Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
NO CRAPS SHOOTING
IS MOTIF OF LAW
Busher Who Lost His Money
Beforehand Finds 1t Easy
to Obey Rule.
BY GEORGE CHADWICK.

n YEW YORK, March Tt is
M the first day for reporting
to a major league training
camp, and the scene is the
interior of a club house where ~
ball players are grouped on
benches, packing cases, uniform
trunks, stools, in the lockers ana
some are standing.
They have been notified that the
boss wishes to give them little taiK
before they assume their arduous duties
of A major league campaign. some OF
them will 90 through the season, some
of them will 90 back to cities in leagues
other than those of the big leagues,
some Of them may drop out completely'
All in Fear.
All of them profess a great air of
nonchalance, yet all of them are quak-
ing within, not knowing just how the
boss NAV decide to start the season,
and those who have never played with
him fearful that they may put the
wrong foot in the bucket at the very
start.
The boss is seated in his locker, wear
part OF his uniform-a jersey and as
much of an air of deep seriousness as
he can command. He shuffies his feet
about as he reaches out for his shoes
and calls for the club house boy to
bring him the bag that holds the base
balls for practice.
That is a signal that conversation is
about to begin, and the players, stirring
noisily for the last time, take deep
breath and devote their attention to
looking up to the ceiling. They do not
wish to encounter that eagle eye which
will pierce them through and through.
Lays Down Law.
''You men," says the boss, at which
there is profound silence save for the
audible munching of chewing gum and
other condiments that generate saliva
to help a weak heart.
Now, you men," he continues, ARE
here and you know why you are here.
You men are here to WIN Q pennAnt
for Hoogaville. Now upon the Shoul-
ders of you men depends upon whether
Hoogaville gets pennant or not. You
are now with that club and you must
not drink anything stronger than ice
cream sodRS, must not play poker, and
understand" pausing and accelerattng
his voice, production above forte, much
above forte, understand that ! will not
tolerate shooting craps. There Is moth
ing that will bring a ball team quicker
TO henangone than shooting craps. It
sttrs up bad blood, ruins digestion,
weakens the moral atmosphere ana
prevents sound sleep, and will not
have ball players on this team who
do not get sound sleep.
Now you men know just where I
stand, and stand there through thick
and thIn. ! am friend TO ali of you
and there Is no one who has less desire
to disentangle you from your salaries
than ! have, but remember that al
though don't mind ice cream sodaS
and an occasional glass of beer, If
there is any in the United States;
bridge rather than poker, because 1t
educates the mind, I viii not have
craps shot on these premises or any
other.
Busher Finds Rule Easy.
And that goes, and that goes all the
time. Now have told you what to do
ana how to do it. Now let's all of US
get out on the ball field and get ready
70 win the pennant for Hoogaville, and
here, you, Jones, Green ana Brown,
saw you eating last night and for the
love OF mike don't cram your darned
stomachs full all of the time because
the club is paying for your grub. Now
all of you chase yourselves around the
park three times and see II you can't
lose at least four or five pounds before
we begin our hard work"
Gee" said one busher outside, The
amt half as hard as the manager in
my town. Why, he cussed us up and
down when he told US what to do to
Start training. All this guy said was
kO ehpor Grams and hnW in n
can 1 snoot craps when / lost all my
money shootin' 'em before I reported?"
Yea, 30, and probably the manager
heard of It and it was you he was talk
ing to when he ordered no craps
shooting"
Maybe that's so, and I guess I bet
ter look out, hadn't -"
Say, can you lend me q bone untn
it comes first pay day? gotta get
smoke somehow"
(Copyright, 1s3i)