Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-07


EXAYl or less undetermined, and
" some one or two other minor
-. matters of administration
nG&@E&4k designed TO be settled. the af-
49, fairs of the Western league
are still further complicated by threat
Nened revision OF the playing circuit Of
the American Association It may be
that no change in the composition OF the
recently elevated ''rnajcr' league will
take place during the current season.
but II is equally certain that when the
changes are made, il ever, they will
have very direct effect on the map
of the Western league. For seven years
this matter has been ever present as one
of the probabilities Of base bail, and
three years ago it was all but fact
accomplished only the obstinacy Of
Byron Bancroft johnson then prevent
ing the move, which would have obvi-
eted the formation Of the Federal league
and would have given Omaha Its longed-
for seat In the sun And, now, that
the National and American leagues have
given their consent, and the American
Association is recognized as a major
league, with privileges appertaining to
that exalted state, it isn't unreasonable
TO expect that some territorial changes
will take place. Just what they may
be doesn't appear on the surface. but
any reimbursement OF the map will have
a direct bearing on Omaha s future. and
you may depend upon It that Pa Rourxe
is ready for the change. He has been
for four years. in fact. for he rebuff,
his grandstand and did other expensive
things out at Rourke park, with the un.
derstanding that Omaha was to be made
member Of bigger and better circuit
1t doesn't get US anything to keer
gnawing the file. but the temptation car
not be resisted to again refer TO the lacl
of foresight that marked the course Of
Ban Johnson. when be baked the NOV,
to allow the American Association Il
enter Chicago and mo or two other
big league towns. Only disaster has fol
lowed on the trail OF that unfortunate
exhibition of pigheadedness, and the END
is not yet The full extent Of the blow
may be told by the big team owner.
az the close Of the coming season, foi
by that time the Lands decision, what
ever it is. will have been entirely rea
lized, and club owners win know littl,
nearer where they stand. Such things
have happened before. and probably will
/. again, SO long as man is put in posi-
Ntion Of authority and gets puffed vi
thereby. But the fact that history Il
repeating itself doesn't help the maj
who has his money tied up in a bas
ball plant, and sees 1t slipping becaus
some fellow has allowed his ingrowinl
ego TO muss up the whole game.
The International league took a yer
straightforward way OF preparing IL
players for the inevitable from the presI
dents office a circular was mailed I
each and every player under reserve t
that league, setting forth that the leagl
4 would not be able TO pay in 1916 tn
salaries that prevailed In 1914, and warn
I ing the young men to be prepared for
cut. No intimation of the size OF the Gu
was given, but IL - quite likely that IL wi
be a fairly deep one. The Internationt
has enjoyed the privileges of "AA" dis
tinction, which means it has been per
mitted to pay some rather fancy price
TO bali tossers. Along with the circula
was notice that the league would ava
itself OF the permission from the comm,
March !. Which means that salaries /
the minors are coming down, this summe
Ingenious and persistent efforts are b.
ing made by the press agents TO blow II
breath OF life into the coming mess b,
tween Jack Johnson and Jess Wiliarl
S~Eut so far the excitement Is hardly 70
compared with that which greeted n
declaration OF war in Europe. As a ma
ter of fact. no one can really convinS
himself that the affair has any essenti
quality Of honesty about It. From fir
TO last. Il savors very strongly OF a con
mercial enterprise. pure and simple. ar
as such 1t win be looked upon. The ia
that Jack curley, has the willard end
it gives a doubtful tinge to the sincerit
OF the proceeding.
Il may be recalled that Curiey manage
the oiotch-IIackenschmid wrestling a
fair at the Chicago base ball park Z
Labor day. not so many years ago. co
ceaIing for four or five days the eact th
Hack had injured one knee so badly tn
he would not be In any condition 10 mai
a contest and only letting the fact
known after the crowd had paid its mon
and had no chance OF getting it'back.
Getting Triple and Sehleibner bad
from the draft net Is about the be
thing that has happened to Pa Rourl
since Marty Krug put his name on col
tract to be manager. Things are lookii
brighter.
Calling the Chifeds Whales Tui
change their luck. but It won't help the
any Unless Il does.
Omaha ought 70 have the Fourth
July date this year whether we get Il