Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29
STIRRING UP THE CRlCKETeR
Appeal from nm Admirer of the Game
that More Interest lie
Taken.

OMAHA, Ost, 2S-To the sporting Editor
Of The Bee: What is the matter with tho
local crcReters? Not a word OF their do
ings has appeared in the local press for
many weeks, SO presumably the good old
game has been sadly neglected OF late.
Surely tho Omaha Cricket club is not going
to allow the game which they have so ably
represented for many years to slide into OBJ
liyion. Omaha has always done itself proud
when playing cricket against teams rep
rcsonting such cities as Chicago, Denver,
| st. Paul and Minneapolis and 1t is we'll
known fact that the crack Canadian teams
| from Wiuncpeg fear defeat from the local
players far more than they do from teams
which "on paper" are much stronger. This
| being the case, 1t would seem a great pity
to allow the game to degenerate.
| When called upon to entertain the North
| western Cricket association at it's annual
| tournament in 1898 the local club came to
| the front and by the able way in which 1t
entertained their visitors and the plucky
way in which they fought for and won tho
first honors in the field, they made name
for themselves in the western cricket world
| second to none. not even Chicago. Surely
the success attained then should have In
creased the clubs membership and playing
strength two or three times over, But such
has not proved to be the case. On the con-
trary, just now cricket is at lower ebb in
Omaha than it has been since 1893
1t is true that, If necessary, the Omaha
club can put team in the field today as
strong, If not stronger than 1t has ever
been since the local club came into exist
ence; but this does not indicate that the
club is prosperous and active The real test
is the attendance at the Saturday afternoon
games, and it is a we'll known fact that dur
ing the season OF 1899 there has been the
greatest difficulty in getting up a game at
all on these occasions; in fact there have
been only one or two games played when
full quota Of men has been present on each
side. The result is that the few hard work
ing and enthusiastic members OF the club
who do put in an appearance soon lose their
enthusiasm Such a state of affairs did not
exist few years ago. Why does it exist
now?
} The following is one reason at least:
There are without doubt at least a thou
sand men in Omaha and South Omaha who
can and have played cricket but who never
take the trouble to play or to encourage in
any way the game they really love better
than any other. There are about a dozen
b members of the club who for years have
y worked hard and given up time and money
c without stint to the interests OF the game
anu the TACT Oh lne matter is lnaL lne
l. cricketers as a class have got it into their
C heads that these men will continue to put
e up all the money and do all the hard work
e that is necessary to keep the game going
o and the club in existence so that il they
= ever take it into their heads that they
= would like an afternoons exercise the
: grounds and material. such as bats, balls
gloves etc, which are the property of the
If club, will be at their disposal anyhow;
st therefore they think it Is quite unnecessary
y to put themselves out about the matter al
6 all
J. This state of affairs cannot exist forever
y and the committee controlling the clubs
n affairs should see to it that something be
= done in the matter. In next Sundays Bee
n the writer will endeavor to suggest some
10 practical scheme by which the committed
n can reach the many cricketers who at pres
J. ent do nothing to support the game.
10 These suggestions will be made with th'
lt sole idea of assisting the committee to maxi
m cricket again popular and their club prosper
l. Gus and with no intention Of critcising tn
lg present management Of the club.
ty CRICKETER.