Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-24
Judgments

the Federals, but the declaration
of the o. b. B. lawyer that the
Federals' position nullifies their
charge seems to be a sten-winder in
view of the fact that the Federals have
successfully competed with the o. b. b.
in signing players, paying salaries, land
ing many stars and in running their
league for two years and starting toward
4 third. II seems a bit anomalous. to say
The least. that such Roadway could be
made against SO consummate monopoly
as the Federals charge the o. B. B. with
being. And yet the question OF a monopoly
is for the courts TO determine. And we
have perfect faith in Judge Kenesaw
Mountain Landis' fairness and ability in
determining 1t. The judges remark In
the court room that he would regard any
blow at ''the thing called base ball as a
blow at an American institution" ought
10 be sufficient assurance that he will
see that the game gets a square deal No
one who Is up on the base ball situation
will deny, surely. that there has been
something wrong all along, but whether
that wrong can be construed as a monop-
oily may be doubtful. Nevertheless. 1t
seems equally doubtful whether Organ
ICED Base Ball could wholly divest itself
of the suspicion that It employs certain
monopolistic tendencies and methods and
might become a monopoly IL II could. It
is not improbable that this court airing
viii serve to clear things up somewhat
and possibly lead to general correction
of the situation. OF course, what the
Fedorals probably most want is adnnis-
sion to the ranks of Organized Base Bail.
just as the other outlaw organization.
the American league, sought and obtained
dozen years ago.
Wonder If Larry Lajeune Of Sioux city
and Pittsburgh has the right dope on his
case. He says his sale by draft to the
Pirates was merely cover up" deal
to save him for the Sioux and that now
he is about to be reshipped to the Western
league city, where It Is the intention of
raying him less money than he received
in 1914. in pursuance of the league agree
ment to cut wages. Well, let's see. Josh
Clarke, manager OF Sioux City; Fred
Clarke, manager of Pittsburgh. Josh
and Fred are brothers. Circumstantial
evidence? Yes. but fairly good. at that,
Moreover, what the big Frenchman says
is done with him or to- him, has been
done in the casa Of many another man.
i, In fact. the "cover-up'' trick has for
many years been one of the offensive
,aprlces Of organized" base ball. Al
though IL has been against the rules. it
has never ceased to be a common prac-
tice and custom and no organized" base
ball magnate, to our knolwehge, has ever
raised a breath of protest against 1t.
You see. when such things as this are
considered. It is mo- wonder that organ
lied" base ball is having its troubles. 1t
must be organized. that Is. law abiding
in fact as well as name, II II expects to
set on 1t may not condemn the Federals
for doing what 1t never ceases to do and
expect 10 get away with it, with a
thoroughly aroused and wideawake base
TALL constituency looking on. Larry says
lie has several offers from the Feds. II
so, do you think he won't accept one of
them? II IS such stuff as this-if the
facts are stated--that makes Federal
leagues and such things.
Though q little Iate-about six years.
the Omaha police are doing "A good piece
OF work in putting up the bars to the
fake wrestler and his promoter. IL they
had done It back in 1900 and 1910. It would
hive been all the better. OF course. Il
two gentlemen desire to give wrestling
exhibition with an agreement between
them as to the outcome. that is theil
business. Generally the public that pays
10 witness such a match gets its moneys
worth. for the wrestlers are sure to put
on some fancy scenery under such cir
cumstances. We've actually seen fake
matches that we thought were better
than the real thing. So the mischief doe.
not lie In the wrestling itself nut In IN,
betting that Il leads 70, and In fact
is cnginesred for The truth Is that tn,
average person cannot tell by simpl,
watching . wrestie whether il Is fixe,
or not. And there Is just where the mis-
chief comes in II the average persol
could distinguish this. II eve7 come o
the astute knowing ones could. some ex
Wrestlers. for example, themselves-th
real sports-then there would be no prof
IN the fixing business. But the police ar
dead right. even II their action did com
only after the big flutter made by IN
hurt birds-some real" sports. Bette
late than never.
Congratulations TO Fairbury on gettinl
into the Nebraska State league. Bu
how such a good little ball town .
superior ever let go Is a puzzle. ID {
TOO bad that there Is not room enougl
IN sn eight-elub league for all the 500
base ball towns of this state. anyway.
Valel
ncc Napoiesn Lajoie was released I
the Athletics left-handed twirlers hav
been working overtime studying u
alibis TO remain on the tranquil bcnc