Imperial Valley press., 1936-11-04
AN ERROR

No man can say with full assurance how
he will react to a certain emergency: We do
not always remain cool under fire. Training
based upon sound moral ethics, are, of course,
an influence; likewise are the habit patterns
we have formed during the passing of the years.
But all the Self-dscpline, all the varnish of
culture and civilization, have not entirely oblt-
Grated our inclination TO do things that are
strangely and strongly at variance with our own
rules of judgment and behavior
Phat Freddie Fitzsmmons staged the most
outstanding pitching performance of the World
Series but he lost because he failed to do the
right thing In an emergency. Halleo as the
greatest fielding pitcher of the major leagues,
after holding the Slugging Yankees to two hits
in the third game, Freddie went into the eighth
inning with the winning run on third base. Cros-
ETH bounced drive toward the center OF the
diamond FitZ made stab for the ball and 1t
slipped off his hand. Had he let it go, it would
have been an easy chance for Whitehead at
second base. The batter was credited with
hit and from third base, the runner dashed
homeward with the ball game. Fred threw his
glove to the ground; the crowd groaned
Roy Riegels a really fine football player
became confused during the excitement of
Rose Bowl game, and after grabbing up fum-
bled ball. he raced almost the entire distance
of the field in the wrong direction. When he
realized the import of his mistake he became
disconsolate weeping violently
And who does not remember the picture of
the excited Jack Dempsey being pushed into
neutral corner, while Gene Tunney recovered
from the succession of devastating rights and
lefts that had sent him to the canvas?
In every walk of life We find evidence Of
inability to cope adequately with our M
pulsive behavior. Errors of judgment cause us
to fail in business; during emotional outbursts
we steer our marriage ships onto the divorce
rocks; and simply because We falter in the
pinch, in American prisons thousands of men
struggle to habituate themselves to the rigorS
of confinement, suspense ana mOnOtOny.
We. that tabooed portion of Society who live
in prisons are not ruthless. cruel men, bent
upon rapine and slaughter. We truly represent
a cross section of humanity Kings, governors
and famous men Of the industrial and profes-
sional world have sat side by side with the
hobo, bum and beggar at the prison mess table
The Human Fox. the Human Viper and the Ape
Man are strangely absent. The professional
criminal in a pententary is almost as rare as
a corset in Hollywood They either perfect
plans to avoid detection, or resort to corruption
insurance against punishment. Ii you
doubt this refer to the official figures which
indicate that 100000 illegal operations
performed annually in the United States. Then
note the small number that are committed to
prison for engaging in this nefarious practice.
In the argot of the underworld, We are made
up of the suckers" the small fry" We hail
from the great and average class OF American
people. Like men everywhere, many of us
have known hunger, some have felt the sting
of defeat, and few have tasted the heady
cup of victory. In short We have lived, and
having lived we have quite naturally erred.
Under the pressure and excitement of anger,
hunger passion. we did the wrong thing
we grabbed for bounding ball, when We
should have allowed it to pass
As the gates close behind US, like Roy Riegels
and Phat Freddie Fitzsimmons We are gripped
with remorse. Vainly we search for
planation of an act so contradictory to what
we have always held to be right and proper.
Ruefully We shake heads and mutter, We
knew better! We knew better!
We don't stamp our feet and throw our
gloves TO the ground; We don't become dlcon-
solate and weep. Most of US have certain
amount of pride We never want it said, They
can't take it," To our friends we say We are
getting along famousy that We are doing easy
time but attitude is fraud. We realize
that prison takes something out of a man,
sometimes unbalances his mental equilibrium,
and as defense, we assume cheerful mien
Even in this corner of the Sports News where
we have been privileged to De more or less Sc
rious we confess now that we have sometimes
assumed the roles of actors While our hearts
have been garbed in the costumes OF Cano,
We have appeared to ouI readers with the paint
and mirth of Pagliaccio.s A prison jolt is
bitter dose but We take it and then wash the
gall from our lips
Ninety-two per cent of all the in Am
ercan prisons will day win their freedom.
We will again go into the game with full inten-
tions and new determination to become better
players than ever But herein lies the saddeSt
feature of our punishment.
After his mistake, Roy Riegels was elected
captain of his team. Sports writers picked
him for the All-Amercan, and after graduation
he returned to his Alma aMter as a coach.
His error was forgotten. The fatal mistake Of
the Manassa Mauler was forgotten too, and he
became the most popular figure Of American
sports But what about US?
When the gates swing open to us, we are
expected TO be, and want to be laW-abiding
citizens The thoughts of another term of i'm
prisonment are abhorrent. But there are no
back-slaps to greet US; there are no words OF
encoura cement Rarely we trusted in re-
sponsible positions. Suspicion follows us where
ever we go, and the stigma of prison hangs over
in all circles Most of us overcome the duress
of isolation and go on to success but sadly a
few of us fail We do not expect that the
symphonic tones of sympathy shall fall upon
ears, but do want "a chance. Allow US
TO build shop by the side of the road, where
the traveller will hail US "Neighbor" as
he Journeys down the busy highway Of life.
In new order of tolerance and social justice
don't make coaches .f.a.' but at least let US
again play on the team. .