The Washington times., 1921-03-28

Anent this controversy as to
whether golf or baseball 10 our ma
tional pastime "in point of numbers
participating" we have two bang-up
debaters for both sides today.
Col. James A. Drain, department
comma nder of the American Legion
and president of the Washington G II
and Country Club over at Jewell, Va.
thinks more men, women and chill
dren are playing golf than baseball.
Clark Calvin Griffith. president of
the Washington baseball club and
one OF the most ardent devotees of
pasture pool at the Columbia Country
Club. thinks more people play base
ball than golf SO there you have an
argument for both sides.
ARGUMENT IN NEW YORK.
A new York. sporting writer of ma
tional reputation made the fiat state
ment in an editorial last week to the
effect that in point Of numbers play
ing, golf is the national pastime In
stead OF baseball. The Times had
scores of inquiries for statistics along
the line of the comparison in pop
ularity of the two games, and as
Spaldings, Reach nor any OF the
sporting authorities have any data
on the number of people playing the
two games, 1t was decided to submit
the matter to the plebiscite or the
| readers of The Times.
Caught in the act Of launching at
the Press Club, Col. Drain. hero OF
two wars and one of the best golfers
| in the city despite the fact that he
plays with one hand, was asked to
| give his opinion as to whether golf
or baseball attracts more players.
COL. DRAINS REASONS.
1t took Col Drain about three sec
onds to give his emphatic reply In
favor of golf. Why?
"Because the game II mild AMI
| strenuous enough at the same time
to appeal to people in all classes and
states OF health. 1t IL open to mcn,
women. boys and girls Of whatever
age, and NO matter how good or how
bad q player ono In he can secure
handicap in accordance. This fact
gives 1t an element OF sportsman
ship unequaled by any other source
of recreation.
.The physical and mental benefits
derived from golf develop all OF
ones faculties equally and stimuli
tnneousIy. Coordination OF the eye
and the hand is advanced, and with
improved playing comes better
control of temperament and
| greater scIf-restraint.
"Of all the qualities which the
youth OF today needs more Of. IL ts
self-rcstraint and the ability TO
know when and how to act. and In
golf I see q keener building up OF
this element I'm human nature than
in any other game. I have been nm
ardent trap shooter. ball player. au-
| mobiIist and swimmer Mt various
stages OF my life, hut ] nnd In golf
the attractions md bcpeHts OF all
OF these and other sports which i
am not fortunate enough to have in
cIuded I'm my athletic curriculum"
| Asked IL he did not believe that
baseball, billiards, bowling and shoot.
! ing do not do as much to develop CO.
| ordination of the eye and hand and OF
the mind and speech as golf, Colonel
| Drain said his personal experience has
| been that golf teaches exactly TIC
! amount of these resources that each
| of vi needs.
OPINION WORTHY OF STUDY.
| There is the opinion of what the
world looks upon as successful mai
| Colonel Drains words are worth
| studious thought on the part of you
boys and young men who have the
greater part of your lives before yon
Overcoming the terrific handicap OF
having lost a hand in his early man.
hood, Colonel Drain is both a soldier
of international fame and a successful
business gentleman. His viewpoint
Is representative and logical.
But now listen to Clark Griffith
professional baseball man, quite as
much of a gentleman as Colonel
Drain (since we have emphasized that
redeeming charm), and man who
! plays both golf and baseball thor
| oughtly well.
Whatever quarter OF the globe
Griffith may be in he always finds
time for just so much golf. He plays
well, Bill Price TO the contrary, and
today he wired the following message
from Daytonia, Fla, where he has his