Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-28

w TIrHoUT attempting to fix respon-
V sibility for the disappointing
w career OF the Nebraska foot ball
team during the last few weeks
Of the season which ended with
the disastrous defeat on Thanksgiving day
at the hands Of a third-rate school. II may
be suggested that something Is radically
wrong with C~ornhusker athletics, and that
the remedy should be applied vigorously
and without delay. Given a student body
the size Of that at Lincoln, and the proper
spirit among the undergraduates, no form
OF sport or athletics should l~anguish and
fall into the state that has marked the
career Of the foot ball team. Whether
Coach Cole be all his supporters or Dc
tractors say, the truth Is that under his
administration the team that has worn the
Scarlet and cream on the foot ball field
has been sadly defeated under such condi-
lions as are discouraging to the friends Of
1.-The school, not to speak Of the patriotic
boys and girls who always want 70 see
the home team win. For this result the
coach must accept at least a part OF the re-
sponsibility. If his troubles are due
TO causes other than his ability, he IS
entitled TO have those causes removed by
the athletic board. II, as has been pub
hciy stated, the "frats" at Nebraska are
responsible for the decadence OF the
prowess Of the Cornhusker team, then the
fraternities ought to feel ashamed. II
their influence is 10 be along rule or
ruin lines, II is high time someone In
authority were reading them a lecture on
the necessity OF giving loyal support to
Nebraska, rather than to a fraternity
ewhose general interests are not centered
at tho school. II Cole goes or Cole stays,
this disturbing element must be removed
by the establishment of a better sense Of
patriotic justice, or Nebraska will never
have on the fled a team that will rightly
represent II. In the showing OF hands
that is certain to come, the whole matter
ought 20 be cleared up. The record for
the season is all against Cole; the war
between the Greeks and the "Barbs"
may be at the bottom of It; but in It all Is
nothing Of credit or the University Of
Nebraska.
II the news is correct that Murphy and
Brush have secured holdings in the Phil
Vadelphia National league team, It is dis
tressingly bad news. 1t Is a violation Of
one of the cardinal principles Of clean base
ball for one man to be financially inter-
este1 I'm more than one team in the same
league, a principle that must be respected
II the game is to endure as a strong, virile
institution. Leaving out OF consideration
the personality Of two such men as the
Chicago and New York magnates, the sys-
tenn would be vicious, but It is doubly
dangerous with men of this type involved.
The National league could Ill afford, just
at this time, to suffer such a blow, for 1t
is a blow to enlarge the powers of Murphy
and Brush. The old organization needed
rather to pull away from certain moorings
that were undermining its stability, but
instead Of seeking safer Ravens, 1t has
anchored In another treacherous port. If
example as well as precept were necessary
40 prove the evil of such a system. we
might invite attention to the past history
OF the Western league, Murphy spent the
last year making trouble for the National.
II he has secured a footing in Philadelphia.
az 1t seems he has, he may be expected
20 make more trouble in the future, trouble
that may really mean something to the
league and base bail. He is even a more
dangerous man than Brush, for his sordid
lust for power knows no bounds.
Just as the base ball world gets ready
to settle down into the comfortable cunso-
lation Of feeling that the long smbitsered
war with the outlaws is over. comes G.
1NGuu anu threatens = NOW oPgll VI NAA~
lawry for no better reason than that the
National Association OF Professional liase
Ball Leagues awarded a man who lad
signed with Tebeau back to the California
~Coast league, formerly the outlaws. 1t
was necessary in the adjustment .uf the
complicated questions arising through the
outlaws surrender to award and shift
many players, and this was one case in
hRnd. The fact, however, that II touches
the interests Of Tebeau makes all the d,f-
ference In the world. Suppose, for instance,
the player, Catcher Frambes, had L'en a
player Tebeau didn't value or care for,
then what would White Wings have done?
It's not the principle Of the thing, II never
IS that. that aotuates Tebeau, but always
the exigency OF an Isolated case, with
pure selfishness as the purpose to be sub
served. Well. come on with your war,
Cousin George. Our stomach is Just at ont
strong enough to eat you right now.
For the first time In thirty-four con-
secutive years Ned Han,on is out OF base
bali. He has sold his Baltimore team to
Jack Dunn. Few men ever attained as
great and none greater distinction In the
game than Hanlon. As player, manager
ana magnate he was always a brilliant
success and he is one Of the men whose
work and influence have elevated the
Eame.
The Sporting News is one medium OF
public expression not closed 10 personal
Fluctuations between friends this side OF
the grave. And this is well, too. for ante
norton bouquets are excluded In so many
places.
Before Zbysco and his manager go too
far with that dream Of pumping the public,
4 they should remember that Gotch let
Roller win a handicap once upon a time,
but has psrsistentIy refused to allow him
any further concessions,
Jimmy Austin has done pretty well for
a beginner. At the end Of his first season
IA fast company he has them specializing
over who win be able TO drag him away
from New YORK, The St. Louis Browns
are after him.
With their eminent proficiency in the