The Washington times., 1921-12-19


"Al the same, it's a shame what
this Judge Lands done to Ruth" as
serted Harry. "Where does a guy
from Chicago get off to tell US who
will and who won't entertain US at
the Polo Grounds7 It's as foolish as
pro'bition. This ain't q free country
any more"
The sporting editor nodded assent.
You're right about that. Harry"
he agreed. but q laws q law even II
It interferes with Babe Ruth. You
might Bay. in a way. that prohibition
has come and gone, but still you don't
SEQ anybody pulling out a quart In
front OF the cop on a prominent cor
ner at high noon. Drinking has now
become q solitary vice."
What's that go to do with the
Ruth Case?" demanded Harry.
Open Defiance . Mistake.
II was coming to that" replied the
sporting editor petulantly, but you
interrdpt.me with dumb crack. Now
here's the parallel between the rule
that Ruth ignored and the Eighteenth
Amendment: Neither can be violated
openly.
There was . rule on the baseball
beoks prohibiting players on pennaRt
winning teams from going around
after q world series. In return for
the soft dough they get in the series
q bonanza that could be abolished
by the National Commission at any
time-the players agree to stand for
this rule. They agree when they sign
their contracts.
Now, 1t IL generally admitted that
the rule Ruth violated is q bad rule.
It probably will be repealed very soon.
Judge Lands thinks 1t is a bad rule.
But It is still In force, and the Judge
Ia bound to enforce 1t.
You and / may think the Eigh-
teenth Amendment is all wrong, but
still we do not openly defy 1t. Ruth
openly ignored and defied Landis. He
issued q challenge that lands could
Ing. He deliberately set himself up
for target.
Going back to the prohibition thing
which know is more vital to YOU
than the Ruth case-suppose Babe
went up against lands as q Federal
Judge With q similar def. Suppose
ne walked into q prohibition office.
pulled flask from his pocket and took
drink. Then suppose he was hauled
up before Judge Lands and defied him
IN court. Would the Judge have any
alternative but to soak him the limit?
Babe and the Buxx Saw.
We'll. that's what Babe did in this
baseball fracas. He didn't rive
Lands q chance to let him down
gracefully. He challenged the Judge,
and look what he got Why should
the fans or anybody else sympathize
with himf He knew what he was
doing when he tackled the buzz saw. !"
There may be something in what
you say," remarked Harry. amazed at
this outburst, but who do you think
would get the razz II Babe and the
Judge walked across the field together
on opening day?'
I'm not here to explain the
perversities OF human nature" re-
piled the sporting editor testify. "but
merely to give advice to dumb bells.
As far as I'm concerned I wish they
had delayed that sentence. 1t has
started the letter writer's again" y
by the way" said Harry, veering
away from the Ruth outrage, II sup
pose you have been up to the six.day
bicycle race"
mo, I haven't" said the sporting
editor, i've been too busy telephon-
ing Ike Dorgan for tickets to give the
moochers. I may run up about Fri
day night"
There's a gag that floors me-" de-
clared Harry. TEX Rickard brings n
flock Of spaghetti rollers over here to
wheel around a trick track for a week
and the police reserves has to be sent
to Madison Square Garden every
night to dispsrss ths lads We are