Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-31

the season on which Omaha has figured,
and yet Omaha has gone right along settina
the pace for the whole bunch. Second place
Is the aim Of the Denverites just at pres
ent. and the probabilities are that the
Cubs viii be mighty lucky ~ they get
second.
In the meantime, several other cities have
awakened to the fact that Of the eight
towns in the league only one can have the
pennant. This apparent truth is usually
ignored early In the season, and even up 10
the last few days, and then there is a lively
scramble for the cover Of Il told you so,'
and the ~ feature Of the contest becomes
more prominent than the game itself. Ex-
plantations are useless at any time, and the
recounting Of hard luck stories usually
aggravates rather than soothes the disap-
pointment. II is always the better team
that wins in the end. and no matter which
one II is, the true lovers Of the game will
give the champions credit for winning first
place on its merits. And this suggests
the thought that prejudice is too often al
lowed to have sway in discussing base ball
matters. During the week a notable ex-
ample Of this was furnished by the MIL
waukee Sentinel, whose base ball editor has
been bitterly opposed to the Western
league from the beginning. In reference
to the great squirt made by Dufy's team.
this irresponsible juggler OF words made
the direct charge that umpires Of the West
ern league had been instructed to give the
home team the advantage in all decisions.
While the charge is absurd on its face and
unworthy Of serious consideration, It serves
admirably to illustrate the depth to which
some writer's will descend in order to be-
unafRrh nm nnanAnN NUI,N1..- AZ.
culiar fate that directed the destiny of the
Western league umpires during the season
and it most certainly was erratic to say the
least-it is ridiculous to assert that Presl-
dent Sexton was In any way responsible for
It. 1t wasn't the Western league alone
that suffered from the home" umpire in
Fiction, and It would be just as fair to
charge Ban Johnson or Pat Powers or Tom
Hickey with issuing such orders as TO ao-
cuse Sexton OF II. The fact that the MIL
waukee American association team has
transferred its concluding home series to
Kansas City and other towns, at q time
when the Western league team is on the
road, indicates the public sentiment Of
schlitzville toward the Hickey league and
its supporters.
Rumors Of peace negotiations have been
as thick as mosquitoes In Kansas City dur
ing the last week, but hone OF these seems
to have any foundation. Warning magnates
are not likely to talk peace until after they
have closed the season, negotiated the dis
position Of claims to players, and balanced
their books. Then they may have time for
consultation, Here is a bird's-eye view Of
the present situation: In the Western
league Omaha has paid big, Denver has
HAN1 wn1II N1f1-.l- - - ca ----L
have paid fair, Des Moines will about break
even, while Milwaukee, Kansas City and
Peoria will be made whole out of the league
sinking fund, although the deficit will not
be nearly so large as had been looked for.
In the American association Louisville has
paid big, Columbus we'll. indianapolis fair,
st. Paul and Minneapolis will probably be
a little better than even, Toledo will come
out about square and Milwaukee and Kan
sas City are certain losers. Thus 1t will
be seen, each league. stands in about the
same relative position. Each has an in
herently weak town, Peoria in the one and
Toledo In the other; each two towns where
loss is certain as long as the fight is kept
up. In Milwaukee the public favors the
Western league; in Kansas City the Ameri-
can league has the preference. In the two
leagues there are eight strong towns, which
II they can be gotten together. will make a
circuit that will be almost ideal. Denver.
Omaha, Kansas City, st. Paul, Minneapolis,
Milwaukee. Indianapolis and Louisville
would make a splendid Western league
circuit. This would give Colorado Springs,
st. Joseph. Des Moines, Peoria and other
towns Of that class an opportunity to have
ball that they can pay for. 1t is not
likely, though. that any solution Of the
western base ball circuit problem will be
reached for many weeks.
President Thomas Jefferson Hickey Of the
American association has don't as fine a
little bit Of sidestepping as one would wish
to see. Down at Louisville recently Cap
tain Grady OF the Kansas City team dis
puted one of Umpire Jack Haskell's de
eislons. Grady called his men of tho field
and Haskell gave the game to Louisville.
On receipt OF the umpire's report, Presi-
dent Hickey impulsively notified Manager
nala Cear that he had dnSd Cantain Grady