The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-17
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(Reg. q. 3. Pat, Off,l
NV JACK GIIENTIlEIl

(Reg, u. \. Pat. on
by JACK GuENTHER
UNITED Press stan Correspondent
Jersey City, N. j. April i7,--(Upl
Through the hookio shops and
gin mills OF this self-appointed
baseball capitol OF the world today
swept the ugly rumor that after 20
years Mayor Frank Hague finally Il
losing his grip. For the flrst time
In six seasons, his honor has failed
10 goad the admirers OF the Jersey
City Giants TO o new All-Nme at-
tendance record,
The iea2 International league sea.
son opened here yesterday with Q
game between the Giants and the
Montreal Royals, As Is his custom
the Hon. Hague celebrated the 90.
caslon with another OF his widely
heralded marching and ellowdel
parties, but what should have beer
q wildly gala event was Just On EN-.
barrasSing flop. Only bS,2le tickets
were sold.
TO the casual observer who re-
members that the biggest OF Tues.
days major league inaugurals--
New York vs.. Brooklyn-drew only
~, 0S3 customers, II might appear
that hls honor did more than all
right, Well, despite the greatest
show OF pressure seen anywhere
since Joe steteher abandoned the
scissors grip no didn't. He was far
shy OF his own mark OF 6i,i04
Ever since 1887. when the mayor
built himself q ball park with WpA
funds. the losal league openings
have boon staged on q scale OF sheer
grandeur ufiapproaehed by Billy
Rose, John Ringing North or Cecil
D. DeMllle. They IRE built around
the mayors entrance and they arc
terrific, sensational and utterly
pheney.
They are phoney because Rooge.
volt stadium actually seats only
24,b00, The mayor, ever resource
full, straddles that technically neat
~. Attendance IN not based on the
people In the park, but on the NUM-
Der OF tickets sold. 30 tho Hon,
Hague annually sells tickets for "a
800 actual seats and tickets for an.
other 10000 seats which don't exist,
Man IL King
1mposslble2 II you say that,
brother, you know not. Nothing Is
impossible for Hague In Jersey City.
His henchmen take charge OF the
tickets. The tickets are sold---or
elSe, So every year the mayor comes
up with another ail-tlinc attendance
record.
What happened yesterday, nobody
knows, but either Hague In losing
his hold on tho towns loyal Demo-
Gratis or he Ia losing his faithful
to the army, Even though half the
fans were children--They are ok
cused from school II they promise
to return 10 claGs with q stub Prov
Ing their pregefee ut the game
no lacked the 1000 clients no needed
for O new mark.
The folks who didn't attend
missed O touching spectacle. An
hour before the game the stands
were filled and the fans waited inn
patiently for their annual treat.
Boy, did they get vi Sirens Bcroam-
ed, Horns blasted 9toogeg cheerod.
With gcreaching OF tires and
amid loud huzzahg, the mayor ar.
rived Ut the wide gate In CENTER
field.
The second ward boys club band
struck up "America"--in swIngtiFne.
The two teams shifted, wheeled
and came Up In O Vsfor-Victory,
Five girl drum majors began
goose-stepplng down the base paths.
Then, surrounded by undcflings
and flanked by guards, tho Hon.
Hague began the grand march to
his box. While 0 stuff wind whip
ped In from the mud fats OF
Newark bay, his honor trotted
briskiy, Every 10 steps no doffed
his hat 10 the crowd and accepted
the homage OF his subjects. After
o period that seemed to last hours
no reached his box.
There no posed Fi1ajestlcally for
the solemn ritual OF tossing out the
HTbV DbHi SIlCO Bthtgd hflu bufHH
clently photographed, no surveyed
the house. Out Of what must have
been pure shame AZ the fact that
tho crowd dropped 10 o., 900, he beat
q quick retreat 10 the press box and
watched the game In the COMPANY
Of that genial, beloved ex-managei
Col viii Terry.
A. for the game, we'll, the little
Giants won, so. A farm team Of
the New York Giants, Jersey Clty
oyercaine a twosfun lead held By
Montreal, o farm team Of the
Brooklyn Dodgers, III the 10th In.
ming. But by that time tho cheer.
Ing, enthusiastic fans we're gone
When nine innings were finished
their duty was done and they went
home 70 dinner--tle score or no
When the winning hit was made,
there were not more than $4,000 ii
tho stands. And starting today the
attendance viii drop 10 H. regular
1000 average.
~ was oil very wondeFful--afld
40 A..aA A