Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1917 — Page 2

Status of Foreign Investments

With government securities of the various countries of the world so widely distributed as they have been during the past years, one of the important questions brought to the front by the present war is the obligation of a conquering state to respect the obligations of a state brought to a condition of subjugation. What, for example, are the rights of American citizens as to the collection and enforcement of bonds ~of~ Roumairia, Belgium, Serbia and other territories now in the hands of the Germ'an authorities, in the event of the final annexation of the territory of any of such powers? ' While the practice of the nations and the opinions of writers on international law are not altogether uniform, it may be stated as a general principle of international law that in the event of the annexation of territory of other powers, whether by cession or subjugation, and in the absence of controlling stipulations, or unusual circumstances, the predominant power is under obligation to see to the satisfaction of the national obligations of the ceded territory.. There are, of course, exceptional circumstances, calling for a different rule. For example, the United States refused to assume in behalf of Cuba any portion of the so-called Cuban debt, for which the Cuban revenues were pledged, on the ground that it consisted of a mass of Spanish obligations and charges, and was in no sense created by Cuba as a province or department of Spain, or by the people of the island. Indeed, it- appeared that the debt in question had been mainly contracted for the purpose of supporting the Spanish army in Cuba. In a very recent English case it was decided by the English divisional court that the English government was not liable for the payment of an obligation of the South African Republic, the essence of which was a claim based upon the action of that republic in appropriating certain private property on behalf of the government during the war with England. The court held it to be a general exception to the principle above referred to, that there is no principle of international law by which a conquering state may be held liable to discharge the financial liabilities of a tortuous nature incurred by the country whose territory has been annexed by subjugation.

American Navy as a War Factor

The American navy, deficient in certain classes of units, is yet the third most powerful navy in the world, and can, by relieving the numerous English war vessels in N orth and South Atlantic waters, and by assisting in the convoying of ships over the ocean greatly aid the allied navies now holding the seas. ' The great problem of today is to destroy the submarine menace, and, too, in a very real sense free the seas to the use of the nations. American co-operation in this respect can be of great value, Ihe British and American nayies co-operating could .make.a kind of Jane over the AtUnthk through which ships might sail and supplies be carried to the allied powers. It is quite possible that the distress in Germany, owing to the block- - ade, has been exaggerated, but, in my opinion, it is only a question of time when irresistible economic pressure, coupled with the growing strength of the allied armies’in France, will force her to the wall, and the aid of the American navy can insure the success of this blockade. There should, in my opinion, be sent to France some contingent of American troops, properly organized and officered. This would have a sentimental value well-nigh incalculable. I know the effect that it would have, both in France and in England, and in distant Russia as well, for a few regiments from the new world to join hands with the descendants of La Fayette and Rochambeau on the stricken fields of old trance. It would also have a great effect upon the American people, who would again see renewed that old combination of France and America fighting for human liberty. This is a factor that cannot, and I believe will not, be neglected. r , General military training is a necessity, first for our future safety, and, second, for the purpose of welding our somewhat heterogeneous people into a cohesive nation. In addition, the war may, in view of military experts, go on for a couple of years more, in which case the decisive factor might well become a million American soldiers transported to the shores of France and Belgium.

Turning on the Spiritual Steam

We are now living close to the greatest upheaval the human race has ever known. We are hearing so much that tends to weaken the faith of many and cause others tqr scoff at the “collapse of Christianity that J would like to remind ourselves that there is no Basis for any. pessimistic doubts concerning the present or future standing of Christianity. , The activities of the Christian program were never so many or so fruitful. Who so bold as to say that all such'Christlikeservice for humanity can exist without spiritual vitality ? XV ithout faith works are dead. There must be found an adequate cause for all these abounding and uplifting agencies. Doubt never builds. It destroys. Faith only constructs and ventures. Skepticism builds no schools or hospitals. To secure a hearing, it stands on the curbstone or hires a hall. Today the Christian world is seeded down with unnumbered agencies and institutions which are toiling for the betterment of mankind. Try to set a measuring rod to the Christlike spirit which today is so bent on feeding the starving, healing the wounded and comforting the bereft whom war has so devilishly injured. Whence came these unselfish helpers of a stricken continent ? There is only one explanation: the spirit of Christ has come to men. In fortner times spirituality too often showed itself in the shouts of the redeemed and the ecstasies of the holy. Today the spiritual steam is ho longer turned into the whistle, but into the steam chest. ’We behold the revolving shaftings and whirling wheels of a Christ-inspired beneficence which eompelaa doubting world, to believe in himfor his very works.. ■ eako. ,

