The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-04-23

judge IRndis'S appeal to tho amateur
and semi-pro clubs Of the United States
and the quick response from the great
ma jority Is one Of the most promising
signs Of the opinion OF players and
fans Of the players who have disgraced
the sport
Neither Judge Lands nor organized
baseball has any power over the lnoe-
pendent clubs Of the United States. so
his appeal to them to refuse 10 play
against players expelled by the DIX
leagues could be only request even
though it was accompanied by the
warning that all players who engage in
games with such players will be in dis
grace in the future.
The response was immediate, The
disgraced Chicago White SoX, backed
BY a lawyer, planned to play the semi
pro teams around Chicago. One team,
thinking more Of possible money than
Of the good name of the game, agreed
10 play. Immediately protest came
from all parts Of Chicago. The club
controlling the grounds refused to par
NIT It to be used, and the thoughtlesS
team quickly Cancelled its game.
Immed lately afterward the park man.
ayers the semi-pro league and the
amateur association voted to bar tn"
White Sox from games and from parks
In Cleveland. the enlarged national FED
Grafton, which Is the governing BODY OF
amateur and semi-pro baseball. adopted
strong resolutions forbiddinS any teams
to engage in games with or against any
OF the suspended players.
Chase and the disgraced Califontans
are barred on the coast. but around
New York imerman Is playing. and one
semi-pro manager has been actively try
ing to card games for the suspended
White SoN.
Possibly tia best way 10 handle
such . situation would be to let
them plHy, and invite All white Sox
blsaohsr1tss 20 como ana bring their
pop botElss with thsm.
The quick action of the amateurs and
semi-pros In supporting Judge Lands
leaves no doubt as to the sentiment or
baseball toward the men. There Is no
desire to find them guilty. as charged,
before they are tried. but there Is a
strong feeling that until they prove
themselves innocent they are acting in
bad taste and shamelessly by striving to
capitalize their disgrace by playing.
The attitude OF Buck Weaver, one Of
the accused. is queer. Weaver denies
that he was guilty. He admitted know
ledge Of tho fraud 10 be perpetrated up
on the public, but declared ne refused
to enter into tho conspiracy. In other
words. he claimed personal innocence
and tacltly admitted the others were
crooked Yet he is carded to play ball
with them--which makes his own case
look bad
The attitude or the players shows
that they do not. even yet realize the
enorrity of tho orfense they are charged
with committing. In fact. they think so
lightly OF the public sense Of morality
that one Of them boasted recently In
Chicago that they would make more
money transforming this season than
Comiskey would have paid them.
They now have grounds for perfect
~ good suit against organized baseball
on the charge OF consp:r!nE todeprive
them OF means Of livelihood--and the
odds are 70 they never will dare
press such suit.
ThSre are two sides to every
question; and nowadays tho man
who gets his side over hrst general
~ wins.
Judge Lambs has taken tho bull by
both horns, and issued an untimatum
. which may correct one OF the biggest
evils in basrball--theho ldout He has
ruled that any player who fai.s 10 re
port 10 his team within ten days after
the start Of tho season is automatically
: suspended and an be rcinStated only
by application I" him
The ho;duut has become serious
menace 70 organized baseball this year.
Mere STARS" have held out than in
MANY season The demands the players
arc sid 70 have made were 1reposter-
Gus. The cases % Groh. Grimes. Robert
! son and Rousch have been particularly
x"Il advertised The impression has
, grown that these players have acted
arbitrarily. have asked for unreasonaoI"
amounts OF money and have attempted
10 hold up their clubs.
have had this opinion. and 1t was
based entirely upon the statements OF
I By the players. l, Rnusrh wants $4,000.
. "a the Cincinnati club said ne did. hr Is
! not worth II. and the club IS more than
! justified in refusing TO pay him that
sum. He Is not srrat ball player. al
though a strong hitter.
But what evidence. beyond the IN
official statements enana' ling from nc
Tubs have that The players demand
. ~ sums
sus Melon. \ prominent hoidout was d"
! clar l.. h. b. demanded $1,000 H4 Tor