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Show A BASEBALL GOVERNOR. Every American loves baseball, and, J so loring, every American rejoices in that which makes for tho bottcrment of tho sport. The national game took a long stride forward on Tuesday when Johu Kinloy Toner, govornor of Pennsylvania, Penn-sylvania, was elected president of the National. Baseball league Tho National is tho older of the two major baseball leagues. In recent yearB it has been beset with trouble, and slowly, but none tho less surely, it was declining. That its prcstigo was waning wan-ing was due to dissensions and bickerings bicker-ings nmong ownere of National league clubs and to tho lack of u real executive execu-tive in the president's chair, This year it has become alarmingly nppnront that tho National league must havo a man nt its head of sufficient strength of character not. only to deal promptly and decisively with tho multitudinous details relating to the gamo itself, but also one with tho forco to curb tho belligerency of tho "magnates." Such a man the National leaguo has undoubted!'.' found in Govornor Tener. From an humble and poorly-paid clerk in a Pittsourg store to tho gubernatorial gubernator-ial seat oi tho second greatest stato in tho nation in point of wealth and population, is a long ascent. Yet Tenor mounted the height by reason of merit alone. Evory stop in tho man's life has tycen upward. Every enterprise upon which ho has embarked has been successful iccauso there was tho will to dare and 'the power to do. Now John Tenor, at tho ago of 50 years, is not only governor of his state, but also president of at least one bank, tho head of a street railwaj system nnd heavily interested in various financial, industrial and mercantile projects. As .Republican govornor of Pennsylvania, Pennsyl-vania, Tenor has weathered tho storms that, havo rived his state. Thero have been charges of graft and investigations investiga-tions almost without number; but always al-ways the ofiico of govornor, as administered admin-istered by John Tenor, has stood out cleanly and no taint of suspicion has ever attached thereto. To the National league Govornor Toner To-ner will bring tho dignity of which it so dircly stands in need. Ho will bring tho ripe, practical baseball experience of years on the diamond. lie will bring an ardent lovo for tho .sport itself and a sane enthusiasm without which tho sport soon must perish. He believes in baseball, its influence for moral good and its value from a physical standpoint. stand-point. That is shown by two sentences sen-tences which ho uttered yesterday: "Baseball not only develops tho best physical form, but also has a great force for good in its high moral tone. Tho cleanliness .and honesty of the game cannot bo questioned, whilo its enthusiasts and admirers aro always legion." It certainly must be a sourco of gratification grat-ification to the baseball public, this great good fortuuo which has como to their chcrishod pastime. |
