NEW YORK, NY. November 1, 1917 - There was a big question in the minds of UBA owners; will the 1918 season go on? But they certainly realize, even if they do play, they cannot go about business the same way when the minds of the public are focused on the thousands of men fighting overseas.
It is also very probable that players of draft age will be called into service, forcing younger players to fill their shoes. The thousands of men who attend ball games regularly are in or will be in Europe, which will cause attendance revenue to drop.
The owners met over the past three days, one month earlier than their usual meetings, to discuss the upcoming season. In the end, they decided that they will in fact play, but have agreed on a few policy changes.
First, they agreed to not preemptively cut the schedule down, but to fit in as many games as possible before the war makes it impossible to go on.
Secondly, and perhaps most controversial discussion, was that on player salaries. Owners stated that with a shortened season, a war tax being placed on customers, and a simple lack of knowledge about how long the war will go on, player salaries must be lowered for the UBA to survive.
The Owners have scheduled a meeting for next week, inviting the top paid player from each team in order to negotiate a deal with them.
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