Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-06
Judgments

ball team will journey to Port
land. Ore, next October for
gridiron fray with the Oregon
Aggies, the team coached by DR.. Stewart,
The ReNv cotnhusker director, for the last
four years. This will be the longest trip
ever taken by a Huster foot ball eleven
and NehAaskaa enters the class with Notre
Dames syracuse. Brown and one or two
other schools that are kind to the rail-
roads. The long journey will be a nice
trip for, the, gridiron athletes of the Ne
braskaA institution and will probably act
as an incentive for the students to work
all the harder for place on the chosen
squad But there is, nevertheless, a bit
OF regret that the fifteen-hundred-m
Jump could not be made toward the land
OF the, rising sun. Nebraska has nothing
to gain by a game with the Oregon Ag-
gfes and everything TO lose. A victory will
not enhance Sthe Cornhusker reputation,
but a. defeaEr will be a bad blow to Me-
braska's record If the Cornhuskers were
TO invade thNdeast, it would be just the
opposite. everything to gain and nothing
to loses A rNictory over a big eastern
school would mean. everything to Me-
braskay a victory over the Oregon Aggies
nothing. A. defeat by big eastern school
all, defeat by the Oregon Aggies would.
InasmNch as the long journey is to be
taken and foreign field is to be in
vadeG, there is a feeling that It should
be taken in the other direction.
sBan Johnson the chap who swings the
big club In the American league, has
come out with a declaration that he
favors the appointment Of player to
the national commission, and even goes
50 far as to suggest the name Of Wahoo
SAD ora as: an ideal athlete. 20
confer this honor upon. Johnson's sug-
gesfIoh has been hailed with great glee
,hgssthegsplayers and the men connected
prominently with base ball have ex-
pressed themselves as satisfied that
crawford Is all that Johnson says he
is Granting that on the surface john
sons suggestion has every appearance
of benefit to the organized game. the
players fraternity might do well to in
vestigate Bans motive. The American
league executive has never in the past
exhibited signs of philanthropy and
granting concessions to anybody, espe-
cialy the players, has never been one
of his virtues. Perchance. Ban is sin
eere but preparedness 10 the keynote
Of the timeA
Ban Johnson has been quoted in the
news dispatches as saying that Kansas
City is a major league city and in the
coutse of two years will have place
In major league. Apparently the men
of the majors are preparing for the fu-
ture with an eye to preventing the or
eanization of any more outlaw leagues
The only way Kansas City can become
possessed of major club viii be by ex-
pansion OF the present circuits. An ex-
pansion to ten clubs will do the work
Also this expansion will admit second
team in Detroit, Pittsburgh and Cincin-
matt or Cleveland. This would most GER
tainIy establish a blockade against raid
ers. for an outlaw league could not be
started on a major league basis without
placing a third team In every city. Ger
tainly cities like St. Louis, Detroit. Gin
cnnati, Pittsburgh or Boston will not
support three teams. Mr.. Johnson, ap-
parently is casting his orbs well toward
the future.
While professionalism In amateur sports
is occupying its prominent position be-
fore the spotlight why not direct rev
of the rays OF the calcium before college
foot ball. Organized systems OF defeating
the eligibility rules exist in many institu-
tions and among the alumni OF the insti-
tutions. Extensive and wealthy alumni
make it a practice to induce by various
tempting methods students of ATHLETIC
ability TO enter their institutions AS far
as this section of the country Is con-
ceraed the Missouri valley is probably
the cleanest foot ball center In the
country in respect TO observance OF eligi'
bility rules and the Missouri valley is not
in need Of a house cleaning. But there are
other conferences and many non-confer-
enca schools which are sadly in need OF
il dee to a superabuhdance Of activity or
the part Of alumni
Western league fans arc pretty much
H. f,. NTH rauard n the annrOac cF.