By SAMUEL WANT

By FREDERICK R. COUDERT

F-xpert on International Relations

By BISHOP CHARLES BAYARD MITCHELL

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

BILLY EVANS SOLVES BASEBALL PROBLEMS

(Written Especially for This Paper by the Famous American League Umpire.) A play came up in one of the smaller minor leagues several years ago that probably will never happen again. It was a freak pure and simple, but it Is always a

Hal Chase.

all started to advance. As the ball neared the second baseman, that play erf that he was unable to get it, tossed his glove in the air at the ball. As he afterwards admitted, he did not know that he was violating any rule. Anyway, the glove struck the ball squarely, causing it to fall toward the ground within a short distance of the second baseman, who recovered the ball before it struck the ground, touched second and threw to first, completing a triple play that was allowed by tlie umpire. Of course, there was a big kick, in which the home crowd joined in lustily. Had the infielder not thrown his glove at the ball and checked —its course, It might have gone for a home run and won the game. Throwing one’s glove at the ball to stop the progress of such drives as the player was unable to reach otherwise was a rather common practice at one time. To eliminate this objectionable stunt, the rulemakers imposed a severe penalty, which has practically stopped it entirely. The rule entitles the batsman to three bases on all plays where the fielder stops or catches a batted ball with his cap, glove, or other part of his uniform while detached from the proper place on his person. Thus, in the play described, instead of allowing a triple play that retired the side, all three runners should have been permitted to score, and the man who hit the ball granted third base. I saw Elberfeld make such a play in a regular game, with two out and no one on the bases. It really worked to advantage, for the batter who hit the ball was very fast and probably would have made a home run, but for the Tifle, as it seemed impossible for the left or center fielder to reach the ball.’ Elberfeld was playing shortstop at the time. (Copyright by the Wheeler Syndicate, Inc.)

PRACTICAL THEORY BY FOHL

Will Not Permit Young Pitchers to Use New Balls While Going Through Training Manager Fohl, during the short period the first bunch of players worked out at New Orleans, refused to permit the use of new baseballs, insisting that the players toss about old wingy horse-

Manager Lee Fohl.

hides. There’s a reason for this. Here’s Fohl’s theory: “Give a young ball player a new ball and he has a tendency to cut loose, just to see how hard and how far he can throw it. With an old ball it is different. In the first place an old ball will not travel far; secondly, the boys will see plenty of new balls, before the season is oyer.” ■ -

KNEW REDS’ SIGNALS

[ “I have often, wondered,” says I ' Syd. Smith, manager of the j [ Shreveport team, “if the seven i • other big league clubs were wise ] [ to the Cincinnati Reds’ signals i [ last summer? If so, it would ac- , i count for the sad showing. Now < * that a year has passed, I’ll tell , ' you something; We knew every < ‘ signal that Herzog and his catch- , ers had during the exhibition 1 games last spring, and that’s the ( real reason for our beating you ] folks so thoroughly. Those signs < could be read by a respectable * i old. lady with spectacles on. they ( ' were so open, so easy to discov- < i er. And if a little minor league ( | club could catch your signals $ > that way, wouldn’t the major ( J leaguers, with their shrewd bld $ ) generals, do it much more eas- < i tiy ?” f <

possibility, for I once saw Hal Chase turn the same trick in practice, and “Kid” Elberfeld pull It in a game, but not with such results as happened in the minor league episode. In the game -In question, the play came up In the last half of the ninth, with the bases filled, no one Out, three runs needed to tie and four to win. It happened the year after the rule had been changed, and the recruit umpire not being familiar with the change, interpreted the play incorrectly and a riot followed. At that, most of the fans really did not know what they were kicking about at the time, most of the trouble makers simply stirring up things on general principles. The batter, one of the hardest hitters on the team, hit a fine drive In the direction of the second baseman. It was evident to the runners that the ball‘was so far over the fielder’s head that there was not a chance for him to get it; at the crack of the bat they had

