Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-17
Judgments

" All efforts of Omaha alumni
OF the state institution failed
when the Missouri Valley conference
refused to revoke an existing rule
which prohibits a conference eleven
nom playing in any city in which one
of the competing schools is not To-
Gated The conference decision was
to be expected, although several of the
local alumni were enthusiastic enough
to believe their efforts might succeed.
The university is ready enough to
solicit any assistance it may want
from Omaha and never fails to ex-
press its heartfelt thanks and appre-
citation Support from Omaha is al
ways very gratefully received But
when it comes to giving Omaha some
thing in return-nothing doing. In
this particular instance the alibi artists
pass the buck to Kansas and Missouri,
asserting these two institutions had
the ruling passed and were insistent
that it be retained. Nothing, of course,
is said about the other five schools in
.sile conference which, one would pre-
sumo, have vote in Missouri Valley
affairs. Also, there are those who have
a suspicion that these Missouri Valley
conference rules about which such
hullabalu is raised don't amount to
any more than the paper on which
they are written Nebraska played
the Oregon Aggies at Portland. The
Aggie institution is not located in
Portland 1t has department there.
SO has Omaha a department of the
University of Nebraska, the college Of
medicine, which, it might be men
toned, is considerable department and
which Lincoln strived nightly to get
for itself. If the University of Ne
braska wanted to play game in
Omaha it would do so, Missouri Val
ley conference rulings to the contrary
notwithstanding.
Faint rumblings heard among the
minors seem to indicate mighty up
heaval may occur in the base ball
world if the major league magnates
don't watch out. Last week the Inter-
national league refused fatty to pay
the $4,000 claim awarded Charley Eb-
bets by the National commission. If
the International continues to refuse
to comply with the commissions rul-
ing it will result i'll loss of member
ship in the organization. This means
a virtual move into outlawry. The
international, the American associa-
ton and the Pacific Coast leagues
have combined to make demands that
they be exempt from the draft ruling
and that they be given representation
on the governing body of the game.
In order to make these changes the
national agreement will have to be
amended, which requires the unani-
NOUS vote of the two major leagues.
Thus one club owner can block them.
But the Pacific coast league is very in
sistent and threatens to once more re-
turn to state of outlawry. 1t would
be sad blow to Organized Base Ball
il these two Glass IA circuits, the
International and the Pacific Coast,
should turn outlaws, but the chances
look about ffty-hfty. If the Western
wasn't tangled up with its own trou-
bles, the Zehrung loop might be max
ing a little disturbance too.
The career of another base ball
great has come to a close. Nap
Rucker, said by many to be the great
EST of all southpaw hurlers, is the man.
Rucker was another of those players
who was a credit to the sport III which
he made his livelihood, clean, square
player and true Georgian gentleman.
Rucker was all the more wonderful
pitcher because he hurled for tall
end team. But he made some great
records despite the fact that his crew
behind him was nothing to brag about.
He pitched no-hit game against Bos-
ton and almost duplicated the feat
against Cincinnati. Once Nap famed
sixteen men in one game and in one
season he scored shutout against
every team in the league. He fought
all his battles in the face OF adversely,
handicapped by weak team, but he
won. Rucker is another one OF base
balls children at whom base ball can
point an unwavering finger and proud
~ say there's another of my boys.
For sweet charity's sake, if present
plans run true, Jess Willard and
Georges Carpenter will fox trot
through ten brief rounds in New York
CITY some time this winter. The pro-
ceeds will go toward the Red Cross
fund-that is. some of the proceeds.
Mr.. Willard has expressed cheerful
willingness to donate his services ior
charity-and $65,000. Mr.. Carpenter
will also donate his services tor char
ity-and $4,000. The unselhsh hui
manitarianism, the tender benevolence,
the obliging philanthropy and the
sympathetic charity of these noble
warriors is very commendable indeed,
and very laudable. New York should
be more than willing, even eager, to
contribute its support at about twen-
ty-fve bucks a seat It's all for sweet
charity.
The player limit ruling is coming up
again before the National league.
Brooklyn, New York and Chicago, it
rs said, want the limit extended. why
the player limit should bother these
National magnates is something OF
mystery. 1t was observed last year
in the strict sense of the word, but
there were only two clubs which car
ried twenty-one players. The others
had several more under contract and
eyaded the limit law by placing the
additional athletes on the disability
list, erasing and restoring their names
as occasion made necessary. OF
course, it is much better if a club OBJ
serves all the laws and rulings, but If
il doesn't what difference does it make
whether the limit is twenty-one. TWEEN
,y-five or thirty?