New-York tribune., 1918-07-21

II YVES unofficially held that the state
ment by Secretary of War Baker, out
lining baseball's status during the war
sounded the deathknell of Americas
national game" for the period of the
war and paved the way for Immediate
dissolution of the American aud Ma.
tional League pennant races.
The essential developments yester.
day we're:
/. President James C. Dunn of the
Cleveland American League club
sent the following message to
Cleveland from Chicago:
1--WE will play q double-header
with Philadelphia tomorrow, and
then will close the ball park for the
balance of the season. 1t is our de-
sire to comply promptly with Secre-
tary Bakers ruling on baseball. My
M, told me they did not care to
upon the field and have leath-
1 unged fans shout at them to get
useful jobs. ! agreed heartily with
them. They are all prepared to step
into new work"
2. BY call from President John X.
Tener, the directors of the National
League will hold special meeting
in New York Wednesday.
3. American League directors have
been summoned 20 Cleveland by
President Ban B. Johnson for a
meeting Monday at noon.
4. Provost Marshal General Crow
der said yesterday that enforcement
of the work or fight" order as ap-
piled to baseball would be left to the
discretion of the various local
boards in the United States having
jurisdiction over the players. There
would be, he Indicated, no attempt
to force the two major leagues into
lmnsAi&Ne disbandment.
{. ksy pal and American League
naRA} J and baseball authorities
eneH ~ believed that, in spite Of
Growers reinsurance, which would
shce the status of baseball the same
M it was prior to the Baker an
notlne srnent, there would be whole
leaspe rosters by players within the
draft age.
6. Harry Frazee, owner Of the Bos
ton Red Sox, American League lead
ers, declared yesterday he would not
consent to immediate dissolution of
the American League. but that he
favored a completion of a 100-game
sched le. with worlds series to
folloy between the winners in the
American and National leagues.
7. The Eastern League announced
Mat it would suspend for the season
after the scheduled games of to-day.
American Association directors are
to meet in Chicago, with the indica-
tons that they, too. will close shop.
8. Garry Hermann, president of
the National Com mission, in state
ment from Cincinnati, declared that
the players should be given time to
put their houses in order and seek
essential occupations" He asks for
reasonable time III which to adjust,
or. II necessary, to disband.
VI the developments of yesterday th'
most important was General Crowder'
announcement that the individual case!
would be left to the discretion of loca
boards. i. that local boards alread.
continue their diamond career. tindins
that change of occupation would worl
al, unnecessary hardship upon The
player, was taken as an indication tina
c'her players might secure equal.
fortunate decisions.
Fear Wholesale Descrtions
On the other hand, baseball mel
reared that with Secretary Bakers
s'atement as precedent no local boards
would again sanction the continuance
OF baseball playing as an occupation
ana that the logical result of the Sec
1etary's finding would be Wholesale de-
sertion to the shipbuilding and stee
pants that have made persistent over.
lures to major league ball players.
TOT TINS reason it was believed that
in IN Two weeks at the most, were base-
.s .a.i magnates Of mind to continue
snser schedules, they would be without
tta,neieht tsant PLAYERS 10 make up sixteer
tLsams. unless they began recruiting te
iprlng Youngsters and veterans withou,
t",, s"s GRATIS pale into the major league
.o .o!d' 1t was hinted that even should
III. MS De done it was problematica
whether the magnates of the two
.eagues would be unanimously in favo,
VI continuing a schedule that involved
expensive travelling and living costs
W present brand of baseball thai
"vuid =, be purely experimental.
mat the club owners themselve.
we're we're split over the issue was clearl,
,nnalcated by the decision of Presiden
.ounn, Of Cleveland, to close shop afte,
,O.aay's game, while Harry Frazee
ps:esldent s.:.nt of the Boston club, in
sei,ited statement from the Hub City
rec'ared that the American League
ave could not be terminated withou
s,. unanimous vote, and that he wa.
ssalnst sss 1t. His suggestion that tn,
r.aeouie n.t, be continued to the 10O-gam,
isrk' with a worlds series, then to b,
fAyeo between the leaders in tn,