
way. They had asked for q modi-
'fication, which would have permit
ted all the clubs in the major
leagues to complete the present sea
son through "noamolestation" Of
players OF draft age.
Bakers ruling means that the
worlds series this year will have to
be played before September 1. This
will bring about a shortening of the
playing season. and also give dope
sters." for the first time in their
lives. a chance to pick a pennant
winner in July. For in the Ameri-
can League the Boston Red Sox hold
a commanding lead. and in the Ma
tional organization the Chicago
Cubs are on top. II both clubs keep
up their present pace. il looks as
though they will meet in the annual
classic.
Secretary Baker. in his decision.
took a kindly view of the sport, and
tossed more than one bouquet at it.
He expressed the hope that so
wholesome a recreation as baseball
would not be destroyed"
Instant killing Unfnis.
Aside from this, hoNeyer.. baseball
yves its prolongation until .'Septern~
Der Morn" only to the fact that the
nnen engaged in Ii who are of draft
age constitute such a relatively small
humber. and also because it was
deemed unfair to kill instantly a sport
in which so much money was in
vested.
secreary Baker held another con-
ference this afternoon with Provost
Marshal General Crowder. with whom
the baseball leaders had filed their
brief, before he announced his decision.
II was issued in the form Of a Memo
randum for the Provost Marshal Cen
eraF' and read as follows:
sIn the matter of the baseball
leagues petition for an extension of
time.
"a petition has been fled for an
extension of time within which pro-
fessional baseball players shall seek
essential or productive employment,
and the order asked is one which will
extend until October Is. 1918 As
grounds for this request 1t is alleged
that there are but 81 persons affected
by the so called work-or-fight order.
hut that. In spite Of this small number.
their taking would lead to the i'm
mediate breaking Up Of the entire
game
''It is further said that the notice
q too short to allow the leagues to
adapt themselves to the ruling. and
that the failure of the clubs to adapt
themselves to the ruling Is due to the
fact that the Secretary Of War caused
Il to be known through the newspa-
pers that the question of the applica-
tion of the order to baseball players
would not be decided until an actual
case arose.
Not Clear to Crowder.
"a hearing has been had on this
subject by the Provost Marshal
General who reports to me that it
is not clear to him that the game
will have to be discontinued even IL
the order Is made Immediately ap-
plicable-
The purpose OF the work-or-ight
order. so far as the war Department
Il concerned. Is to strengthen the
military forces OF the country, and
not to control the labor situation.
Incidentally. It will undoubtedly
have the effect of adding to the
CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT.