The Washington herald., 1918-07-24
NATIONALS TO
HEAR VERDICT
of Older Circuit to
Meet in Capital this Morn
ing to Learn Big Issue.
By WILLIAM PEET..-


(sporting Editor Pittsburgh Dispatch.)
Pittsburgh, Pa, July 23-Seven Ma
tlonal League club owners attended
specially called meeting at the Hotel
schenley this morning to discuss the
advisability OF completing the sched-
ule, in view of a recent decision by
Secretary Of War Baker, that base
ball Is a nonessential industry. In
less than half an hour of debate the
National League magnates agreed
unanimously to continue the 1918 sea-
son, to the finish, provided the War
Department placed its stamp Of ap-
proval upon the plan.
For the purpose Of making their
plea as strong as possible 1t was voted
to attend in a body the hearing set
for Gen. Crowder's ONCE in Washing
ton tomorrow afternoon the magnates
leaving on the 10 o'clock express for
the Capital, after engaging rooms at
the Willard Hotel.
I'VE all feel" said VIM. F. Baker.
owner OF the Phillies, that the gov
ernment Is not disposed to disrupt
legitimate business involving several
millions of dollars, and that when
Gen. Crowder and War Secretary Be-
ker hear what We have to say, per-
mission will be granted to allow us to
finish out our schedule this season.
That's all we ask, and unless the War
Department voluntarily permits US to
do this and approves, 1t would DO sji-
cidal to continue, for the reason that
prblic sentiment would quickly tuin
against Us, our ball players would be
accused Of trying to evade their du-
ties towards their flag and country.
and sooner or later we would be for c.
cd to close our gates.
THE general public Is perhaps ig-
norant of our business. 1t does not
know that we have obligations 70
fulfill to players and a hundred-and-
one things with which to contend
that to wipe US out Of existence now
would be to bankrupt some OF the
club owners. in addition to the hard
ships imposed upon the ball players
themselves"
In discussing the player end of
the business, Charles II. Ebbets, own
er Of the Brooklyn club, cited sew
eral instances where his players had
! bought farm lands and had been
forced to mortgage these properties.
Payments could be met only by re-
ceiving pay checks from the ball
| club on the 1st and 18th Of each
month. By ordering the players In
question to seek other employment,
| mortgage foreclosures would follow
| and the men would lose their farms.
Pittsburgh players subscribed heav-
lily to the Third Liberty Loan, TAX
ing bonds on the instalIment plan.
II the War Department forces them
l to quit baseball and engage in other
I occupations. payments on these bonds
could not be met. There was a note
OF optimism In every magnate's
voice. Even Branch Hickey, who pi.
lots the destinies of the lowly Car
dfnals. and who, by the way, is a
smart, shrewd baseball man. said
that he believed the government no,
only wanted baseball to continue, but
would grant the request of the Ma
tional League club owners.
President Tener did not attend the
meeting. Mr.. Tener and Harry
Hampstead. owner Of the New Yor,
Giants. left for Washington Monday
night.
Garry Hermann, of Cincinnati
president of the National Commits
sion. talked with Representative
Nicholas Longworth, of Ohio, over
the long distance telephone from
Washington and was told that Gen
Crowder would listen to the petit
tion Of the National League in
Washington Wednesday afternoon
Charles H. Weeghman, of the Chi
cago Cubs. said that he had been
misquoted and misunderstood, thai
he had never favored the ending OF
the championship season at thi,
stage Of the race. He added: I'VE
are only too anxious to complete the
schedule in order to demonstrate
to the complete satisfaction of all
you gentlemen that the Chicago
Cubs Is the class Of the National
League. We expect to erect a flae
pole where the pennant will bt
hung. a pole high enough to bs
seen by our rivals over on the soutf
side of Chicago"
President Percy D. Haughton. o.
the Boston Braves, said that hi.
club had not made any money thi.
season and would probably finish OF
the wrong side of the ledger. bu
that he was just as anxious as hi!
confrees to finish the 1911
schedule.
In addition to the club owners
League Secretary and Treasures
John A. Heydler was on hand.