Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-19

VEIN prehension that the new
EXI1 Western league preXie. Frank
@ c. zehrung. would not prove
AQ@WSQt success at the helm of this
49, loop, it has been quickly dis
PEELED. For the Lincoln man has slipped
under the wire to a flying start and Is
clipping off the miles with all cylinders
working smoothly. by way OF proof that
Zehrung is an unqualified success it is
only necessary to point TO the receptions
accorded him in Des Moines and st.
Joseph. 1t will be remembered that dur
ing the campaign to swing the axe over
the head of one Tip O'Nehl, two mag
mates. Isbell and Holland joined forces
with Tip and fought to retain him. Both
Des Moines and St Joseph were O'Neill
acitics. and the supposlton that both OF
= these cities would be antagonstic to the
new man was only natural But, the sup
position missed fire zehrung made
solid hit with the fans of both of these
cities He made talks before the Conn
mercial clubs and found that the fans
and business men were with him. Even
in the o'Nen cities Tip is but memory
and dim one at that. II zehrung is
sNen the glad welcome in Des Moines
and st. Joseph, the odds that he will be
reach into the high number. 1t look very
much as IL Prexie Zehrung is going TO
pilot the Western league ship in most
successful manner through a most sue
cessful season this year.
One would take it that Jess Willard re-
CARDS the public as something to play
with. The heavyweight champ seems to
regard his coming match with Moran in
the light of a joke. lie is training about
thirty minutes a day, and it's perfunctory
training at that. according to press dis
patches from Gotham. Apparently Will
lard believes Moran a joke fighter and in
tends merely to bluff through the ten
rounds on the defensive and then collect
the $4,000. Despite the fact that he in
stantly became popular by defeating
johnson a year ago, Willard is making
himself thoroughly dislilxed by boxing
fans all over the country by his dilatory
and procrastinating tactics. and there
won't be any mourners at his funeral If
Moran should be fortunate enough to tack
the X. o. sign on him.
One Improvement in Western league
games that will be manifestly apparent
this year, will be the improvement in
the umpiring, President Zehrung is TAX
ing the best available In addition. the
double system will be employed. Where
one ump of uncertain ability called de-
clsions last year there will be two of
proven competency this year. The double
umpiring system has always proved
more satisfactory. because 1t makes pos
sible more accurate decisions and puts
speed into the games. The Western has
made a wise move in returning to the
double system.
New York tells US that Jess Willard s
circus contract calls for a weekly sti-
pend of 5000. Tommy Jones has been
hiding the Gothamites again. Owners
and managers OF circuses are not bred
of the sucker class-they play the sucker
cIass-and they are not foolish enough
to pay a proorastinating champ such an
exorbitant sum, especially when they
know they can get him for much less.
Five thousand a month would be more
likely and even then the sweet fragrance
OF a press agent yarn continues to per-
meate the atmosphere.
Benny Kauff. having at last agreed 70
play with the Giants, we will now learn
whether this precious young man is
merely a blatant bgoted, self-opinion-
ated youth or a real ball player Benny
- has been quite successful this winter in
telling the world how good he is Another
week or two and well know whether
Benny's opinion OF himself is unanimous
or not.
Grover Land was purchased by Sioux
City a year ago for $500. Grover re-
ported. the purchase money was paid
over and then Grover jumped. Now
comes the news that Land has been sold
TO St. Paul by Ward and is not returned
10 Sioux City. Ed Hanlon is out just
$1,000. and once more we have an example
OF how the majors trample on the help
less minors. It's getting monotonous.
The last of the base ball suits has
been withdrawn. The st. Louis Cardinals
have withdrawn their suit I'm the United
states circuit court at st. Louis against
Lee Magee filed when Lee hurdled to
the Feds. Let US hope the owners and
players will curb their greediness suf
ficiently so that the pastime will con
tinue to remain out Of the clutches o.
tho legal fraternity.
Battling Nelson may bring suit agains
his father for t25 900, The BattIer, hav
ing rid himself OF a wife through tn,
kindly offices OF the court, seems I,
~ believe that the court is OF such philan
hropic character that this time It will
award him almost as much money a
Jess Willard gets for exhibiting himself
Relative ability 70 WELD the hammer
mas always been a point for argumen
among sport writers. but the Philadel
phia scribe who predicts the cellar fo
both Mscks and Phils must he given tn
honors,