Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-04

last year was unprecedented, lneEe - no
good reason why this year should not excel
1903, but many reasons why II should. The
campaign is out Of the way. the
country is out Of the effects OF the 1907
s~tringency and the vim Of competition is
at a white heat in every prominent league
This is to be a year OF changes in the mat
ter OF lineups. changes in managers; stars
have been shifted to various places in the
armament Of the game and all this will
contribute tremendously TO the interest OF
the fan. Indeed. It lie a question IL the in
terest in base ball this year will not COM
pletely eclipse that OF any year since the
inception OF the game.
The recent anti-race track legislation has
led to d belief. which seems not entirely
unwarranted. that now is the time for organ
lied base ball to fortify Itself. as II never
has done before. against the professional
gambler. This assumption is based on the
very natural theory OF the law % supply
end demand or that the professional gam
bier having been driven out OF 50 many
lucrative fields Of operations. must seek
other lines to exploit and will naturally
make an effort to break into base ball. II
does not require a pessimist to perceive
the possibilities Of such q danger. nor il It
necessary to believe that gambling exactly
menaces base ball in order TO recognize
the simple fact that now IL a splendid time
10 throw up a breastworks against this
insidous foe. Base ball Is not threatened
from within: that has been demonstrated
Of late to the entire satisfaction OF the
lovers Of the game. No such stigma may
be attached &c SLy magnate. player or
even umpire 4 she lager leagues. Indeed
the example set by these two umpires who
resisted the temptaIisas offered in the final
Cub-Glant game last fall affords ample
proof OF the rectitude {. the umpires. But
base ball may be threatened from without
And It IS necessary 70 look no further for
proof ~ this than to this very example OF
hsno- which v~indIeates the game Itself. In
that incident lies a dual evidence-vidence
tina the men who are carrying on the game
are exert ng their best efforts 20 keep Il
on the high plane OF honor and evidence
that the thrifty gambler who has been out
Iawed In 50 many fields Of easy money. is
assiduously trying TO drag Il down 70 a
plane Of disho1cr tha. will enable him 10
ply his craft or graft profitably and
thereby recOap the losses he has sustained
through antt-race track legiklation and
other such restrictive influences Base ball
Is like any other legitimate spoTt-it could
not survive gambling ~ once II became
thoroughly contaminated But base ball
has fought this battle once and won and
that was when IL was mUch younger,
weaker and Iess popular than II Is today.
so that there In every Encouragement for
the belief that the great game viii be able
10 resist the force of this sinister influence.
Bat 1t Is 4 time for strong action, never
tbeleSs-
Here's another suggested name for the
Wichita team: Call II the HOIlybels. Sew
eral titles have been suggested. taking
into consideration only the name Of IEbelL.
but why not give some recognition to Hol-
land. Isbelrs partner in the business This
will give a composite name with rsc0g-
milton TO both men We are not looking
for easy money, but we certainly are get
ting anxious 10 have this baby named
II this pane won't DO Try Dutchmen- Thai
viii also include both Manager Omaha
IS looking for q lusty yOungster 20 come
out o. this splendid little western Kansas
town Il N1u have two oorking good nsn
10 lead II and one Of the best bodies OF
real fans in the country 70 back n So
SHY shouldn't II 60 some.
Ducky Holmes Is planting a ErAss 6lA-
mO1d At AizSou psyk IA Sioux City and
Is bss4ing new seat stA3ds. thus -snlArEfnE
the capacity OF the box Office He u also
looking for an experienced ground keeper.
AL this IL fine. but what is SrHl better
is the news that ne has moved home plate
DsArsr the stands 80 az 70 give more room
An tEo outer fi~ldk- Nov. II Dueky would
JUS close up MlEBou PARK and get q real
fun-gr0sn base bal 6tzzs0nd the rest q
The league would confer a blessing on hin
Up % GATE TIE Pacific coast and Cali
f0rniA situation has Bst been solved Ban
JOhnson's and FuIismS unP OFT west has
not as yet Rad the desired effect. u 10 q
be hoped. however. that for the good q
base ball generally and the coast par
tseularly. the recalcitrEnts viii come into
the Why the coast people themselves 90
not farce them into line s passing strange
They have pm up WITH Z quality q ban
which much less favored sections q TIE
country wood refuse % tolerate
OF ell the leagues nat are undergoing
Improvement for the coming season. mons
VII present mere modineGtions o. prg-uis.
h the Wss1sz- In the first place Il
WI b. sEpGsasa 70 sight teams. tHO sn-
tireiy new ohsE In tbs neat place thu cd
teams Viii have = great deal q DsW ma
terisl Omaha VIII Dc oSnHplouOus fer ia
new nen and they are men who prerniss
great things Ter TIE R0urksE
II nov seems certain that Hal cnEss
WI BE- tack On first for The HiEhlancers
nsKt season and this kads cur "a e0IlaEs
chum Joe VIA. 20 sr1ss and ro2AEk thai
the EEnks VII be ~ 81 The TOP rhiB year
ANYWAY. the fSffh q that mas Wa q r.
freEhinE IN rtas age q sOsdi5 EksptieiHl
Tommy Burns hEs one chGane lef-ls
hul noN pone "a Ihe man licked BY TO
FIRST negro % hold q hesvgWeEht belt
Eaeler. whose slump lAEa yaar -.
- the bsZad he was an n. says ne WI b