Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-31
Judgments

for Fultz TO come forth and
take stand with regard to some official
action bf the fraternity. when the big
trust busting suit in Chicago has been
settled? From out of the chaos of opin-
ion expressed by those who have oppos-
ing views on the probable outcome. of the
suit, one especially should call for a
statement from Fultz. That is If the
contracts OF players in organized ball
should become void. The base ball Play
ers' Fraternity was organized expressly
for the benefit OF the players. Thus it
strikes us that the fraternity should
issue q declaration to the effect that
players enrolled in the organization
would continue to respect their contracts
with clubs in organized ball. There is
danger IL the contracts are not upheld
Of the players eventually suffering
severe cuts and q statement Of good
faith would be a protection to the MEM
bers and also prove that the fraternity
will work primarily for the best inter-
ssts of base ball and the elimination of
the nasty commercialism now apparent.
And by way Of speaking OF the present
fight in the courts 1t is to be hoped
that the mooted question will be settled
by Judge Lands once and for all. That
rumor that the case might be thrown
out of court, 1t is hoped. has no basis
For IL Judge Lands should throw the
case out of court II would only mean
renewed litigation In a lower court ano
the fuss started all over again. Contin-
ued litigation Is sure TO be harmful tc
the interest of the pastlne, thus leavinS
matters in a wavering condition, which
would surely be detrimental to the sport
Unless all signs fail the supply of UNI
hires should be bountifn this year ant
the league president who doesn't selec
a neat squad of arbitrators viii have oni'
himself TO blame. For the purpose o
cutting expenses many leagues have re
leased umpires previously carried unde
the double system-two umplres for eac
game. They are feverting back to tn
single system, with the result that sooo
competent men are TO be had without tn
usual scramble. Heretofore Tip omen
our own prexie, has always had an eN
cuse-and a perfectly legitimate one 10
that umpires were scarce. They were
Now they are plentiful with the Amer
- can Association and Pacific Coast leagu
releasing four each. and Tip should &c
in on the ground floor and pluck te'
Of the released plums The Pacific Coai
league has released Red Held. Jack M'
earthly and Gerald Hayes. all asserte
10 be good umpires, In the new cut. An
one of that trio would unquestionabl
come TO the Western league and II
might take a tip and employ one ortw
Reverting back TO the trust-oustin
suit. while we do not fear that an az
verse decision viii ruin base ball.
many radicals would have us believe v
still believe peace is the only suecessf
solution to the problem now facing
! No matter IL the Feds win the suit or
Organized Bali wins, peace MUST con
TO remedy the present demoralizing 81
uation Open commercialisan and Co
slant reference to that state Of atfai
is the one thing which viii turn the "a
from base ball 1t is truly nsusestin
with mercenary players jumping hith
and thither and Just as mereenary ma
mates tempting them TO do So The pa
lie is evidencing utter WEAKNESS ana d
gust with the current scrspping, al
the one way to wean It back is by peaS
How easy IL Is TO forget the heroes
the past Again We have that flcklene
Of the public thrust WILDLY before
Napoleon Lajoie, once the pride Of
Cleveland, once the biggest ADVERTISE
asset that city possessed is no longer
household word in Somersviile as he or
was Cleveland, not so very long al
thought so well Of I.ajoie that the tet
was nicknamed after him. Now n
want TO forget the great Napoleon.
has seen his heyday and as a star he
longer radiates the twinkllng rays VIII
frightened the eyes Of Cleveland IA
They want to forget Lajoie In the ol
city now. But Napoleon knew that WI
he donned the spangles and. while
may know It more graphically now. he
no license for regret.
While the average player won't
much eulogy from the average fan VI
he cracks out ripping hit with the ba
loaded, there is one player whom all 7
bugs hope will make good. That is u
Coombs. recently released by the Athle'
and now signed by Brooklyn. Coon
was a victim OF circumstances. Fate dc
him a cruel blow and ne all 'hope
y veteran can come back and make go
And for giving him that chance Char
,tEbbets. PANIED on every side. should
given at least one atom Of credit
Benefits for swain.
Each club in the Northwestern leal