The evening world., 1919-12-17
SCANDAL OF WORLDS SERIES
IN BASEBALL WILL NOT DOWN;
HERE ISA WAY TO SETTLE IT
Unofficial Hearing Before Fed
eral Judge Lands Is
Suggested.
FANS DEMAND TRUTH.
Names Suggested of Witnesses
: Who Might Throw Light
on Charges.
By Hugh S. Fullerton.

! Charles A. Comiskey owner of the
'Chicago White Sox and one of the
: greatest characters baseball ever has
produced, a man Of undoubted honesty
and Of the highest type OF sportsman
ship, has stated in Chicago that,
after two months of work by detec-
tives and others. he has been unable
to find evidence that there was dis
Honesty among the players OF his
team during the recent Worlds Series.
Mr.. Comiskey declares he has had
detectives working to ascertain what
is behind the charges. The fact is
that he has had detectives working
since the night of the second game Of
the series in Cincinnati, when one Of
the best known gamblers in the coun-
Try went to him and told him the
stories that were being circulated
through the underworld of sport. Tho
gambler made no accusations. He
;Aold Coniskey where the money was
coming from that was being wagered
Ordinarily Mr.. Comiskey's word
would be suoicient. In fact, If Mr.
COmiskey would say that there was
no dishonesty it might end the en-
tire scandal. II will be noted, how
ever, that he says he has not been
able TO and evidence 10 support the
accusations and that his offer of Sio,-
900 for legal proof that his players
were not trying is still in effect.
The fans and the public generally
will not stand for verdict Of not
proved" They demand to know the
facts. Mr. Comiskey has tried as hard
as any one to discover the facts. Both
he and Manager Gleason have
worked hard, have followed tales to
their sources and have not been able
10 prove the charges-nor disprove
them.
The fans demahd one Of two
things: Either verdict of guilty
with a penalty of expulsion from
baseball, or verdict Of not guilty
with whatever punishment may be In
nicted upon those responsible for the
stories concerning the series. Mr.
,Comiskey, unaided, probably cannot
discover the truth.
Il is not the seven players who
are indicted by common gossip
that are on trial. II is the good
name Of baseball and the hon
ssty Of the hundreds of players
who are not mentioned.
Ever since the recent meetings in
New York there has been what seems
10 he a concerted movement on the
pnrt of many of the owners and
others concerned in baseball TO put
the silencer on the story of the
,seFies. To drop the matter and fol-
low the policy of allowing the pub
lie to forget" Is perhaps the worst
posslble thing that could happen tc
The sport in the United States. Such
"a course would serve to convince
thousands Of fans that there is some'
thing in the stories.
The players who are accused are
entitled to an opportunity to defent
themselves from the charges One
has assured HlC Illlt llC - SAsNA 'Si
iuch an opportunity.
The fans are entitled to know
whether baseball is on the squar
or not.
There is a way to fnd out, Comis
kew has offered $4,000 for proof tha
the players did not try TO win. AS
lover Of the sport in which he ha
spent his life he ought 70 be willinl
10 nay at least that much for proc
that they did try and that they wer
honest. Organized baseball certain
ly ought to be willing 10 pay mucI
more than that to prove tho honest
OF all the players engaged by them
II only only for selfish purposes the,
should be willing TO bear any eS
pense that would satisfy the fans AM
out an end to the charges.
The way they can do this is easy
Judge Kenesaw NJ, Lands Of tn
United states Court Is one of III
best known and most respected me
on the bench. Also, he is regarde
0sAAtIsusS Oh BpsFtIag PaEs)