The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-27
Baseball Given New Lease on
Life by Secretary Baker.
work or Fight" Not To Apply
to Players Until Sept. 1.
WORLDS CONTEST IN AUGUST?
Latest Interpretation: "GOv't
Interested Solely in War;"
Players Have Made Plans s|for
Essential Occupation"
BY wILLYUM WOLFE.

BY WILLYU WOLFE.
Baseball has b en- granted a re-
prieve for the time being. according
to the terms of Secretary Bakers last
order in regard to the necessity of the
players engaging in useful and essen
tial occupations" Under the new or
der the game may still go on undis-
turbed by the work or fight" order
until September 1.
But September 1 is surely the day
of doom for the 1918 baseball season
in the major leaGues The minors,
most of them, have already suspended
operation for the year and have cam
celled the seasons playing schedule.
The new Interpretation of the
work OF fight order as it applies to
the national pastime will enable the
big teams to play out nearly three
fourths of the games on their sched-
ules. Every one of the contending
clubs in the me- jors have already
played more than eighty games, and
some of them have played as many
as ninety-one. The extension of time
granted by Secretary of War Baker
will merely cause a shortening of the
major league schedule.
Worlds Series in August?
It is also very probable that the
1918 worlds series will be played off
already been rtarted by one or two
of the big league club owners looking
to this end.
In the event that the worlds series
is PLAYED before September l. it is
possible that the major teams will go
right on playing their regular sched-
ules up to within day or two of the
date set for the first worlds contest.
If this should happen it would be the
first time in history when a worlds
series has been hitched right square
on the tail of the regular playing
season.
Baker Left No Lccway.
Just at present it looks as tho. If
the worlds series is to be played at
all, it will have to be played before
September I. Secretary Baker made
l special provisions for extending the
release of players subject to the work
or fight order after September I, but
'the interests of the government at
this time are solely conferred in the
prosecution of the war" This state
ment indicates that September 1 is the
fartnest date of exemption. After
September !. the PLAYERS will be i'm
neCiately subject to the work or fight
order and 1t is understood that a
large number of them have already
made arrangements for employment in
the munitions plants and ship yards
Players Must Work.
Looking at the whole baseball situa-
ton from the standpoint that Baker
has aid his last say in the matter. the
1918 play hg schedule will probably
be brought to close about the middle
of August, and the dates set for the
worlds series will probably be the last
week in August.
SeJtemner :iis Labor day, and Sep
TENDER 8 the baseball players must be
| occupied in Some useful and essen
tial mplrvuent"
Chicago, Jul. 27.-President Charles
Comiskey. of the White Sox.s favors a
worlds baseball series before Secre-
tary Bakers work or fight ruling is
| made applicable to baseball players
September 1.
Comiskey believes the leaders of the
major league should fight it out be-
fore September 1, if the war depart
ment holds that series ~cfter that
date is impossible CQniskey ex-
pressed great satisfaction with Secre-
tary Bakers decision affecting base
hall