The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-29
By WILLIAM PEET.

You've got 90 hand il TO Bill Cunning
ham. the young second baseman of the
Nationals. obtained from the New Bed
ford club of the New England League
last summer
Cunningham. in a letter to the writer.
comes out hatfooted with the statement
that, in his estimation, no second-sacker
in the American League will have any
thing on him when the final bell rings
next fall
Cunningham epistle is not by any
means "a boasting one. he admits that
there are a lot of things he does not
know about baseball, but he adds that
he is sure he,can hit any pitcher in Ban
JOhnsOns circuit and knows down IN
his heart that when it comes TO fielding
he can hold his own with any of them.
MCAleer is particularly sweet on Gun
ningham. and when the local boss was
last here he stated that the youngster look
ed about as promising as any boy he had
seen breaking into fast company IN years
In a postscript to the writer. Cunning
ham says: Il am just crazy for the 1911
season to begin. I am ready TO start any
time they say the word. and am taking
the best possible care Of myself
There is no denying the fact that Gun
ningham looked awfully good during the
few games he played as member of the
Nationals here last fall. and confidence
is often good asset for young bal,
player That he will eventually turn out
TO be the best second baseman in the
American League is the wish OF every
Washington fan
In the death Of Or. D. E. Wiber. yes
terday, the Capital lost the one man who
has done more for amateur athletics than
anybody in the District His place viii
be = hard one to fiji.
Always a perfect gentleman, his hign
sense of honor prompted him to handle
difficult cases under his jurisdiction with
fairness TO all
The writer had been intimately asso-
ciated with DIR. Wiber during the past
three years. and has yet to hear of any
criticism from d fair-minded man Ie-
garding Dr. WibeT's work in connection
with the South Atlantic A A. u The
Baltimore News. in commenting about
Wibers death yesterday had the follow
ing to say:
Officials of the South Atlantic Asso-
citation of the Amateur Athletic Union.
located in Baltimore, received a distinct
shock this morning when the news ar
rived IN this city from Washington that
DR.. ID. T. Wiber, president of this
branch had died
vice President j. Edward Tyler. jr.,
will assume the head of the South At
lantic body OF all surprised, none was
more affected than he when seen and
notified by The News representative this
morning and he stated that a meeting
would be called in a few days, when
testimonial would be drawn up by the
officials and presented the gTieved fam
lily. Mr.. Tyler expressed keen regret at
the news and staiad that in all his ex-
perience he had never met a more bust
nesslike or congenial gentleman
Henry c. Pennman, member of the
registration and record committees of the
South Atlantic Association stated that
DIR. Wiber was )ne Of the most popular,
as well as efficient, officers who had ever
served on the local body. Handicapped
Joseph 4. England, in s#king of his
dead fellow-offieer said that ne had found
him the most persistent he had ever had
the pleasure to serve and that hts advo-
cacy of clean athletics had always made
him a favorite with the other members.
Theodore Z. SEaus, enc of the most ia
miliar figures in local athIeticdom. was
immensely surprised to hear of the death
of the president, and mis- greatest testi-
mOnial giVen to the deceased was that in
point of executive ability and good judg-
ment. he could never be replaced. George
j. Turner. another South Atlantic officer.
was nonplussed when he was told the sad
news,
Mai. Washington Bowie. r., well
known in local circles. had the follow
ing to say; Il had found the doctor
very enthusiastic. and he was mainly
responsible for the advance of athletic
interest in Washington and was the
first president and organizer OF the
Mashinrtnn Grove Athlatic Association