Evening star., 1921-02-25

by w aSnlnStOH idhSs VI ~
tractively decorated banquet haii o.
place, and the object to make Mcbi
ioyaI support of the capital IN the arc
ANY lingering vestige of doubt as
60 yrbare Mac stood with the follow
ers of base bali hereabouts effectualiy
was dispelled in the enthusiastic WEI
come accorded him by, an assempiase
representing every strata OF Soos
and official walk of life when par
took of a fine repast. saw an exec,
lent program of entertainment anu
cheered vociferously every reference
to Mac and his bright future as guar
dian of the capitals base ball hopes.
Enthusiasm reached high leVei aS
one by one the speakers visioned NC
Bride leading Washington ciuo 10
its first pennant, with some OF the
more optimistic foreseeing world
championship for the Nationals next
fall.
Grin Promises n Winner.
All contributed some reference 10
the attainment of the championship
GOA, this year-all but President Grit
nth and Mcbride himself. The boss OF
the club. after paying tribute to the
good fellowship and spirit manilest
by the fans. told them he was deter-
mined eventually to give them WIN
ner and believed he now had the
working fONnOatiOH III SeSict o
Eynon and Manager Mcbride.
II have unbounded confidence In
Warrington as base ball town and
it has not been shaken by the lean
years experienced from 1914 up to
last season." he said. II am glad to
re1inquish the duties of management
to so able a man as Mcbride. l am
going to give him every support and
will give Washington a winner before
/ get through or go broke in the ef-
fort
Mcbride to Give His Best.
Mcbride disclaimed any intention of
making pennant predictions when ne
arose amid salvo Of applause to ex-
press his thanks for the honor done him
tion of the handsome silver bowl pre-
sented in their behalf by Father z. c.
Gavan, who IN forceful manner In
vfted attention to the fact that the
hard work route which has brought
success to. Mcbride is open to all, Nc
Bride pledged himself to give his em-
ployers ana the fans the best he had
in his new role, and asserted that re-
gardleSs Of where the Nationals finished
''the other seven teams in the league
will know we have been in the race"
President Ban Johnson Of the Ameri-
con League lauded Mcbride for the
twelve years of splendid service he has
given in Washington. and also paid
trlDUte 10 SidTh SIIIHlu WHO Always
has played the game honestly and
Mcbride is spIendidiy equipped for
the task he has undertaken, and am
confident he will meet with your high.
est expectations" Johnson said. Ball
clubs need men OF high standards to d.
rect them, and Washington may be ac-
counted fortunate in having him. He
has the good wishes of fans all over the
United States. You have happy COM
-. L. <N-.0
am sincere when tell you that hope
the pennant comes here this year"
says sport WIN Triumph.
Johnson asserted that base bail now
10 confgonted with some Of the grav-
est probes 1t ever faced. but assert
ed the game would emerge with col
ors flying under its recently reorgan-
ICED government.
He let the fans in on a secret by
telling them that the position Of high
commissioner Of base bali originally
was offered to a great Army man. who
declined on account Of age. He said
the final selection Of Judge Landis
was due to the fact that that jurist
can be counted upon to govern with
out fear or favor. and that 1t was not
to obtain. any court influence, as has
been charged on Capitol Hill.
johnson asserted that the owners
who invariably have given him their
support will never rest until the game
Is cleansed of those responsible for
the scandal resulting from colIusion
between certain players and clique
of gamblers.
Accused Players Doomed.
The depiorable conditions recently
uncovered are not of our max
brought about by the failure of some
OF the owners to keep their houses in
order. He then gave utterance to
the following highly significant words.
with veritable storm of applause:
"Sometimes the ends Of tustice are
not attained in . court Of law. Those
who now stand aceused Of DRAGGING
the good name Of base bah In the mire
may never be convicted. but wish to
state emphatiral1y. in speaking for the
majority OF club owners, that they will
go to the last ditch in backing MP the
grand Jury which indicted these play
ers. and even II they aFe acquitted
they never again will appear ON the
ball fields Of the American League"
Reformers Are Planned.
Representative william A. Rodenberx.
whom Toastmaster J. Thiiman HendricE
declared would rather miss a roll cali
in the House than a ball game. made a
decided hit with the fans by characteriz-
ing base ball as the squafest. cleanest
and most wholesome of all sports and In
taking fall out Of the persons who
are trying to revive the old blue laws.
These reformers are 30 constituted, he
said, that they can conceive Of no
greater Joy than eating a meal In a
cemetery, W against a tombstone and
In the shade of a weeping Willow"
He expressed the Arm conviction that
Sunday base ball il permanently estab.
lished iD Washington. and his sentiments
were echoed by his colleague Represent
ati7e John S. NORM: District Commits
sioners Hendrick and Col. c. w. Kuts
and Father Gavan.
Ted Sullivan. the veteran player, own.
er and manager. referred to Griffith al
one OF the greatest pitchers the game
ever produced and sketched the career
of Mcbride from the time he entered
base ball as an amateur on the sand.
lots of Milwaukee. He related a mum.
Der Of interesting anecdotes Of the IA.
~