Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-04-07
OUTCOME UNSATISFACTORY.
MANY Think Independents Did Not Elk
ert Themselves to Win.

The apparent apathy of the local In
denendent basketball team in its game
against the Home Culture club ias'
week Wednesday and the poor showing
made against Company D in the final
game for the state championship az
st. Johnsbury Friday evening have dls-
gusted many ardent followers OF the
game and created an almost general
impression that something beneath the
surface was a factor in the results
of these contests. To say that the
team deliberately threw last week S
game to Home Culture in order 10
benefit from wagers surreptit1ously iaid
on the visitors is a strong accusation,
but the charge has been made openly
during the past week by persons VINO
claim to know what they are taking
about. This may or may not pc true
| but there is no doubt that the lnde-
nendents' showing in the game under
consideration was wretched, partfcu-
llarly the work of two players, and the
shirt of determination which mas
characterized former struggles seemed
to be entirely lacking.
While in all probability the loss or
the Home Culture game made 1ttle
difference with the feelings OF the ma
iority of those who attended, the lflde-
pendents defeat by Company u IN the
shin series was regretted by all VINO
take interest in Brattleboro's athletic
prowess. And to many of these IL
looks as if the outcome ought 70 nave
been different When the lndepenu-
ents played in St Johnsbury the 1lrst
time they lost to team which, on the
local floor, seemed hardly in the same
class. The third game should nave
been played on a neutral Hoor, anu
very likely would have been had not
the Independents been tempted by
large guarantee to risk settling the
matter in the "enemy's country Even
this seemingly reckless plan might
have been countenanced, in view OF
company DIS unwillingness to play on
a neutral floor had the Independents
made special preparation for the event
but instead they went into the game
with comparatively no recent practlce,
relying evidently ,, on the - ao thsf
of Sears in addition TO ina
of Doran to win out; 1 Sci
ed elsewhere Company d won easl-
" and now has the right for the frst
time to call itself the champion basket
hall team of Vermont. The Independ-
ents may find sufficient consolation IN
the 500 which they received as
guarantee, but it is safe to say that
twice that amount could nave peeii
"a iSp1 in town IL 1t ndQ DeeH Suppootu
that much was needed to prevent the
title going to Caledonia county.
The local public has been very gen
arous in its patronage of basketbaH the
past season, and the promoters nave
doubtless profited by their venture AS
long as good honest basketball is fur'
nished no one cares a picayune now
much money is made off the sport, but
when professionalism becomes SO DOM
nant that it obliterates the spirit OF
victory and takes away all the ele-
nents of a square, upright struggle
'or supremacy then a return to
strictly amateur basis will be de-
handed. In the old days of the armory
md the Brattleboro Y. M. c. A. team
yames were won and lost strictly on
heir merits; then it was not case OF
temporarily by hiring ,
oreign talent but of developing the :
Material at hand by systematic prac- !
ice Taking everything into consid- !
ration it is a serious question II the
Id way is not just as good and per-
aps trifie better. :. T
In fairness to Manager Allen IL !,
hould be stated that he had nothing
n do with either of the games mem
toned above, and that he cancelled the y
company d game because of the late =
ess of the season and the inabillty OF a
is team to get sufficient practice: ,
his game was afterward re-arranged /,
Y the PLAYERS themselves.