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Lawmaker Jumps into Baseball Dispute

JEFFERSON CITY _ A freshman legislator from Mexico will tread where President Clinton's efforts tripped up and try to help salvage America's national pastime.

Despite Clinton's failure, Rep. Ted Farnen, D-Mexico, has introduced a resolution this week calling on Missouri's two major league ball clubs not to field teams comprised of replacement players.

"I don't think it was inappropriate for Clinton to try and help," Farnen said. "It's a major industry in a lot of cities. I don't see why people would be upset if President Clinton is trying to solve a major problem in this country."

But Farnen said the strike isn't a high-priority issue and he noted that he doesn't aspire to solve the issue by introducing the House resolution.

"I have not put a lot of time into this issue," he said. "I don't expect the Cardinals and the Royals to read this resolution and change their mind."

Meanwhile, at spring training camps far south of Jefferson City, St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals replacement players continued to prepare for the season opener.

"Players and owners should negotiate and reach a settlement without outside intervention," said Brian Bartow, a spokesman for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Although the "real" players are certainly preferred over replacements, he said, the Cardinals must prepare to play April 3, with or without Ozzie Smith and friends.

"People who work at the ballpark and local businesses have gone much too long without baseball and the business associated with the games," Bartow said in a telephone interview from the Cardinals Florida training camp.