Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-09
psaensratina Polo.

The game Of polo, which has been one
of the chief winter amusements Of Maine
and Massachusetts has sadly degener-
ated during the last few weeks. and the
methods adopted to Kill this popular
sport Is worthy OF editorial notice. The
Maine polo league started in with pros
poets not of the brightest, but bv clean.
scientific playing the clubs In the cities
of Lewiston, Rockland. Portland. Bath.
Gardiner and Augusta. comprising the
league, have attracted large and repre-
sentative gatherings which took an in
tense local pride In their respective clubs.
The five original clubs shifted posi-
tons in the percentage column daily and
the race for the pennant was an honest
and fair one. Gardiner entered the lists
late in the season with a strong team
and has gradually worked it's way up
ward. Lewistons team Is at present in
second place and the season. which closes
Saturday night. is too brief to enable
them to win first place. The seasons
bricfness has not so much to do with
this impossibiity as have outside infiu-
ences which have been exhibited on every
team has appeared the past fortnight.
The polo league started in without a
constitution and consequently no club
can be charged with a breach of bylaws.
Portland and Rockland WED with each
other for weeks for first place till the
pace OF thg Rocklands became so fast
ually till she saw herself going down the
chute WHOSE jum4ing off PLACE is at the
bottom of the percentage table.
Lewiston siicceeded TO her place and
for weeks 1t has been a hot fight between
Rockland and Lewiston for first place
with the clever Bath team close third.
Manager Burnham who manages the
Portland team. introduced an innovation
by bringing a few of the national league
teams 10 the Forest City IN exhibition
games Next. he substituted some of the
national league players IN the Portland
Team. There nothing TO prevent
such action and the other clubs in the
league. most of whom had preserved as
far as possible their original players,
could not lawfully object.
Portland introduced another innova-
ton which practically killed the game of
polo In that city This was gambling.
Men who supported the Portland team
By wagering money We're defrauded by
questionable practices. IL is not neces-
sary to comment on the transaction.
Meanwhile. Lewiston was within five
points OF the leadership when another
innovation was introduced The clubs
which stood lower in the percentage table
pennant from her by importing. without
plausible excuse. players from the ma
tional league. Bath last week enjoyed
the spectacle OF seeing three national
league players as substitutes for their
own players aid in the defeat of Lewis
ton. The appreciation of the Bath pub
lie was shown ny the spectators leaving
the hall towards the close of the game
Their local pride had been injured. They
wanted to see their local team wrestle
for victory. Lewistons team admin
istered a singing rebuke on the methods |
adopted by simply remaining on the floor
as spectators of the Salem's playing.
Saturday nights exhibition at city hall |
showed to what pass the game has |
degenerated owing to the methods en-
ployed to pull Lewston's team down |
from second place.
Rockland and Bath made an exhibition 1
worthy OF the pugiiistic arena Saturday |
night. Bath had nine fouls called upon /
them and the police removed a player /
from the floor for using insulting lam
guage to the referee.
Ladies. who are the most enthusiastic
patrons of the game of polo. do not APP
preciate prize fights.
IL polo is to be played i'm Maine next
season the managers in the various cities
should draw up a constitution and by
laws which will prevent the wholesale
importation of another league in order !
10 defeat any club In the Maine State
Sun.