simply out of the question to control Base Ball as one would
control the affairs of a department store. Base Ball has its commercial
side, but its commercial side cannot maintain it with success. There
must be a predominant factor based upon the encouragement that brings
forth admiration for a high class sport. This factor can only be
fostered by the ability to maintain not one, but a group of high class
teams.

Any ball player imbued with the idea that the "stars" should be grouped
together in the city best able to pay the highest salaries simply is an
enemy to his career and to those of his fellow players.

Without some handicap to assist in the equalizing of the strength of
Base Ball nines of the professional leagues there will be no prosperity
for the leagues or the clubs individually. No better evidence may be
cited to prove this than the fact, repeatedly demonstrated that in the
smaller leagues Base Ball enthusiasts in the city best able to pay the
largest salaries frequently withdraw their support of the team because
"it wins all the time."

To-day Base Ball, in its professional atmosphere, is nearer an ideal
sport, a better managed sport, and a more fairly and equitably adjusted
sport, than it ever has been, which is manifest proof of its superior
evolution. Had results been otherwise it would have retrograded and
possibly passed out of existence. Carefully comparing its management
with that of all other sports in history the Editor of the GUIDE
believes that it is the best managed sport in the world.

It is true that improvements can be made. It is evident that there are
still commercialized owners not over capitalized with a spirit of sport.
It is undeniable that there are ball players not imbued with a high tone
of the obligations, which they owe to their employers and to the public,
but it is as certain as the existence of the game that progress has been
made, and that it has not ceased to move forward.

For that reason players and owners must be guided by a sense of lofty
ideals and not be led astray by foolish outbursts over trivial
differences of opinion, easily to be adjusted by the exercise of a
little common sense.

* * * * *

BASE BALL PLAYED IN SWEDEN

In connection with the subject of "Base Ball For All the World," for
which the GUIDE expounds and spreads the gospel, the Editor would submit
a very interesting letter received by him from Sweden. it reads as
f