DIAMOND NOTES

For the ball players all schooners are in the barred zone. * * ♦ Some day the players, youths and vets, will catch fly balls on bayonets. • * • Only seven clubs now stand between the Reds and that long-coveted pennant. * * * As for that, there’s many an umpire who spends the whole season in a trance. The White Sox win the pennant in the spring as often as the Reds used to. * ♦ * The New Orleans club has secured Infielder Howard Baker from the New York Giants. * * * . Some day, maybe, baseball clubs will start playing in the summer, instead of in the winter. * * * John Covaleskle, brother of Harry anfP Stanley, will himself take to pitching this season. * * • Understand that Connie Mack is going to dock his players for the time they are down in the cellar. ♦ * ♦ Latest move of the magnates to reduce expenses is to dock pitchers for the time they are up in the air. * * * Jack Warhop will help to increase the batting in the International league. He is going to pitch for Baltimore. One difference between the spring and the autumn is that only two major league pennants have won in the autumn. ♦ » * When ballplayers go to war, Certain twirlerS should be placed ‘in the dynamite squad. They know all about blowing up. *♦ • . If it should ever be necessary for Uncle Sam to cdlj ballplayers to the colors, all he’d have te do would be to ring a dinner bell. • • • Pat Donahue, catcher, who has been out of the game for a year or two, is planning a comeback with the Dayton team of the Central league. •' V ♦ ♦ ♦ If Snooks with the Phillies Walter Maranville will have a close run for the distinction of being the smallest infielder in majors. • . / . '*• * / The Milwaukee Brewers claim to have one-of the fastest baserunners In captivity. He is Ralph Heatley, a recruit. Ralph negotiated the distance between the home plate and first base in 0:03 4-5 seconds.

STATISTICS OF PARKS

Odd Facts Shown by Study of Baseball Situation. Seating Capacity of More Than One Hundred Parks Is but 3 Per Cent of Population—Some Interesting Figures. The recent discussion relative to the high cost of baseball and the changes suggested aa tending to reduce what in some eases is close to prohibitive expense has led to some Interesting statements and explanations. That some are not based upon cold facts can be shown by a careful study of the baseball situation as it exists today. It has been said that one reason for the heavy expense in connection with the management of a baseball club is the building of parks and .stands considerably in excess of the prospective attendance as warranted by the population of the surrounding territory. While this statement may be true in one or two isolated cases, it is not borne out by existing figures in, so far as it applies to the general run of major and minor baseball leagues. Build Expensive Parks.

In recent years some elaborate and expensive ball parks have been constructed, especially In cities represented in the National and American league circuits. In no case, however, does a comparison of the park seating capacity and the city population show that the accommodations are out of proportion to the attendance possibilities. Taking 17 leagues, scattered throughout the country, as a basis for computation, it is found that the total seating capacity of all the parks aggregates baseball parks is but 3 per cent of tha population of all the cities in which these parks are located. In the case of the larger class of cities the addition of the population figures of numerous suburbs would make the percentage still lower.

