The Washington times., 1921-04-09

for putting up good argument TO
"How do the baseball bugs figure?
Baseball was the national game a
very short time ago, but golf has left
1t behind in the last few years. Why
not put the question to the people
who know? Golf would win by a
wide vote.
HAVEN'T MISSED ANY NEWS. .
"AlIl baseball fans are deeply inter
ested In the reports coming from the
spring training camps. They haven't
missed any news for three weeks.
What do they think of the write-ups
about the baseball players playing
golf? The ball players are negletcing
their training for a little golf. Some
% the managers have been compelled
to forbid golf until training is over.
"The- men on the big league teams
are the best ball players in the world;
yet the majority-75 per cent or more
are partial to golf. They play ball
for a living and golf for game. Ty
Cobb. Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth.
and many other stars are on golf
course every chance they get.
Anyone will admit that Connie
Doyle is one of the best tennis play
ers in this country. but golf is his
favorite game. He also made quite
name on the diamond in the old De-
partmental League days.
Let's teach Mr.. Charles Letlow
few things about the game, using his
own arguments. He figures there are
LISP ball players on organized teams
in Washington. He states that boys
from six years up play baseball. All
right; let's go! There are seven or
ganized golf clubs in Washing Non, the
combined mem bership totalling nearly
1000 men and dwomen. Hundreds
play on the public golf course each
week, in addition to the number who
belong to the clubs.
FOUR GOLFERS 70 ONE CADDIE.
Now for the boys: there is at least
one caddie for every four golfers.
That makes more than 500 caddies,4
They all play golf and some of them
put UP very creditable games. That
makes more than $500 actual golfers
in Washington. More than twice as
many golfers as baseball players, as
suming that the estimates are reason
able, and l am sure, to one acquaint-
ed with conditions, they are plaus-
ible.
Doesn't Mr.. Letlow know that there
were several hundred sets Of clubs
distributed by the War Camp Commu-
nifty Service to the various camps
during the war? Inese outfits were
donated by clubs in every section of
the country, and were given to camps
in every section of the United States.
They were donated for the use of en-
listed men.
Baseball Is a good game to watch,
but games are to be played. There
are more actual golfers than baseball
players. so golf must be the national
game" -.
HERE'S A BASEBALL FAN.
However eloquently Garret NJ. Van
Housen may wax over golf, 1t prob
ably would take him forever plus ten
years to convince John Mahoney, 1902
p street northwest that anything but
baseball is our national game. Here's
what Van Housen has got to say:
Baseball with a capital is our
country's greatest sport. first last and
always. With the exception of some
Of the offsprings of the wealthy,
American youngsters take to base
ball like a duck to water. In my esti-
nation, as well as that of many
others, golf is just like tennis, that
is. too sissified
"The greatest argument in base
balls favor is the sporting page OF
any newspaper in the country. To
every column OF golf news you will
find ten columns of baseball news.
why, golf doesn't even rank Sec
ond or third in Amer fe&'s real sports.
What about football, boxing, ETC. :
They are real. red-biooded games, not
a nice white trousers affair.
Anybody who ever saw a baseball
game and then favors golf is nutty,
unless it was Skillet Finn's team he
saw playing.
Baseball is a 1oo-to-1 shot on the
nose"
which ef the two games 10 yeu
consider the national pastime Of the
United Statesf. Write your views and
opinions and ussssl them to the SPORT
ing Editorf Keep your views within
reasonable length. and they will be
printed on this page. Lets hear from
you tomorrow.