The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-10-17
CLARKE'S PRAISE
FOR The CUBS

Chicago, Oct. 17.--Jas. ]. Callahan
of The Pioneer Press, who is in Chi
cago to attend the worlds series, tells
Of an interview with Clarke, who
picks the cubs. Callahan says:
Yesterday listened to the most in
telligent argument in favor of the cubs
winning the worlds series that / have
yet heard. In the party were Walter
| Wilmot, who used to play left field
for Arson on the west side; Frank
| McNichols, Chick Frazer, Fred Clarke
and myself
A good story on Wilmot and one he
! denies is that when the hleachers on
the west side used to toast Walter he
+, had a pile Of stones in the rear Of the
| club house and between innings used
to arch them over into the crowd and
get even. So if any Of you who read
this were "beaned" in the old days
you know now who did it.
The talk naturally drifted to the
coming series between the athletics
and cubs, and the opinions were divid-
ed as to the results.
Fred Clarke showed himself to be
big. broad minded, liberal fellow. He
did not tell any of his own troubles as
to why the team he manages did not
beat the cubs out for the pennant and
had nothing but praise and admiration
for his conquerors.
after listening to him talk for ten
minutes one can easily tell why he is
a successful manager and a man to be
admired for his many other sterling
qualities.
He went on to tell in the following
manner why he thought the cubs would
win the series from the athletics. He
laid sentiment aside and treated it in a
matter fact, practical way.
He said: THE Pittsburg team, in my
opinion, If they were playing the cubs
this series would stand a better chance
of winning than the athletics. Each
time we play them we think we dis
cover something new in their method
and style of play We invent means, or
try to, to forestall and prevent the sue
cess Of the tricks and plays we an
ttcipate, and / must say We are busy
all the time. They undoubtedly try to
do the same thing to us and other
clubs, but the difference is that the
cubs are oftener right than we have
been in anticipating our intentions and
we miss our guesses on their moves
oftener than they do with ours.
| Their actions, manners and plays
have a tendency to confuse ard mysti-
fly an opposing club and keep them con-
stantly on the alert and anxious seat.
while their own brilliant dash. -
cutton and abandon, caring, is the
keynote of their success"
Only Old Heads Have a Chance.
Clarke claims team that knows
their style from long experience against
the:" has the better chance, and that
they are likely to tie an opposing team
into knot if they are unused to that
system Of play. Fred hkens them to
the lighter who is always on top of his
man going after him all the time, new
er allowing him to get set, continually
feinting and who, at the proper time,
is there with the necessary and telling
wallop.
1t is as grand a compliment as was
ever paid to a ball club, and, coming
from man who is competent and fair,
1T possesses added value 1t bestows
more praise upon Frank Chance for
bringing about those conditions than If
columns were written praising him
from others. not so competent to Judge.
To every member of the club it has
separate and distinct value for they
never will receive a better one or one
more ably rendered. If Fred Clarke
were not the kind of a fellow he is IL
could not come, for right here let me
say that no machine is absolutely per-
feet, and even the cubs, great as they
are, must necessarily have some weak
nesses and shortcomings. but in his
tribute to the team he does not seek
to point them out or attempt to show
where he could remedy any of their de-
fects.
Chicago has good cause to be proud
of the members of the west side BAH
club and its manager. Even to the
loyal and sentimental American
Lacquer, though he bets his money and
loses 1t, hats off to the west side boys
and let's all rejoice in their victory of
they cop the big prize and thank them
for what they have done for Chicago.
A team such as they are can go down
to defeat and still look good to us. for
we know they will have gone the route
and distance IL they do lose.
If this tribute of Clarke's appeals to
others as 1t has to me, it will make the
club team look better to them than
they ever have before. don't know
when I have heard such an able and
unprejudiced argument, as well and
convincingly rendered, and I'll bet 1t
makes every one feel glad who was in
the crowd that gave Fred Clarke the
wonderful reception accorded him on
the west side after his recent trouble
in Pittsburg. And let me add that the
reception in no way Influenced his eu-
logy of thecubs as a ball team.