The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-01-18
talking
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS
NEW YORK. Jan. -.

49, " ACAeAhs D0AA- -
TSEE by the papers that q federal
L enactment Of law designed 70
eliminate the national thirst is in
the process OF observing its tenth
anniversary and a cursory survey
Of the editorial comment touching
thereon is not as complete as It
might be because no reference is
made as 10 how the historic instru-
ment has helped or hindered sports
as the case might be.
lido not profess to know whether
sports under prohibition have been
more salubrious from the viewpoint
Of government purists or not, but
that in many athletic circles condi-
tions have changed there can be
small doubt.
Not all OF these conditions have been
for the best and in some Instances the
changes have been physical rather than
moral. such as in golf where locker room
g~uzzling has replaced mass drinking at
the club bar in much The same way and
hilarious spirit that the speakessy moved
in to function for the corner saloon
= n
7 IMtGINE the fight racket has
/ felt the effect Of prohibition,
and what prohibition brought with
it to a greater and more diversified
extent than all the other sports,
because in certain cauliflOWer cen
tiers the flow Of easy gold elevated
disreputable characters to positions
Of political and financial power and
as a show front for their beer run
ming and hi-jacking activities they
have turned to the prize ring.
OF course the personnel Of the fight In
dustry never has reached a pre-eminent
plane Of culture and honor. but it can
not be denied than in contrast with the
picturesque toughs OF the old DAYS and
the dangerous criminal element OF today
the former regime was much to he pre-
ierred.
z DO NOT claim that all the lar
Il ceny of recent years can be
traced directly to the overlOrds Of
bootlegeing who us sport as a
coverup and a mark of civic decency.
but the records show that most of
toe taking and gambling hauls that
a sluggish boxing judiciary managed
to expose led to such a source.
Baseball does not seem to have been
elected in any important way by the
unCodIy act except that in such Of the
parks where bars nOuriShed and II was
possible to ruin ones innards with fire.
rrent dossgcs Of bourbon the same oppOr-
tunity Is offered in the form of highly
vanished sausages simmering in grease.
n =
Il is true Of course that most Of the
parks had abolished the bar before Mr..
volstead devised his paddock. This was
done as n gesture to the dear ladies who
we're beginning to evince an interest in
The sport; But there was a time when
10 was much easier to procure a jolt or
shot between innings than a glass Of min
eral water.
4 RECALL nj this connection an
4 experience Billy Evans. the base
ball magnate, had when he was
breaking in as an umpire in the
American League. In a game at
The White Sox park in Chicago
Evans was called on to make a de-
cision on a close play and his de-
ciSion did not meet with the entire
approval of the customers in the
bleachers, who proceeded forthwith
to heave empty half pint and pint
bottles at the gentleman.
As I say. Evans w2s Just breaking in at
the time and rot being wholly acquainted
with conditions or the behaviorism of
crowds he began looking around for the
nearest exit.
It is quite possible thai Evans would
have taken it on the lam. as the boys say.
If 1t had not been for the sage counsel Of
his associate umpire. the veteran Jack
Sheridan. who calmed his fears with the
following words: This is April. You have
nothing to worry about. These fellows
haven't got any control vet. But don't
stand out here and let them peg at YOU
in August.
Years later after all the bars
had been abolished, Evans had the
ironical experience to be hit on the
head by a soda pop bottle in st.
Louis with such violent effect that
his skull was fractured and he lay
in a hospital cot for many days
fighting for his life.
q y Il
These incidents would seem to in
dictate that it is just as simple for
the customer TO work up a steaming
rage on soft liquor as hard liquor
and there is the added danger that
the control at all times will be
better.