Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-13
IOWA SPORTS TALK
Movement on Foot to Form a
League Among Bowlers in
Central Iowa Towns
COULD BE EASILY ORGANIZED
All That is Required is Little Con-
centrated Action to Make Leaee
Reality-other Sports Than Football
That Claim Their victims-A Little
Comparison. .......l..-..

Comparison. ..,4..
Now that winter has fairly set in,
and all are compelled to spend their
evenings indoors, more and more are
every day taking the recreation which
every worn business man, and tired
clerk needs after 81 hard day at counter
and desk, that of bowling. There are
those who said not very long ago that
this game of wooden balls and yellow
pins was but a fad, the pastime of
the hour but such comes far from be-
ing the truth. Not only is this sport
being INDUCED in by increased num-
bers every day during the winter time,
but it is played thru the entire sum-
mer without ceasing. When a sport or
pastime intended for the inside Will
stand the test of a hot sumner it is
safe to presume that there is much OF
real merit in it that attracts. Thru
the entire summer season just passed
this game was INDUCED in without
abatement by thousands in Iowa, and
regardless of the heat, men We're will
ing to stand the discomforture of ex-
.cessive perspiration in order that they
might partake of the sport the alleys
afforded.
In speaking of bowling recalls to
mind the bowlers league formed among
several of the central Iowa teams that
promised for a time to be one of the
iourishing athletic organizations of the
state. What has become of it? Has
it died of it's own weight, and been
swallowed up by the numerous other
organized athletic movements going
on? 1t seems that such must be the
case. There is however, no good rea-
son why another bowling league, taking
in several of the larger cities and towns
of central Iowa, should not be formed.
All that is necessary to make this a
reality is the concentrated action of
few who are most Interested, and
a league composed Of several teams
could be easily gotten together. With
say Des Moines, Marshalltown, Boone,
Cedar Rapids, Eldora, and Waterloo
of these places supports from one to
a half dozen teams, that are playing
every week match games with other
organizations from their own city or
nearby towns. A league could be most
easily formed, and it is not improbable
to presume that owners of alleys would
stand a considerable portion of the
r>--sti,ts rIiv- ce.ys-s sa-e sasr,.e.
srn n 1nr
portion of the profit of the receipts
OF the games played.
While there is but little chance of
bowling becoming "a dead" among in
door sports an impetus could be put
into the game that would not only have
a tendency to foster fierce competition
that would better the play, but by SO
doing would have the effect of placing
Iowa bowlers well up among those
of the east, who are noted for their
efficiency with the wooden sphere. The
effort to form such a league is at Least
worth the While, and all that is needed
to make it reality is for some one
who has sufficient interest to start
the ball rolling. Prompt action along
this line should be taken, il anything
is to be accomplished this winter, for
a series of match games are. of a nee
essity, impossible during the heat ed
months OF summer
It is most gratifying to football play
ers, and lovers of this game, to note the
stand recently taken in its defense by
one of the wellknown educators of
Iowa. Not only does this gentleman
claim for 1t the wonderful physical ben
efits derived, but brings out the essen
tial point that of all the influences that
go to make up school and class spirit
there is none so potent as football.
Rough it will always be, and there will
be as long as the game is continued to
be played in anything like its present
form those who will be sacrificed to the
sport. But why this loud clannor over
those who by accident are perhaps
silled or injured? Is football the only
sport or pastime that claims it's VIC
inns? Those who cry the loudest in
of the game should stop to
the immense army of MOLE |
suited young men who every year in
1ulge. Is it any wonder that out of the
thousands some should go down? Let
is look for a moment at other sports
md see how the list of fatalities COM
pare.
1t is safe to presume there are but
Few thousand at the very most who,
Turing the open deer season, enter the
sport. The open season for deer as |
to the football season is
tbout one-fourth, the number of per-
IONS engaged is probably not one
.wentieth. If such is the case, those
Who rail and clamor against the game
hey call but little better than prize
light" must be somewhat astounded |
ghen statistics show that of the few
thousands who went to the northern
woods in search of deer fourteen came
pack lifeless corpses, and eleven re-
.eived injuries more or less serious
These statistics. compiled from relia-
lie sources, are only partial and do not
include several casualties in the state |
# New York alone that the writer re-
.alls being published. When these |
Ieaths are compared with the twelve |
eported as killed while playing foot
,all, the comparison is rather one
ided considering the number of per- /
ons engaged in the two sports. The |
leaths resulting from football were in |
very instance accidental, while large |
,er cent of those who were shot down |
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