The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-08
RECTOR PROVES
HIS ABILITY TO
BEAT B { FLEETEs|T
Lawmakers Now at the Top
in Prettiest Race Since
League Was Formed.
ny II. y. GRrrF1TH.

&. ny II. y. GRIFFITH.
James "A. Rector. the wonderful
Splinter of the University OF Virginia,
fulfilled the confidence OF his countless
admirers in the North, as we'll as the
South, by his performance 'in,tlle 100
meter dash at Philadelphia Saturday
Technically Rector was beaten by six
inches IN the finish heat by Robertson,
while in reality he ran easily the fast
~. as lio was set back yard for
making false start, and had to make
up this lost distance. subtracting his
handicap, he actually was leading the
New York man at the finish by two
and half feet.
II this is not sufficient proof Of his
pnquestionable superiority the fact that
In the first heat he made the fastest
time OF the day. 1915 seconds. equal
ling the Olympic record at Paris, and
Z the worlds record puts the matter be-
yond the pale OF q doubt. The best
Robertson could do was IL seconds flat.
or course the Virginia flyer will go
TO London with the American team;
Ynd that he will beat Robertson and
everyone else at the Olympic games is
commonly accepted by the best OF
s,siges. The committee meets to-day'
10 make tho final selections. Rector
;,as returned to the University OF Nir-
Iinia to take a law examination. after
.yhich he will Immediately go back to
train at Philadelphia. preparatory to
the departure OF the team abroad.
Too much praise cannot be given
". II. LannIgan, athletic trainer OF the
University. who has been chiefly re-
eponsible for making Rector worlds
record breaker. Mr.. I.annigan accom-
panied the sprinter to philadelphia,
where he nursed him like brotherless
crown prince and put him into his
winning condition.
1t was said of distinguished dame
OF the long ago that age could not
wither nor custom stale her infinite
variety The same applies to the past
weeks performance Of the Lawmakers.
which have been bobbing up and down
the "standing OF the clubs" list like
the mercury at the breaking up OF
winter. First they are on top and
then they fall down again. At present
they lead the list BY a stngy margin.
and It Is the devout hope of the home
while.
Indeed. the race sor the pennant this
season is the prettiest in the leagues
history, and for some time past 1t has
been heart-breakinG heat between
Richmond. Portsmouth. Danville. and
Norfolk. with Roanoke and Lynchburg
liable to spring TO the fore at any
moment. All the clubs have good
teams. which are playing good ball;
and the man that can see the finish
MT the present date is truly a seer OF
ability ~
Richmond has mighty stiff sche-
duie this week. and will have TO play
even better ball than II has been play
ing to be at the top OF tho ladder at
the end OF this week. Our team plays
that whirlwind Grew in Norfolk four.
games during the first half OF this
week and local fans should be salts
ned with an even break especially
as Norfolk in the past has been a hoo
doc city for our hopefuls.
For tho weekend games the Law.
makers return to play those Red Sox.
Ihc locals are laying for the Danville
team as they We're the ones to pull
us from top place originally. and every
game VIII be battle royal.
Mckenzie. the new pitcher, whom
Manager Lipe secured from Atlanta,
himself to be a nrst-class performer,
both In the box and at bat. He has
good speed and puzzling assortment
OF curves. II he continues the good
Start he has made he can be rated a
very valuable man, and one who should
win the majority of his games.
1son's work a t second has placed him
as one OF the very best In the league.
He impressed g. few at the start as a
wvNr ,1as, ~fx T..
getting into form. But his decidedly
spectacular work at second has been a
surprise to those who had most con-
5idence In him. and he does not yet
seem to have reached the zenith OF his
ability.
It Is very necessary that the hood.
iunlism. which occurred during the last
two games here, should not be re-
peated. Not so many years ago a lady
dared not attend a baseball game any
more than she would attend prize
fight, because one was as bad as the
other. But the sport has made rapid
strides since then, and the player or
patron who starts r fistic encounter
must feel forcibly the disapproval OF
such. Cowan has been suspended three
days and Rigs one day8for their ac-
tions.
Whether an umpire is right or wrong
Z IN his decisions. the diamond is no
place for such scenes as those which
occurred last week
Richmond racquet wicldcrs arc now
at the height of their game In lawn
tennis, although the experts hope to
still further perfect their play before
the season ends.
The Old Dominion tournament at'the
Hermitage Club ended weeks con-
test Saturday. I resulted In bringing
forth some new players OF great promise
and aroused general interest in the
game to a decided degree, Mr., r. T..
James OF Philadelphia, won the
Hermitage challenge cup, but ifsmany
OF the new players improve as they
have done recently lie will doubtless
have his hands full defending the.