Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-09

1t has been urged. and now and
then with good reason. that playing
such a series beggared the city for
the opening series Of the regular
schedule and that the defeated nine
suffered at the gate when the regular
season began. bringing on series
of impoverishment for the visiting
team as well as the local.
A spring series. it also has been
asserted. takes off the edge of the ap-
petites of the patrons for the opening
days of the sport in the regular
leagues. For instance. if the St.
Louis Americans defeated the St
Louis Nationals. which has happened.
those of the city who had a leaning
toward the st. Louis Nationals &C
quired cold feet" and deserted their
club. If the intercity games were
close and we'll patronized the regular
season games of the following week
were not well patroniZed.
Many Owners Welcome Move.
No one knows how far this new
departure of the St. Louis clubs may
go. but if it extends to every ajor
league club that has been addicted
to the spring series habit there are
brate by holding a little harvest
home dance of their own.
The st. Louis clubs have not told
why they have come to this decision
after holding out so long. Spare
them their business. It's easy enough
to read. There are two St Louis
clubs, each of which thinks that it
has chance to win the champion
ship in its own league this year, and
II they should play spring series
II Is out of reason to imagine they
would tie it, and it would be suicide
to cook up a quarrel to put an end
TO 1t. SO the best way is to not play
at all and keep the fans guessing.
Fourteen other clubs. however, had
better realize that the Cardinals and
the Browns have daubed on their war
paint and have announced indirectly
that they are out for scalps.
The New Draft Proposition.
class IA players to $500 has been
formulated by the presidents of the
major leagues. the presidents of the
American Association and the Inter-
national League and Commissioner
Lands. The class IA leagues are to
consider 1t and then decide whether
they will agree to the draft.
Which simply means that for an
added S2,5O0-seven thousand five
hundred dollars instead Of five thou
sand dollars-a ball players years of
service are to be sold into perpetuity
by either of the class AA leagues to
either of the major leagues That's
all there is to it.
OF course. recognition of the draft
says that sixteen class IA ball play
ers Of two leagues each year may
advance" in their calling. How
about the rights of the 2S4, or twice
that number. who may be left be-
hind? They might have been chosen.
but the fact that they were not leaves
them tied as tightly as they were be-
fore the draft was agreed upon.
The fact is that the draft is only
about per cent relief for a condi-
ton which holds several thousand
young and middle-aged athletes in a
state of servitude from the time that
a base ball contract is signed. and
furthermore the draft merely trans
fers that condition from one organ
ization to another. 1t is not the draft.
whether it be allowed or disallowed,
which holds the ball player in check !;
1t is the reserve rule, and the COM
missioner of base ball seemingly is
we'll aware of that fact in his effort
to get the draft through in order that
there may be a semblance Of freedom
in the restrictions which organized
base ball enforces against a player
whether he is the low1iest outfielder
in the humblest of circuits or Babe