Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 129, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1919 — BALTIMORE VERDICT DOESN’T HURT GAME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BALTIMORE VERDICT DOESN’T HURT GAME

Revolutionary Changes Not Forced, Only Hurried. President Heydler of Opinion That Decision of Jury Cannot Retard Development of Pastime—Baseball Will Thrive. Professional baseball, under organized control, will live on, despite the verdict obtained by the Baltimore club of the defunct Federal league. The game itself is no different today than it has ever been. The fact that a jury has ordered the powers that be to pay the Baltimore Federate a few thousand dollars has not hurt baseball as a sport and what was first looked upon as a body blow-by a great many followers of baseball affairs is now be-

ing considered as a mere Incident In the rather eventful history of the game. President John A. Heydler of the National league Is of this opinion. He does not believe that the decision of a jury can possibly retard the development of the pastime and he predicts a highly successful comeback for the game. Just as long as the competitive game is maintained on the same high basis that has characterized it for so many years, baseball will thrive. The fact that the fan doesn’t give two whoops about the business side of the game has often been demonstrated. The new order of things which President Ban Johnson of the American league predicts and which President Heydler suggests may come to pass, will probably work a benefit rather than a hurt to the business in the long run. _ As baseball Is now constituted, the player contract, with the reserve clause, the draft law and the agreement between leagues stands as its backbone, for despite the supposed abrogation of the-national agreement, the minor leagues are still affiliated with the majors officially. The fact that a club can keep one ball player as long as it chooses-to do so or let him out on ten days’ notice has been the* bugaboo of the gatne., A new form of contract that will satisfy most any court will be about all tluft baseball will need in the way of a change. There Is no need for dissolving the national commission because of the Baltimore verdicf.

President John A. Heydler.