New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-07-20
BALL PLAYERS MUST
WORK OR FIGHT
Secretary Of War Rules That Ma
tiOnal PaStine is NOn-ESSentiaI

Washington, July 20.-Profession-
al baseball players of draft age must
work or fight Immediately, and the
draft regulations may be changed
soon to include theatrical perform
ers, and moving picture players and
employees, among those to seek new
Jobs or face induction into the army.
Secretary Baker yesterday settled
the question, SO far as baseball is
concerned, in an unqualified de-
cision holding the game a non-pro-
ductive occupation, and saying, so
far from amending the regulation to
exempt ball players, he believed the
scope of its provisions SHOULD lie so
enlarged as to include other classes
of persons whose professional cccu-
patton is solely that of entertaining
Legitimate theatrical performers
were specifically exempted in the
original work or fight order of the
provost marshal general and a recent
ruling placed in this class actors and
skilled men employed in producing
moving pictures.
The secretary's decision was given
on an appeal i'll the case of Edward
Ainsmith, veteran catcher of the
Washington Americans, whose de-
ferred classification on account of q
dependent wife and child recently
was revoked by a local draft board.
All arguments against the ruling and
! in favor of a suggestion that the reg
nlation should be modified in favor
of the national sport were swept
aside by Mr.. Baker. He held that
\ baseball as a business does not differ
from other civilian peace time indus
tries which must make sacrifices in
the stress of war, and. moreover that
it is by no means certain that so
many players are of draft age that
the organization will be disrupted As
to the claim that baseball players
having devoted themselves to the
game, are not fitted to adequately
support their families by labor in
other lines, he said. it is quite incon-
ceivable in view of the fact that ball
players are men of unusual physical
ability, deXterity and alcrtness,
The point that baseball has been
accepted as the national sport and
Is for many workers and business
men only opportunity for outdoor re
taxation and enjoyment was treated as
} serious one, but the secretary de-
clared times were not normal, that
found and that the reproductive
employment of able-bodied persons,
useful in the national defense, either
as military mon or in the industry
and commerce of our country. can
not be justified"
No statement was forthcoming as
TO just what steps will be taken to
meet MIR. Bakers view that the scope
n of the work or fight regulation should
q be enlarged
In passing upon the appeal from
the district board, which had APP
proved a decision of the local board
Secretary Baker said:
'"The language of the regulation
pertinent here occurs in Paragraph {
of Section Fix. as follows:
Persons, including ushers anC
I other attendances engaged and occu-
pied In and in connection with games
sports and amuscments,' etc.
"Obviously, baseball players are
persons occupied in Il sport. so thai
the ruling of the local and dstric
4 boards must be sustained as plainly
! correct.
1T is suggested, however. that the
q regulations ought to be changed tc
exclude baseball players from thei1
operation, and this appeal is no
really based upon any doubt as tc
i the correctness of the determination
made by the local and district boards
8 but is addressed to the wisdom of tn
regulations.
THE arguments in this behalf arr
three in number:
"One-That baseball is a bushes
i In which very large investments 0
4 money have been made, involving tn