Evening star., 1918-07-27

IT suppose the league seasons will
close on September 2, which is LABOR
day and q legal holiday. The day
after ball players will have to start
players will have secured positions
In essential industries by that date
so they will lose no time getting busy
for the government as soon as the
season ends"
President Tener of the National
ment until after he had given the de-
cision careful reading, other than to
say that he believed interest in the
league races would continue right up
until September l and that he thought
there would be little demand for
world series.
President Minor of the Washington
club is well pleased with the situa-
tion. ut gives us a chance to put
our houses in order. I was certain
the authorities would give us a square
Ss1 sss, ss ssd pas aaek L. have done So is the
Two courses are open to the major
leagues. They may begin now to
wind up their Affairs with the idea
Of closing the parks September for
may begin preparations to fill out
their rosters with players above and
below the draft ages and continue
until the end of the schedule in Octo-
ber. Comments of some Of those con-
nected with the game indicate that
there is no other thought than to fin
ish the season around September i,
while that phase of the situation is
not mentioned by others.
In some quarters about the only
question which seems to be in doubt
is whether or not a world series is to
be played. it being taken for granted
that the schedule will end about Sep
tember l.
Both big leagues probably will get
together at joint meeting within
the next few days and Setermine Just
what course to pursue. II they ex-
pect to open their parks next season,
1t seems that some way ought to be de-
vi9ed for filling out their rosters and
finishing out the present year. rum
ming until the flrst week in october,
better course than to close up the
season September l. especially as
Secretary Baker says in his decis-
ion that 'I think it would be an un-
fortunate thing to have so wholesome
. recreation as base ball destroyed If
persons not available for essential
war service
Then there is another angle to that.
II it is the intention to lower the
draft age to nineteen or twenty and
raise 1t to thirty-six or forty, such
measures on the part of club own
ers would be useless, because next
season there would be no players
available. If conditions next summer
are such that all men between the
ages Of nineteen or twenty and thfr-
ty.s6 or forty will have to work or
night" there would be no professional
base ball, as It would be Impossible
to ond enough men to make up teams
outside such ages.
EARLY Closing Is Likely.
Summarizing the situation asit now
seems to exist, base ball probably will
end around September 1, with a world
series Of perhaps five games between
the league winners. While opinion in
some quarters is not favorable to
world series, there is likely 70 be
enough of a demand on the part of
the public and club owners to cause
one to be scheduled.
PRONUNCIATION OF the work or f1ght
order was effected last May, but il
va. not until recently that it was
held to apply to ball players. For a
brief time it appeared that the game
would have to end Immediately, Ban
johnson coming out with an absolute
statement to that effect. However,
Clark Grifith got busy and was the
me4na through which base ball got
q hearing before Gen. Crowder and
placed before Secretary Baker the re-
0uA9f for An eYfenzion Of fjr,a