Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-08
CLEAN sPoRrsMEN.

same as clean men IN any OC1Gr OCCu-
patton. 1t may come slowly while 9TH
ers seem to be getting the best Of the
gleanings, and 1t sometimes takes a
long time to establish reputation as
clean sportsman, on account Of the
ever present suspicion that there is
crooked work going on. Once estab.
lished however. 1t wins for the man
who establishes it.
One instance Of this kind is today
before the whole country in the world
of the ring, and another is occupying
the attention of the baseball fans in
Iowa and Illinois. The first instance
is Joe Cans, who was awarded the
Goldfield match over Battling Nelson,
and the second is Belden Hill of Cedar
Rapids who is known as the grand
old man of the Three-Eye league.
For years, it is now recognized,
Cans was used as tool for his mau-
ager. His ability was not questioned,
but things did not pan out in the way
they were often expected to. Finally.
Cans cut away from this circle, and It
might be said he has been going it
alone Since that time he has gained
the confidence OF many admirers. 1t
took him some time to get away from
suspicion, but he now stands as q
champion and square fighter, and
has gained the laurels that are right
fully his and few will say might not
have been his before. The praise that
is coming his way is merited and IL
the reward that comes to one who is
determined to get away from tainted
regulations.
In the case of Belden Hill, he was
recently charged by certain Peoria
newspapers with being in collision
with Umpire O'Connell and with his
pennant winning team from Cedar
Rapids was proflting by knowledge
Of the Peoria signals.
Immediately upon the printing OF
the charges there was a storm of pro
test throughout the league. Belder
Hill was too we'll known, and had a
reputation for honesty and good
craftsmanship that would not permit
of any such conduct even on the part
Of newspaper reporters who were over
anxious to make excuses for the team
not winning
Although Pa Hill, as he is familiarly
known, was Immediately cleared Of nj
suspicion by the newspapers through
9put the league. as we'll as by President
Meidroth and Manager Buelow of the
Peoria club, he did not propose to sim
ply stand upon his reputation, proba
bly, realizing that people are allowed
to go too far on their regulations fol-
honesty, so he Immediately asked fol
an investigation, and that is forthcom
ing. He proposes to find out where
the report came from and who inspi !.
ed 1t. President Meidroth Is goo6
sportsman too, and he has fully apollo
gized for the conduct Of the people no
under his control.
Not only has a storm Of protest arts
en- from the papers and the players
but there is not fan in the whole
Three Eye league that will listen to &
breath of suspicion being cast ove1
Belden Hill. The patrons Of the game
are as much Interested as are the play
ers, for the public has become thor
oughly disguised with fake perform
ances, whether they are fights, racer
or baseball games. And when the,
find clean sportsman they will stant
by him. Belden Hill has earned hi.
reputation both as a player and man
ager and now that he has attained al
age where he can not get into tn,
game very often he does not intent
to have any shadows upon his reputa
ton and there will be none.