Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-23
BOOST FOR WESTERN LEAGUE
Omaha VIII Have hat Brand Of Base Ball
Another Season.
RoURKE PROMISES A BETTER TEAM
Circuit Not Yet Complete ana Com
mIttee Quiet as to what Pros
pect Exist for Filling
the Vacancies.

OD0ENs
That is The thing TO do. Don't knock.
It's a cinch that IL we have any base ball
In Omaha this season Il win be furnished
by the Western league. This MAY not be
Just what we want, but It's what well get,
and we might as we'll meet Il with a smile.
papa Bill" Rourke will be manager OF the
team. II matters not how much we may
differ with him as to his judgment In re-
naming In the Western when he had a
chance TO get into the American, now that
the course has been decided the loyal sup
port Of the fans should be given the game.
Mr.. Rourke promises to give good ball dur
ing the summer. In order to do this he
must have the support Of the patrons Of
the game. Omaha has the reputation Of
being q good ball town. It has stood for
two seasons Of Western league ball, and
can probably get through another. What
the people here want is a team that will
creditably represent the city. Manager
Rourke understands that, and gives his
word that his team will not be behind in
the race. He says he has seventeen men
under contract, but declines to name them
for reasons that are apparent. Conse-
quentiy the fanatics will have to be content
with his promise until the day comes for
uncovering. Last year the Omaha team
was remarkably fast in the field, especially
In the outheld. Memories OF circus catches
by Genins and Fleming and Letcher are
still fresh in the minds OF the fans. 1t was
at the bat where the great weakness Of the
team developed. Dave Calhoun was the
only safe hitter in the whole outfit. .Rourke
says this weakness will be remedled in his
1909 team. He insists that he has an in
neid as fast as his outhsld and made up of
men who can field with their hands and
n $50 LIT - -. IA AA.A Iii IL
light the faithful. Omaha Is entitled to a
winning team this year and all will hope
that Papa Bill" makes good on his prom
ises.
Omaha will be the head city of the West
efn league. This is admitted by all. Dur
Ing the two seasons the league has been
in existence this town has turned out more
people to see games than any Of the others.
Last year the total paid admissions aver
aged a little more than 1000 to the game.
IL we have a winning team this year, this
figure will be improved on. Disappoint-
ment over failure to get into faster COM
pany should not be allowed to prevent any
from enjoying what Is offered. II Manager
Rourke will only give us a winning team,
he will get the patronage. But he must
not expect too much from the people. II
Is QOuOLIuIf II OmAud1B Will BO very eA-
tensivsly to see a team play when It IL
falling along behind st. Joseph and Colo
RADIO Springs in a league race. That would
be too severe q test Of loyalty to the sport.
Proper civic pride would forbid 1t, and II
Rourke is wise he will not put his popularity
to such q test. etits
So far as the circuit is concerned, the
last week has Witnessed no progress in the
AFFAIRS OF the Western league. Unless 9
growth OF the conviction that its team I'd
Kansas City will never make a start car
be called progressive. Tommy" Burns Of
Colorado Springs, who seems to be the
circuit committee Of the Western league
continues to give out assurances that Kan
sas City and Milwaukee will both be OF
the list, but IL is hardly possible tina
Tommy believes this himself. No one els'
does. Milwaukee never was a Western
league possibility, let alone n probability
AT one time 1t looked like Manning Nigh
do something in Kansas City. Even nov
he has grounds leased for n park. and ha
plans drawn for a magnificent base bal
plant. Late word from there, though, 4
to the eject that he IL doing absoiStel.
nothing and that people have lost all con
hdence In the story that he intends to pu
in q team to compete with the America
association. Mr.. Rourke says he does no
know what the circuit committee is dom
other than what is in the papers. All tn
papers that can be reached by Burns ar
full OF his fulminations. but the public n
longer pays any attention to him. Presi
dent WITHHELD must have gone to worh
At any rate he has quit talking. 1t Is u
to him to a good right soon now. H
has whilrd away the long winter in tellin
what he mtended to do, and doing nothing
With the playing season only two month
of. he finds himself the head OF a leagu
with only four certain starters and goo
towns scarcer than hens teeth. It's sur
q case of hustle for him now. Here's hop
ing he viii accomplish something defnit