Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-14
SPORTING GOSSIP OF WEEK
Ban Johsss. Establishes Rule Over the
Miner Leagues.
sle MAN THE WHOLE THING IN BASE BALL
western League Retains IT'S Rating ss
Glass A, and Papa BIN Pre-
pares 90 Give Omaha
Good BaIl.

lowers did get at Chicago II there was
ever any doubt as to Ban Johnson's con-
troll OF minor as well as major league base
ball It has now been as effectually dissi-
pated as possible. Byron Bancroft john
son--blessed be his name-is the whole
thing both ways In base ball. And don't
you forget It, All of which may mean sew
erai things. but one thing Is as sure as
that the game ls TO go ahead on its present
basis. That is that Johnson will have his
way in every particular. And It remains
TO be seen II Johnson's way Is the best to |
pursue. His man Pat Powers is president |
Of the National Association of Minor /
Leagues; his man J. H. Farrell Is secre- |
tary: his man Tim Murnane is one director, |
his man George Cavanagh Is another, his |
man Mike Sexton Is a third and his latest
and ripest man, doc" Z. M. Shively Is |
the fourth. Jim O'Rourke is to be relied !
on at all times to do Johnson's bidding |
and about the only voice in opposition on
the board is that of Bert OF the coast
league. II Mr.. Johnson thinks of anything
he hasn't got already It will be turned over
to him without delay as soon as he makes
known his wishes.
The Bee is not and never has been an
admrer Of George Tebeau; again and again
II has pointed out the perniclous effect this
nan has had on organized base ball, but In
The present instance an injustice has been
done Tebeau by those who should have
stood by him. The whole trouble arose
from the organized resistance of the Glass
A leagues to the raid planned for the ben
SIT OF Ban Johnson's league under the
ioubie draft system. Tebeau, Grifhths and
5tallinss made the fight on this outrageous
rule, and Bert and ONeill Joined with them.
Kavanagh was the traitor to his class and
told the Johonsonites all he knew of the
plans of the rebels. For nearly year the
Johnsonites waited until the meeting Just
over. that they might wreak their ven
geance on those Class magnates who had
the temerity to oppose the imperial will Of
the big man at the head of base ball at
fairs. Johnson finally reoeded from his un-
Just position on the draft rule and agreed
to one that is founded on reason but he
could not and would not forego the pleas
ure Of Furnishing Tebeau and Grifnths. And
the little fellows in the National, who had
been bamboozled into joining with the
johnson factions seemed only too glad to
throw the hooks into the men who had
their fight for them. SO down went Tebeau
and Griffiths. and in this notice was served
on all Glass A leagues that they must bow
to Johnson or get the hot end Of II. In
days to come, whom the b, and d men
feel the yoke. as they viii IL they stay in
the business. they may recall with some
regret the enthusiasm with which they
voted to punish men whose sole offense
consisted OF having stood out for the rights
OF the minor leagues as opposed to the
majors.
Tebeau may have anticipated his ever
throw. for he talked like a man in trance
before the meeting. When he was in
Omaha last. about a month ago, he was
all for war nothing but an armed rebellion
would do him. and when he got to Chicago
he was as full OF fights as dog Is of
feas Farrells scalp was sure to be his.
and he would have several other changes.
among them to give Glass A the controlling
vote of the minors organization. And all
OF these things went a-glimmering. Tebeau
wasn't the only one who was surprised:
several of the wise ones got a fall IN the
outcome. Some of us thought that Pat
Powers was all In and rather looked for a
western man to be chosen to head the Ma
tional and also expected to see Kavanagh
retired for his treachery to the minors. But
the Johnsonites were too smooth and too
numerous. and are now in full and unds-
puted control OF the affairs of the minors
as we'll as the majors Let IT go at that.
II anything were needed to make the GER
tainty OF Johnson's control more certain
II was afforded by the retirement OF ]. Ed
cfrillo from the board of directors Of the
National because he Is personally distaste-
full to the big man. Grillo was elected by
the minors getting fine vote, but had to
give way because Johnson said he wouldn't
do. And then Johnson agreed to the draft
rule and prices for which the Glass A
leagues made their fight last season. Such
fareel
The Glass A protective organization
formed at Chicago is In a somewhat anom-
olous position. but II will surely be fight
ing organisation with Grifiith for president.
for ne win no, ri. Quietly down under even
the apprehension of wrong. He repre-
sents the Western league in the new body.
-
In the meantime the Western league
Jared very well. In that II is continued as
a class A league Its Importance certainly
entities II to that distinction, and the
quality Of ball also deserves the honor, but
with only six clubs and these in towns
ali but two Of which fall short of the
hundred-thousand mark It is triie shy
on the population which is put down as
a basis for determining the prestige OF an
organisation. That is one OF Tim Muir
names bugs. He thinks IL town has a
million II lie a good bali town, no matter
II the people go 20 the games or not. AS
a matter OF fact. Papa Bill Rourkes books
FOR the last six years In Omaha will show
that more people. in proportion to popula-
tion, pay their way to see base ball IN
Omaha than in any other town in the
country. For example Chicago with 1000 COX
and a daily average attendance of 1900
shows only one-half OF per cent attend
ing. while Omaha with 100000 and daily
attendance of 1ooo shows 1 per cent. As
matter OF fact. the daily average foI
the last six years In Omaha Is nearer ZOO
than 1000. while the Sunday average II
better than 5.ooe Chicago. for the same
time. will not show daily average at ths
TWO parks OF more than 5000, showing thai
Omaha is really a much better base bal
town than Chicago. Sioux City and Del
Moines are proven supporters OF the game
The recovery from the days OF depression
IN Colorado will likely see patronage a
Denver and Pueblo improved during tn,
coming summer, and the outlook at Lin
A..