Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-22
bLEAT SWAN SONG
FOR BASE BALL AS
CURTAIN IS DROPPED
SAD SAD ENDING or GREAT
AMERICAN GAME COMES TO
CHIEFS FIRM IN RULING.

The last murmuring notes OF Sdse-
balls swan song are waiting over the
immediate horizon today So
week actualS who are shooting At
Johnny McGraw's si1 600 per aunum
salary for romping the green sward
under guise OF toll. today are getting
ready TO HE themselves back 10 the
ribbon counter. where they belong. OF
10 some seel mill. ammunition plant
to fulfill the governments WORK or
night order
Finis. was added TO the greatest
OF all t. 5 sports yesterday whea The
Chicago Cubs, National league lead
ers, and The Cleveland Indians, OF the
American league, announced their dis
bandment. Other teams Will follow 10
the wake today
All Ottawa adds its Amen, jus, 1s
II should But the blow Is going 10
be hard one on the sa,0Uu. $4,000
or $4,000 beauties VINO earned IN re
atty about $500 a season. Only Tor
tan beneticence. that's all they'd get.
Now they'll have 10 do manual labor
at an average OF about s3,42 IA day.
Oh my! lis a hard old life and the
wall in base5alldom is increasing as
the multitude OF salary grllters send
zip their y0del Oh the Kaiser"
Hope Gone Gimmerine.
Chicago, July 22-tlopes tina, Sc
cretary of War Baker might rush
forth with 'pumotor' to prolong
the lie OF majo league baseball were
abandoned yesterday Mlgnates wait,
ed patiently throughout the day think.
ing that at the eleventh hour Washing
ton officials might relent on their
work or fight ruling and give the game
sine to adjust itself before passing
out Tor the duration OF the war No
word OF encouragement came, and at
night fall last night some of the
clubs had ceased 10 operate A few
are hanging ON, expecting TO play 10
day. and then quitting until such time
as the country will no longer need its
men to fight or engage in essential
occupation
The day brought only few de
velOpments, but none OF an enconr
aging nature Convinced thar il vas
useless 10 20 further American AS
socation maenates met here and
vOred TO close up shop with iht
playing OF yesterdays games. TAX
ing the same attitude, President Au.
gust Hermann OF the Cincinnati
Reds wired the Cub officials that he
would not send his men here for the
double header scheduled for this after.
noon. Only twenty ionr hours pre-
yious Hermann had said the games
would be played but evidently he
underwent change OF heart
Cubs Are Through.
The abandoning of today's Cubs
battles means Mitchell's league lead
ers are through with their chosen
pastime The North Siders closed
their show yesterday IN a blaze oi
hurleSqUe ana today the athletes viii
set out in quest OF essential work
or places in the army and navy Hol
locher and O'Farreil set the pace fol
their mates by enlisting in the navy
Saturday night Their home n ID,
immediate future viii be the Grea
Lakes Naval Training Station
The official canceling OF play IN
the American league probably wil
be announced Ut Cleveland today
This noon the masnates of Ban John
sons league assembled before thei
chief, will talk over the problem an.
there seems 10 be no chance for an
other than a vote to close the park
and let the athletes 90 to work m
the duration OF The war
Ban departed tor Cleveland las
night Prior 70 leaving he had moth
Ing to add 10 what he had preNousl,
SAID IN connection with the Wurl
or fight" edict He siIl is IN ta,o
OF quitting Immediately aud /; uu'
o fthe owners % his circuit had dil
ferent views Ban 40 doubt vii, swim
them around in hurry when h
starts 10 lombard them with fact
today Harry Frdzee OF Boston stl,
insists that il is not necessary :
quit, but Judging from previous hal
penings IN American league circle
Fra2ee probably Will not pet lnlc
chance to argue al the conference.
Cleveland indians Dist end.
Johnson Yesterday instructed IN
VARIOUS cubs 10 continue play unt
officially notified to quit. This how
ever, will have 40 effect ON Nh
Cleveland lndians. who dishandp
last night on orders from Jim nunt
the owner. Johnson reason fc
A..