The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-20

essential to the successful prosecution Of
tho war"
All the arguments for the restoration
a; A!nsmith to his class I status were
considered by the Secretary and his ad-
visers. They included the argument that
| professional baseball In itself consti-
tuted a vast industry involving invest
nsnts Of millions aad that the disrup-
ton Of the sport would render these
properties temporarily useless that base
ball In Itself was = highly trained pro-
fession TO the attainment OF which the
player had had to devote his exclusive
attention, thereby uniting himself by
his very specialization for productive in
dustry of another character and that
baseball had been accepted as the ma
tional sport Of tie people of the United
States, q recreation and an amusement
Of the workers in commerce, industry
and the professions.
The argument that baseball players
were men of special training and had
concentrated themselves to such an ex-
tent on the development OF their skill on
the ball field was met with the state
ment that baseball players are men Of
unusual physical ability, dexterity and
alertness," and that for this reason It
would seem, IN view of the inconceivably
rapld transmutation which had occurred
In other fields of endeavor that the ball
players could be put to work within
short time where their energies and
skill would contribute to winning the
war.
Most serious consideration by the Sec
rotary was given to the third argument,
that dealing with the erect upon the
public. 1t was upon this that the chief
reliance Of those who had hoped for a
different contamination of Secretary Ba-
ker's deliberations had been placed. Sec
rotary Baker said that due weight had
been given to the argument as 10 the
value Of baseball as a wholesome enter
tainment for the men engaged In the es-
sential Industries.
He said that without doubt very
large preponderance OF the thfongs
which watch the clashes In the leagues
little and big, were helped physically and
mentally by their enjoyment OF the
sport. He held, however:
But the times are not normal: the
demands of the army and Of the coun-
try are such that We must all make sac
rIdces and the non-productive employ
ment of ahlebodied persons useful In the
national defence either as military men
or in the industry and commerce or our
country cannot be justihed,'
Board Ruling Sustained.
Secretary Baker issued this state
ment:
tinent here occurs in paragraph Z OF
section ELK, as follows:
".Persons, including ushers and other
attendants engaged and occupied In ana
in connection with games sports ana
amvsements.' &c
obviously baseball players are per-
sons occupied I'm sport. 30 that the
ruling of the local and district boards
must be sustained as plainly correct.
TT Is suggested, however. that the
regulations ought to be changed 10
exempt baseball players. and TINS ap-
neal Is not really based upon any doubt
as to the correctness or the determiha-
ton made by the local and district
boa rds, but is addressed TO the wisdom
Of the regulations.
"The arguments in this behalf are
three In number
80 That baseball Is a business In
which very large investments OF money
have been made. involving the erection
of properties. useless and unprohtable
unless permitted to be continued In the
use for which they were erected; and
that the application OF the regulations
TO dnembers OF professional baseball
teams would so far disorganize this
business as to destroy II and render this
property temporarily valueiess.
go. That the occupation OF profess
sionai baseball player requires very
high degree of specialized training and
skill, procurable only by a substanti-
ally exclusive devotion OF the time Of
persons aspiring TO become professional
players, 30 that there Is not much like
iihood Of such players having any other
available occupation or fitness for any
other occupation at all adequate In Its
returns TO maintain for themselves and
their families the standard OF living
which has been established on the earn
inRs in their professional occupations.
Their only Recreation.
80 That baseball has been accepted
as the national sport OF the people OF
the United States that II affords whole
some outdoor relaxation and enjoyment
10 large numbers OF the American peo-
ME and 10 to many workers and busl-
ness men OF the United States almost
the only opportunity for such recreation.
40 that 10 bring about the cessation OF
orofsssionaI baseball would work So
clal and industrial harm far out OF pro-
portion to the military loss involved by
the exemption Of the limited number
Of players In question:.