The Washington times., 1934-12-13
ELL
says
Fuchs Almost Stepped
Out At BreadOn Dinner
Was Persuaded to Wait
His Statement is Okay
But it Doesn't State
The COLOneL's Example

NEW YORK, Dec. l3.-Ine
boys around the lobbies of the
Waldorf and the Commodore
have been wondering why the
great pooch problem Of the Bos-
ton Braves ball park was sud-
denly tabled just when it looked
as though it would provide the
major battle of the current
baseball meetings. This is the
answer.
Judge Emil Fuchs, owner
president of the Braves and the
gentleman who had requested
that he be allowed to run night
dog races at Braves Field, asked
that the matter be held in abey'
ance.
The judge was concerned
with a more momentous prob
lem at the moment. He was
seriously considering whether
to step out of baseball alto
gether. He had gone so far as
to confide to intimates that he
would announce his retirement
and the disposal of his stock
in the Boston club at Sam
Breadon's pennant-winning din
ner to his fellow National
League moguls Tuesday eve
ming.
At the last minute, however,
Fuchs was induced to withhold
his announcement until he had
talked the thing over with
Judge Lands.
The Chicago judge would be
1oath to see the Boston judge
quit the sport to which he has
devoted so much money, time
and talent. So would every
body else. Fuchs has been an
asset to baseball even though
it has been far from a finan-
cial asset to him. Possibly
Lands has asked him to carry
on a little longer to see how
the situation shapes up in the
spring; it is hard to say.
Little Gem
Certainly, it is impossible to
say from the official state
ment handed out after yester-
days meeting. This little gem
should be preserved along
with Calvin Coolidge's famous
II do not choose to run" press
handout.
My former colleague, Mr.. Frick,
sometimes referred to as "the
Bronxville flash" recently made
a speech to the newspaper boys
at Leone's land what food Mama
Leone servesD in which he said
he intended to strive for greater
frankneSS between the baseball
people and the press.
But this statement of Judge
Fuchs is not exactly a shining
example. Consider:
Nothing will be done by me
which will embarraSs baseball or
the National League. Under the
constitution Of the National
League, betting, legal or other
wise, is prohibited in its ball
parks where baseball is played.
/ have and always will abide by
the constitution of the National
League"
So what Judge?
Thus far during the meeting
just two frank statements have
been made.
100 Per Cent Frank
Rogers Hornsby-the best
news source in either league
and one of the few 100 per cent
frank guys it has ever been my
pleasure to interview-was re-
Sponsible for the first one. After
carefully surveying the moguls,
magnates, and potentates draped
around the potted palms in the
Waldorf lobby, the Raj ejacu-
lated ''horse feathers!" And
went in search of a beer.
Col. Jake Rupert was equally
to the point and was at the
advantage of having something
to say. He said it. After Presi-
dent Will Harridge, of the
American League, had gargled
a few hundred we'll chosen
words about Babe Ruth, which
meant nothing and said moth
ing, Rupert came along and
told the truth.
When the Colonel was through
you knew exactly where the
Yankees stood on the Ruth
question. They don't want him
as a manager. Neither does any
other American League club.
That seems to settle that def
nitely and for all time. I do
not wholly agree with the Col
onel, but I admire his frank
ness in business, where for
some strange reason, frankness
Is at tremendous premium.
Can't Figure It
For Is years I have been try
ing to figure out why, when
baseball people get together
they Immediately begin to be-
have like characters in a mys-
terry story.
That was why what Rupert
had to say about Ruth was
refreshing. I repeat that I do
not wholly agree with him. It
is meet and proper that he
stick with Joe Mccarthy. But
when he brackets Babe Ruth
with 10 other fellows from
Peoria as a major league man.
a0eria1 IornSnect IT, seems tn me