Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-13

wv Webb Murphy is still among
the living. 1t will be recalled
that upon the eve of this as
semblage Brother Ban johnson once more
proclaimed his intention of slipping the
earth from under the bumptious Mr.
Murphy and letting. him fall anywhere
he pleased outside the pale of Organized
base ball. Really, for the sake OF the
dignity and decorum Of the game. oughtn't
Brother Ban lay off of that Testing stuff?
Bulletins from the front were watched
as eagerly as IL coming from LODI, or
Calais. or some other war center and
when the final report was flashed. what
was It? Only this-and nothing more, as
the raven auoth-"The' name OF Murphy
was not mentioned in the meeting" AS
the Postum man would say, There's a
reason" no doubt of It. Perhaps the rea-
son was this or that; perhaps 1t was
found that Brother Taft was sitting upon
the lid with so much impact as to per-
suade Brother johnson of the futility of
attempting anything at Misther Muir
phys expense. Or. perhaps, the forces OF
Organized base ball conceived the impor-
lance, Of standing together against a
common foe ana decided not to precipi-
tate anything new within their own
ranks: not to start going any eccentric
circles. All Of whichswould not be a bad
decision to arrive, at under the circum-
stances, only, 1t does seem to leave
Brother Ban Johnson rather unduly ex-
posed Incidentally, while the name Of
Murphy was not mentioned. that Of the
Federal league was-many times.
Reports OF the annual meeting OF the
Nebraska State league reflect define
charges Of violations Of the salary-limit
rule. This is done in majors and minors
alike and done with impunity. We are
promised Observance of the rule, though.
from now on. But with what accuranceT
Inasmuch as the rule never yet has been
observed whenever a team owner cared
to violate II, we shall have to await the
proof IN action. And this is only one OF
many such rules and lava that have al
ways been ignored and violated by such as
did not see fit to keep them. II has long
been against the law Of base ball TO
farm out" players, yet play ers are
tarmed out generally and with impunity.
Covering up players has been an Of
fence In base ball, vet players are con-
stantly being covered up. The point j.
this, II Organized base ball Is going 20
violate or ignore it's own laws. what can
It expect Of outlaw base. balf In other
words, what difference in fact Is there
between the so-called organized forces ana
those that openly admit they are out
laws? Physician, heal thyseh' Is
timely reminder here to the organized
people. Too long they have given cause
for the question, What Is Organized pase
balI7" It does no good to play the
ostrich act and pretend that such VIOLA
lions are not being committed or II they
are not known abroad. Neither may one
set OF men set up rules for others to keep,
which they, themselves. refuse to keep.
Johnson. Vanguard. Bender. Plank-the
LIST Iengthens. Regardless of rights, con-
tracts, options and other things. the fact
is that a number Of live players are join
ing the ranks of the Federal league, which
makes n all the more condition and
not a theory which Brother Ban johnson
and others have. to deal with the deep
seated belief that but for Brother Ban
there might never have been much OF q
Federal league continues to SIM ltseii
in many minds Incidentally with ban.
Chief and Walter. there has been gooe
deal OF johnson figuring one way and
another in this outlaw organization from
the first. So far as Connie Mack Is con
cerned, the Federals' acquisition OF Benaei
and plank is no great triumph, as Con-
ME had waived on both, although all the
ether clubs had not. 1t remains to be
800, how many other conspicuous play
ers win follow these into the outia"
ranks.
For opr mart, We wish 10 regard the
base hall war and the Federals purely on
thair merits as elements that actually ex'
lat toVether with their news value. IN
common with other impartial ana uh
biased observers, we could not help pu'
Zee three wears ago the trend Of events
that has led up to present conditions. We
st,u believe that tact at the proper time
on the part OF some organized base oai
leaders particularly Ban Johnson, mlgh
have averted the war though In that VIZ
nav he mistaken. II seems to US th'
doRmatic boys have been those ehieiS
who for various reasons have tried TO Do
uttIa the possibility OF the invasion i
xas only the silliest sophistry that eve
led anyone 20 say, as some SAID Doth
1913 ana again in 1914. that the FederaI
would never open the season" Indeed
that Il a reflection, as we see IT, OF TN
hind unreason which is largely respon
sible for what exists
The Eddie Collins deal may 90 dowr
as the biggest base ball transfer thui
FAR. especially IL as reported Il inVolVe'
x1OOOO or its equivalent What has Con
ME Mack decided on?" some one asKee
ms. con getting rid Of scme OF his players
ln our judgment" we replied We don
know how II looks to the rest OF you Ou