Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-20
YOUNG BALL PLAYERS
IN j. S. DRAFT
Secretary of War Baker Decides
Their Calling is a NonEssen-
tial Occupation.

base ball players of draft age must work
or fight Immediately, and the draft
regulations may be changed, soon TO
include theatrical performers and moving
picture players and employees among
those to seek new jobs or face induction
into the army
Secretary Baker settled the question
so far as baseball is concerned today IN
an YIN qualified decision holding the game
a non-productive occupation and saying,
9 ofar from amending the regulation 10
exempt ball players, he believed the scope
of its provisions SHOULD be SO enlarged
as to include other classes of persons
whose professional occupation is solely
that of entertaining
Legitimate theatrical performers were
specifically exempted in the original
work or fight order of the provost marshal
general and n recent ruling placed IN thus
class actors and skilled men employed IN
producing moving pictures.
The secretary's decision was gwen on
an appeal in the case of Edward Ainsmith
veteran catcher of the Washington
Americans. whose deferred classification
on account of a dependent wifc and ohll-
dren recently was revoked by a local draft
board All arguments against the rnlinR
and a suggestion that the regulation
should be modified in favor Of the national
sport were swept aside by Mr itaker-
He held that baseball, as p business docs
not differ from other civilian pcaCe-tlme
industries which must make sacrifices
in the stress of war. and. moreover, that
IL is by no means certain that so many
PLAYERS are of draft age that the organlsa-
tion will he disrupt. AZ TO the claim
that baseball players having devoted
themselves to the game are not htted
10 adequately support their families
hy labor in other lines, he said II ls quite
inconceivablc in view of the TACT that
ball players are men Of unusual physical
ability, dextcrity and aertness.
The point that baseball has been accept
cd AS the national sport and If for many
workers and business men the only
opportunity for outdoor relaxation and
endowment was treated MS a serious one
But the secretary declared times were
not normal, that other means Of recreation
could be found and that
The non-productive employment OF
able-bodied persons, useful in the national
defense, either "a military men or IN the
industry and commerce Of our country,
cannot be justified.
No statement was forthcoming as TO
lust what steps will be taken to meet Mr.
Bakers view that the scope Of the work
or fight regulation should be enlarged.
PRESIDENT rESER DoURTruL II CLUBS
SHOULD PROCEED.
Cincinnati July 20 President John
X. Tener, Of the National League, after
reading Secretary of War Bakers state
ment relative to baseball as il is concerned
in the work or fight order said:
4 Dnlv IL
cision in full and baseball interests will
comply with the finding in spirit as we'll
as in action AS good citizens our obliga-
ton is to respect constituted authority.
II baseball comes under the classification
of non-cssential occupation We will
most gladly make the sacrifice of our
business interests in the country's wei
fare.
We feel, however some provision
should be made that would give us time
to determine whether the clubs should
proceed TO close out our business entirely
and we will request the War Depart
ment 70 make its ruling more definite as
It concerns this point
SEES ONLY ONE COURSE
Cincinnati. O., July 20 Chairman
August Hermann. of the National Base
ball Commission, issued q statement here
last night relative 10 Secretary Of War
Bakers decision placing baseball in the
list Of non-essentials Mr.. Hermann
said:
1T is apparent that Secretary Baker
has given the matter his most serious
consideration, and his conclusions are
bevond doubt based upon the highest
motives possible in the matter Just
what the method of procedure of the club
owners is TO be Is one that will be deter
mined upon In the next few days. but !
am cure there is only one conclusion that
We will come TO- and that is that constltut-
ed authority must and Will be upheld by
all interested parties
"His suggestion that many OF the players
are beyond the draft age and therefor
il is by no means certain that complete
Of the business will follow |
on account of the order is one that will |
be @ matter for the clubs TO determine |
As all of the clubs in both major leagues |
will be in transit on Sunday evening, |
there is no doubt that it will remain in /
status quo for q few days.
The interested parties will take up |
with the proper authorities at once the
mode Of procedure in closing out the
business temporarily if it ie deemed nee
essary TO do so. We must have ruling
at once as TO the status of the players in
seeking essential employment, the length
of time TO be gwen them TO do so and
whether it will be necessary TO apply To
the local board having originally jurisdic-
ton over him am assuming the player
in securing essential employment will be
permitted TO do so anywhere that he can !
obtain il, whether at hoine or IN the city
or vicinity in which his club is located
Personally ! believe with Secretary
Baker that persons who attend outdoor
sports such as baseball are in need OF
them, are helped by these great national
exhibitions. physically and mentally, and
made more efficient, industrially and
by the relaxation that they there
enjoy, and therefore some time may be
devised TO the end that the game will
continue in some manner or other until
he close of the season, having in mind