As they stand the statistics show that these 17 leagues contain clubs which play in cities with a total population of 37,416,000, and that the seat? ing capacity of all the parks aggregates but 1.106,300. As a result these parks would be filled almost to capacity at each game if three persons out of every hundred of the population-were to attend the contests. In Major Leagues. In the case of the major leagues the parks will not seat even 3 per cent of the population, the figures working out nearer to 2 per cent. On the other hand, some of the Southern and Western league parks will accommodate close to 15 per cent of the surrounding population. Seven of the leagues cover territory in which the total populatiorrortlie dtub flfles runs over the million mark, while the other ten range between one-quarter and three-quart-ers of a million. The figures, showing the population and seating capacity of parks by leagues, are as follows:

League Parks, ' Cities’ Seating Leagues. Population. Capacity. National 12,070,000 225,000 American 10,662,000 216,000 American Asociation..... 2,216,000 99,500 International 3,363,000 79,500 Pacific Coast 1,988,000 71,000 Southern 1,160,000 52,800 Western 821,000 51,200 Central 579,000 32,200 Eastern 1,035,000 40,000 Illinois-lowa-Indiana ... 314,000 28,400 New York 731,000 43,700 Northwestern 703,000 32,100 Texas 578,000 41,800 Northern 458,000 22,300 South Atlantic 337,000 21,200 Central Asociation 188,000 22,800 Virginia 213,000 27,300

CONNIE HAS MANY JOHNSONS

Besides Bill in the Outfield, Athletic Manager Has and Ellis, Two “Twiners. ■ Connie Mack has so many strange names on his’ball club even the Philadelphia experts are beginning to despair. It has now come to light that he has two pitchers and an outfielder by the name of Johnson, thus complicating matters. One is Ellis from the coast, and other is “Jlng,” a last-year leftover. The outfielder Is Bill Johnson, a Chi-

Bill Johnson.

cargo boy. Bill Is expected to give Ping Bodie and Thrasher, the Southern league slugger, a hard fight for a permanent job chasing flies. Bill Is a hard hitter, fast on the bases and Splendid fielder. He excels Bodie by a wide margin on the bases,., and the only reason Bodie will be given preference over him is on account of expert* _• .. . :■ / eace. . c , '

A LITTLE BIT HUMOROUS

Doctor Endee —Your husband needs a rest. l recommend a two-months’ tour of South America. Mrs. Nagger—Fine! We’ll leave next week. Doctor Endee —Pardon me, but you misunderstood. He must go alone I said he needed a rest.

Feminine Trait. Dame Nature’s age grows day by day. Though she may not reveal it; For, womanlike, she knows the way Whereby she can conceal it. ; Good Substitute. “Yore aunt,” said Uncle Hiram, “seen ft ml in a paper what sed ez bow a feller tew th’ city would sen ennybody a reseet fer makin’ puddin’ without ulsn’ milk, an’ a heep site richer, an’ all fer a dollar- so she up an’ sent th’ money.” ~ “And did she get the desired information?” asked the city nephew. “Yep,” answered the old man. “Th’ feller writ back an’ told her to youse cream.” Positions Reversed.' Hamlett—What becameof that charming Miss Sharlelgh whom you supported in “The Boarding House Mystery” three years ago? Eggbert—Oh, she’s supporting me now. Hamlett — In what? Eggbert—ln a real boarding house that she is running. I'm her husband. Good Suggestion. Mr. Blowboy—Er-suppose you were a man. Miss Willing, and er-loved a girl very dearly, and couldn’t find words in which to express it, er-what would you do? Miss Willing—Well, I would probably lower the gas a little and —say nothing. There’s a Reason. Mrs. Buttin —I think you ought to know it. I see your husband kissing cook nearly every dayr Mrs. Outatown —Isn’t It thoughtful of him? He does It every morning and she appreciates it so much that she’s been with us for two weeks.

WASN’T A FOLDING BED.

“I don’t see how you stand lying in • . bed so late." “My dear, I beg that you will believe that I am no contortionist; I don’t stand when I He in bed.”

Happy Thought. Miss Askit —When one sends a parcel by express, why do they always askHhe name and address of the sender? Percy Plnkleigh—Why—er—so they 11 know where to return it in case it is —er —lost or stolen, doncher know. 'Heard at the Ball Park. She—Zpapa says our minister’s. salary is only half as much as this pitcher’s He —Well, perhaps the pitcher’s livery is twice as good.