Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-15
SOLDIERS PROTEST
SUNDAY BASEBALL
So Says the Rev. DR.. T. F.
.Mutcher, Opposing
Contests
MAY BE COURT ACTION
Clergyman Declares Service
Men Forced to Attend
Against Wishes
MAY BE COURT ACTION

Soldiers and sailors are opposed to
sunday baseball. and are. present at the
games only under command from su-
perior officers. according to the Rev. DR..
Y T. T. Mutchler.
He made this assertion today. in COM
menting on the double header" played
yesterday at the Country Club for En-
listed Men, at Rockledge, in face of
his threat of court action
Il have learned the men are put into
motortrucks and hauled to the club to
guard civilian crowds attracted by the
Sunday baseball" said Doctor Mutchler
Furthermore, l have found out most of
the soldiers and sailors are against Sun
day baseball and want it stopped They
have said 1t takes away their holiday
gives them no rest, as they must stand
In trucks all the way from the city to
the club and then go on guard duty
They are being used to attract people
to Sunday ball. and where the money
goes that is raised l would like to know
Commander Payne wrote to me last
month and said the purpose of the Sum-
day games was to furnish clean sport
for soldiers and sailors but since have
learned the thousands Of persons attend
ing these games are mostly civilians and
that not more than 100 or so enlisted
men ever are present.
II am going to urge the citizens of the
district to take court action to stop the
games. As the club Is out of this county,
all can do is to advocate legal action to
restrain the club from further baseball
games Sundays. 1t is up to the Mont
gornery County churches to act and I
believe they soon will
Naval officers have taken sides with
suburban residents who are in favor OF
Sunday service games and are verbally
attacking the antagonists of the recrea l.
tion.
Officers of the Fourth Naval District
today said no official action is likely
There will not be, it was said, an order
stopping sailors playing Sunday ball.
Charge Pro-Germanism
The charge that pro-Gcrmanism Is
prompting the fight of the antagonists
has been made by many suburban resi-
dents, while Lieutenant Commander
Frederick r. Payne. U. S. N. comman-
dant of the United States Naval Home
Grays Ferry road, in a statement up
holding the institution of the national
pastime at the country club on Sunday
bitterly f1ays persons of German names
who oppose 1t.
Thousands Of persons attended the
double-header played at the country club
y
Every cent taken in by the organizers
OF the service club fer enlisted men at
| Rockledge is devoted to the entertain
| ment of the men themselves" said Com
\ mander Payne. 1T is not a money
making scheme and ! protest against
ouch an insinuation.
THE whole affair has been caused by
a group of about a dozen men. most of
A them with German names, most of whom
refuse to disclose their identity. d,
The Fosdick commission on training
activities, Colonel Hatch, the Govern
ments law and order enforcing officer
here. and most residents of the vicinity
favor the games, 1t is said.
The Rockledge clubs executive COM
rnittee is composed OF Mrs E. T. Stotes-
bury, Rear Admiral Tappan, Rear Ad-
miral Helm, Colonel Hatch. Captain
! Cooper, Fourth Naval District; James
A. Flaherty, head of the knights OF
Columbus Senator William c. Sproul
and other prominent persons. The club
was organized last December.