New-York tribune., 1918-05-01
Will
Not axe No
From Matty
Y. M. c. A. Official Of to
See Pitcher-Tener
Takes a Hand

"is' CollleTcnce with Gov
crnor Tener, president of the Naton,,
League. DR.. George j. Fisher, of the
physical department cf the national
war work counci, Of the Y. NJ c. A
ie1t yesterday afternoon to talk with
Christy Mathewson, regarding the caT1
from France that Matty 90 overseas
TO oirecc the baseball! among tho mon
OF the fighting forces.
II think Matty can be induced to
accept the offer of the Y. M. C. A."
said the Governor. "and fcc the Ma
tional League. I am proud to say that
organized baseball appreciates the
honor Of the call from our soldiers in
the trenches"
Governor Tenor also agreed to assist
the Y. M. c. A. in every way possible
in the associations problem of re-
cruting physical and athletic directors
sufficient to satisfy the demand from
General Pershing's troops.
Call of Uncle Sam
Before he boarded the train DR..
Fisher expressed confidence that. in
view of Governor Tener's support, he
would be able to make Matty see that
his duty lies overseas. He was able
to convince Governor Tencr that the
call from the Y. M. c. A. was in reality
call from the government, inasmuch
as the government has intrusted to the
Y. M. c. A. the task of providing rec
reation and keeping up the morale of
the fighting men.
Governor Tener had been quoted as
saying that Matty's reported declina-
tlon had been justified because the
call had not come from governmental
source.
eve must train our army for the
biggest fight in history" says DR..
Fisher, cas- an athletic coach trains his
squad for competition. General Per-
shng has realized that from the start.
After seeing the results obtained with
the American fighting forces, Presi-
dent Poincare and Premier Clemen-
ceau of France and the military and
civil authorities OF Italy have requested
the Y. NJ. c.. A. to institute the same
system among their troops.
"If there is one name in American
sport that stands for clean sportsman
ship and clean living, it is the name
Of Matty. Thousands of those boys in
uniforms overseas have sat in the
bleachers and cheered him when he
was in his prime as a pitcher. They
arc 5000 miles from home. Can any
one doubt the enthusiasm with which
they would receive the announcement
that Matty was coming overseas to
them, to be their athletic director and
counsellor, to play checkers with them,
and to inspire them by the very mag
netism of his personality?
Hopes for Good News
''I hope to cable the news to them
tomorrow night that Matty is coming.
"Matty's acceptance of the offer
would mean far more to the work
which the Y. NJ. c. A. is doing than
the addition Of one man. though he be
the biggest and best in his line, to our
staff of workers. The sacrifice which
he must make would inspire others to
make lesser sacrifices and enlist under
the red triangle.
eve are going to need hundreds of
men in all branches of service as our
establishment expands. Watch
them fall into line when Matty makes
his sacrifice and goes where he can do
most to help win the war;
Expects Matty's Consent To-day
Exactly a week ago William Sloane.
chairman of the National War Work
Council of the Y. M. C. A., sent long
telegram to Matty, submitting to him
the proposition which DR.. Fisher will
discuss with the Cincinnati manager.
Mr. Sloane stated at that time that the
appeal to Matty was made in response
to special cable messages from Y. NJ.
c. A. o1s cials in France.
DR.. Fisher is due in Cincinnati at
II o'clock this morning, and, as he
stated before he boarded his train at
the Grand Central, he appears to be
confident that before night he will
have Matty's acceptance of the offer
that has been made to him as the re-
suit OF the unanimous call of the fight
ing men overseas for him to work
them.