Show CALAMITY HOWLER OLER ill HANDED JAR WHEN i SPORT CONDITIONS OF 1917 REVIEWED j By H. H C. C Hamilton I United Press Staff Correspondent MW EW YORK Dec 29 Sports Sports stand NEW N In the shadow of a t passing passing- year ear J full of troubles on the threshold of a critical rl 1 perlo gg p. p fUll r r. r In the 8 shadow d o 0 fa passing y year ar full of j troubles on the threshold of ot a a. critical period I Looking forward there thera Is nothing but I predicted trouble for athletics of or all sorts 1 but a public demand for a continuation 1 I of games is having an eff effect ct Sports wilt will have a better chance to prove Its value I during 1918 1513 I I durn A l in in retrospection over 1917 1911 1 Is sufficient to band hand a Jar to 0 the calamity howler It is a matter of record that that- some soma I sports have suffered heavily hea but whether this was due to the wa wan wail or simply to a aI aI I decadence In Sn interest is where the line Una I I mu must t be drawn In base baseball all It is 15 doubtful doubtful doubtful doubt doubt- ful if it the reverses suffered were in any sense directly due to the tho WIll warS A period 1 I of depression that followed declaration of hostilities of course In intruded itself but those tho e closest to the game ganie have seen a r collapse coming for some years year The International league one of the tIle strongest minor organizations organization probably is through for a season at least But this year Is not the first one of trouble for the I International nal As a matter of fact the 1 I wolf cry has been resounding In the ears of Ed Barrow and his club owners for tor I several years The Federal league probably proba proba- I bl bly can be blamed with more truth than I any other factor for tor the troubles of this o organization Smaller maller organizations which have bave been forced to suspend or curtail expenses expense probably would have been forced into it anyway Football last summer was wiped clean I from the slate In several colleges This Thill was bound to have a depressing effect effects on U the game i in some sections but as was s predicted e through IU sounding g of college eel col I I I lege officials I and athletic e directors the off eoff i game e lived and n it had a healthy season s It is probable moro more football b 1 was played l' l It rb ttO r lir i in the fall of 1917 than in any similar t period in the games game's history Former college stars who were In concentration camps for the army or navy organized camp teams and played not only among amons- themselves but took on the strong college college col col- col- col lege loge teams As a result of at these activities activities I ties Yale Harvard and Princeton the I three athletics hiu's hiu hiu's most s s probably important r a will colleges decide l d In Iro to Eastern include I football In the sports curriculum next fall faiL M The strong hand a and ami well i baTa wf balanced thought of Governor ov r John K I Toner e president of the National teE i i etl tl Jn f k ft was lye stretched bt 1 t In fJ ment of f stress V When hen timid magnates magnate tl were about to cut cutS schedules release players players play play- ers and slash expenses ex at every corner comer Tener stepped te ul into t the breach ea dY during ag n the 1 National r n league sheeting n I and d held the I I course course- safely Baseball will be opened as usual next spring Public interest L probably will respond to the decision to If I give just as good baseball as possible with no retrenchment I II Sports played in daylight are expected to suffer some during the summer and ami I I I of ot course baseball it is included In this I I list It has been pointed out that sports fans a are b busier than ever in their h u lives 1 I They ry rya are e working working- h ha haere hard ere every day l and j consequently have little time to give to t t sports At night however when they are free they have been giving every I I sort of sports their patronage I The attendance a a at the e six day I bicycle rc l ea ra nice inca In New York k was a an indication of how fans feel toward sports M More than II in war taxes alone was as c collected 11 fr from bicycle YC race a fans I It r has been e decided e to continue the 1 intercollegiate track and field sports sport next I I summer The rhe United States National Lawn Tennis association has decided It made a mistake when it it- decided not to 1 hold bold the national championships last summer and will hold them in 1318 I Altogether sports Is ts being pushed hushed with wilh I I vigor A better year than was 1917 looms for athletic activities I |