The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-17
Nv HUGH FULLERTON.

Judge Landis' strenuous efforts to
save ba seball from the evils that have
beset It are we'll meant. but the EVIL
dence that they are getting any place
Is lacking Recently ne jumped all the
way to Boston 10 tell tho assembled
PLAYERS Of the Yankees and Red Son
that they haven't been good boys (es-
pecially the Yankees( and that they
must for the sake of the sport cut out
gambling and carousing. Then he jump
ed into New York and held short.
sweet conference with the Giants along
tho same lines.
Tho judge simply put II straight up
to the ball players that the time has
come when they must change their
ways, pay attention 10 business. cat
out gambling. especially on horse rae
ing. or their own game and the bust
ness OF the owners will suffer. He
told II TO them straighter than any
critic ever has dared to. There is n"
doubt that he Is right--no doubt tina,
the players by thoughtless or reckless
conduct have added to the already bal
reputo Of the national sport. and that
they are inviting another disgrace {"
the game. The doubt Is whether his
warnings or his pleas will have any
effect
Twenty Players at Track
A number of ball players have been
gambling rather heavily on horse rae
ing. In one club gambling at cards
and dice has been high all season. A.:
one days racing at Aqueduct. rain hav-
ing stopped the ball games. there wers
no fewer than twenty players engaged
in betting on the races. There were
three managers on the lawn at ono
ir,s h,,ut Ir- h.
was talking with a gambler whose op-
erations are so notorious that It is only
lack Of proof that has kept the stew
ards from barring him from race tracks
Perhaps there Is nothing criminal
about wagering on horse races. Certain
" the average man does not regard II
as one OF the cardinal etfenses. But
Judge Lands was perfectly right when
he said that gambling on horse races
and playing baseball do not mix His
warning was aimed at two stars direct
ly He warned the players.
But of what use 70 warn ball play
ers not 70 bet on horses when club
owners are actively engaged In the rae
ing business and when manager has
been associated with n track and with
the most noted OF the gamblers? II
II In true that players do wrong In
betting on races. Is II not doubly true
owners and managers do worse whom
they do tho same thing If the game
Ia In danger from players playing the
races Is II not in more danger when
owners and managers do the same
thing
I, would be good for baseball n no
one connected with II ever gamblcd
That ts n plain statement or fact The
fact Is that. since this era OF big sa lar
les came. number Of players with
more money Than they ever dreamed or
having have been going too fast n pace
Cream Off Saln rios.
7 have an idea that the judge rather
overestImstes the immediate danger
and Is looking to the inevitable future
The bookmakers have skinned the
cream off several fat baseball salaries
this season. and going broke cures the
majority Of fellows. The peril lies in
the fact that some men when they lose
heavily lose not only their money hut
their honor and are willing to do any
hing for money with which 10 try to