Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-22


make an example Of the men who engaged
In II. II II is not wrong, then the fines i'm
posed are unjust. In either instance the
action Of the National commission looks like
a joke.
We are coming TO three important dates
March %, April 10 and April 23 The first
Is the day on which the members OF the
Rourke family report In Omaha, the sec
ond the day on which the Western league
season opens and the third the day on
which the first championship game Is
played in Omaha. Captain Franck is here
and by tomorrow all or most OF his men
VIII be- A careful run down the line of
the Omaha team gives ample ground for
the belief that the Rourkes viii repeat
their achievement Of last year and retain
the pennant in this city. This belief is not
fostered merely from a patriotic enthusi-
asm born of the victory of 1907, but is
grounded on a careful comparison OF the
Omaha team with other teams so far as
It is possible now to know their personnel.
together with the fact that the Omaha
men will do better work this year than
last. 1t is certainly reasonable to assume
that President Rourke and Captain Franck
will present a much stronger and more
with which they closed the season last Oc-
tober And yet the personnel of the team
Is almost Identical with that Of last year
The advantage lies in the potent fact that
one year of tutelage In the Franck school
puts the men past the primary grade and
makes them masters OF lessons they will
not need to learn over this year. The re-
suit Is the team can go on advancing from
the point In their education where they
left off last fall, developing that inside
game that proved so effective and work.
Ing out problems more intricate and diff
cult and potent of greater results. The
team work of last year was excellent, but
with practically the same team-changed
only to be strengthened--why shouldn't II
surpass its record of 1907 in every single
detail? II will. OF that there cannot pos
sibly be a doubt. Taking. therefore, a
sane and conservative, but honest. view of
the whole situation, there is everything
ato encourage the belief that Omaha will
.E1n the Western league pennant again in
'5sOS. This is no disparagement, either of
another team in the league. 1t is simply
a confession of what everybody familiar
with the facts knows. In all probability
other teams will appear more formidable
this year than last; It Is to be hoped so
doubt be closer and more exciting, which
is also good, but to date there Is no Just
ground for believing that another club will
present as strong a front as Omaha.
The death during the week Of George
Munson OF st. Louis Is an event OF sor-
rowful interest in the sporting world
Mr.. Munson left his imprint on the his
tory Of base ball. particularly as the SPORT
ing editor OF the st. Louis Republican,
now the Republic. and as secretary of the
old st. Louis Browns. A graduate Of Cor
nell. he was a cultured gentleman, and
while comiskey was making fame and
money for Won Der Abe by winning four
American association pennants and one
worlds championship with his great
Browns, Munson was deftly tutoring and
training the prosperous Grand avenue
grocer for the larger sphere OF distinction
into which his new interests as a base ball
magnate Inevitably led him. And, as well
as comislxey, performed his task with equal
success. did Munson do the duty Of less
public attention. though of far more silent
import, that lay before him. The Sporting
News well says that the mentorship OF
Munson was a priceless service to Won Der
able Chris safely through the labyrinth
OF social amenities so queer and tantaliz-
ing to him, but he kept his business af-
fairs free from entangiements. The last
year of Munson's active life had been de-
voted to gathering data for a biography OF
comiskey. The two men were closely at
tached, and the old Roman wired his grief
and asked that floral tribute be laid for
him on the bier OF his old friend.
The University Of Nebraska viii suffer
some as a result OF the conference rule on
freshmen. but It will only be for one sea-
son. Then the Cornhuskers can get into
the game as strong as any Of them. In
the freshmen rule was found the most fea-
sible way Of breaking up one practice that
was bringing western college sports into
Nsrepute and all the schools ought 10 will
gly abide by II. II Is in the interest OF
sport ana should be supported so long
any need for IL may exist. Nebraska is
aSorse off than the other members of
conference and IN the long run will be
~ gamer by adherence to the rule.
Objection 70 organized roofing doesn't
mean that people at ball games are to
be prohibited from cheering or exercising
their natural right 10 roast the umnfra