The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-24
GOSSIP OF
POLO nv TWO BIG LEAGUES
LHe Chance Of the EfzC0Od Franchise Being transferred
Another CHy-7lme to Stop RO7Udy Polo


Mass. for an additional utility man on the
Anderson team. Anderson now has eight
men on its roster: Mercer Captain Wodtke,
Miller. Gardner, Mallory. Tarrant. William
Norton and Craig. One of the extra men
VIII, in all probability. be dropped from the
rolls and Anderson fans state that Norton
is the man who will hereafter watch the
games from the side lines. 1t would be
heartless for President Norton to drop his
own brother from the team. William Nor
ton has never in the past and never In the
future will be star or even a good polo
player. He is about as fast on his feet
as a man with a crutch and his long suit
seems to be in blocking the opposing play
ers by getting a strangle-hod or their
nechs. Davy Tarrant may be the man TO
draw his release. as he is a rush, playing
the same position does Craig. Tarrant
is speedy and a clean little player and Will
be good man for any club TO pick up.
Craig is slated to arrive in Anderson to-
morrow.
Rough and rowdy polo. the kind that will,
unless stopped, lower the standard of roller
polo to the same class as a Mexican bull
fight. characterized the game between In
dianapolis and Anderson. which was played
in the latter city on Friday night of last
week. Fist fights during polo games have
been a rather common occurrence in the
Central League. where the referees do not
seem to have the backbone to penalize the
players In the Western League fist fights
or disturbances of any kind have been
few and far between. The question that
has arisen in the mind of every lover OF
clean sport who has followed the games
i'm the two polo leagues OF the West. Is,
why are the league officials afraid TO
exert the authority vested in them?'' There
Is one way, and one only, which will fully
settle any argument on this score. Next
year let the magnates elect a set of OH
"a lc -bp hOl1 in
league. They can then act and rule as
their consciences dictate. And this with all
due respect TO Presidents Norton and Foor
and Secretaries Durbin and Bronson.
Secretary Durbin is still in correspond
ence with Eastern referees. Waller and
Mullen are slated for release, as both are
substitute referees. Tom Connely should
by this time have an exalted opinion as to
his qualifications a polo referee. The
Western League officials have now tried
three times to sign him, and each time he
has held out for a higher salary. new
man probably will be signed tomorrow and
one other will be engaged late in the week.
Just one-half of the Western League sea-
son was concluded last night. Indianapo-
lis is by no means to be considered out of
the running Although McGivrays men
have been lowering near the bottom in the
past week they are but few games be-
hind first place, and the fans are not dis
couraged with the outlook. The Marion
team has held the top position for some
days for two reasons. First. Ii has played
good polo; second. it has been assisted by
referees Ii Is indeed seldom that Fox s
men have been given the worst of de-
cision by a referee, whether playing at
home or abroad. Anderson and Richmond
are fighting for the second position, with
Elwood a close fourth.
Z T
The Lafayette and Danville teams of the
Central League have administered bumps to
both Fort Wayne and Terre Haute in the
past week The lead the "Railroaders'
has been cut considerably and the Hottentot
five, led by Ed Hipson, is now resting safe
~ the fourth rung of the ladder. Kokomo
has jumped into the second position and
Lafayette is third Danville occupies the
NTH position. being but a few points be-
hind Terre Haute. Hipson is evidently
playing the same game in the Central
League this season as ne did in the West
ern League last year. If the Terre Haute
five keeps up its present gait. fifth place
They could hardly hit the bottom. as that
place is exclusively for the Logansport
team. Wilson's men will fight (both literal
ly and fguratively) before they will re-
lease their hold on last place in the race
to any of the other Central League clubs.
A number Of indianapolis travelling men
who cover the gas belt district were In
Anderson on Friday night and witnessed
the mix-up in the game between the In
dams and WOdtkes men. Anderson fans
say that McGilvray and Way were to
blame for the rumpus. The Indianapolis
fans say that Mercer and Miller started the
row and that the local players merely tried
10 defend themselves without reSortinS to
clubs as did person who bears the title
OF officer in the city of Anderson.) The
travelling men in question stated after re-
turning TO this city that ladies who were in
attendance at the game left the rink saying
ical steps were taken by those in authority
to stop rowdy and dirty polo.
'Izzy" Whipple. center. was released last
week by Manager Bronson. of Terre Haute
Whipple played with Racine the early part
of last season and then closed the season
with Indianapolis utility man. When
Whpple returned 10 his Eastern home ne
hired "A glib-tongued press agent who re-
ported to the sporting writer's i'm the East
that Whpple had fallen from, steamer in
local newspapers carried good stories to
this effect The next heard of Whipple was
that he had been signed by iIipson 10 play
center for the Hottentots. IL is safe 10 say
that Whipple will soon land with either a
Western or Central League team. He is
too good to Keep out OF the game.