The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-11-22

The good father-in-law, q ven
cradle man, lives in Bryan, which
is a small town in Northwestern
Ohio. Having an abundance OF
leisure, he strolled downtown dur
ing the world series to watch the
returns of the contests posted on
the board in front Of the towns
leading cigar store. Came the Gel
ebrated tie game. 1t was FOL
lowed by an announcement that the
proceeds would be given to charity
the entire proceeds.
You ought to hear the fel.
lows in front Of that bulletin
they get that way one Of them
demanded. DO Lands and the
money to give away. Where
do the players come in? They
got n right to the big end Of
that gate and similar express
sions.
II tell you they were all worked
up about 1t. They figured the own
ers and the commissioner were vot-
ing away money that they owned
only a small part of, and they
still are talking about it,"
This was a month after the Sc.
ries that they are still talking
about it,"
AS a matter Of fact. the tie game
did not work an injustice on the
players because the next gate was
Just as large as that one, but the
chance was there and the small
town fans who scarcely ever sec a
major league ball game voiced their
Indignation that the proprietors OF
the game should dare vote off the
players share Of the proceeds with.
out consulting the men involved.
That's a pretty healthy spirit-sc
far as the future Of baseball Is con-
cerned. No doubt Commissioner
Lands and the New York club
owners would have been vexed had
they listened to the comments OF
the lads I'm overalls and undoubted.
ly some OF them would have
thought that the small towners
were yodling about something
which was none of their concern.
But Judge Lands himself In a
certain famous speech In Buff
falo declared that the American
game belongs to the young men
OF America, and there are people
who still cling to the old.
fashioned idea that this Is q
country Of free speech and free
thought.
So long as the young men Of
these United States keep their eyes
ala nd IF n
owners the game Is safe In popular
esteem. Only twice in great
many years have major league ball
players gone wrong. Club owners
did so many queer things" that
they themselves finally came to the
conclusion the old National Com
mission was not strong enough to
make them behave, so they went
out and armed Judge Lands with
a big stick and pay him $4,000 to
swing II vigorously In the places
where II. will do the most good.
We are going to be cluttered up
with the language of the magnates
for the next three months, and then
the spring training trips will start.
and a club owner will retire while
the player stays to the fore.
a movement is oIl toot " nav.
the major leagues refuse to do bust
ness with minors which will not
permit the draft, and that sounds
reasonable. Ball players sign pc
culiar contracts. which overlap from
year to year because Of the reserve
clause, which Ia backed up by a
Supreme Court decision. The play
err Is entitled to advance In his pro
fession with all due speed. and the
majors can afford better salaries
than the minors.
II. will be well for the club own
ers--big and little--to consider the
welfare of the hall player, because
out IN the small towns, where the
folks express their sentiments more
freely. the baii player II what
makes baseball-not the club owner,