Omaha daily bee., 1916-10-01
Judgments
PPARENTLY Mr.. Stewart


"A idly adhers to that sacred
custom OF dispensing gloon.
Gridiron practice has been under way
for two weeks at Lincoln and nary an
encouraging report has been heard.
True, no gnashing OF the molars, or
tearing of the curly locks has started
at the camp, but the season is young
yet. Unsatisfactory, or disappointing,
or displeased is about as strong as the
early reports read, but when the days
of the big games roll around we can
expect to listen to heart-rending tales
Of woe describing the hospital list
in four figures, the cruel blows of
circumstance and the like. This is
in no way knocking the new coach,
don't mistake that, all good coaches
are gloom dispensers. Alonzo Stagg
is one of the best coaches in the
business and he never in his life
smiled between September and
Thanksgiving day. Hurry-up Yost
Is another and Yost can shed more
tears in ten minutes that Nazimova
can in ten years. One Jumbo Stiehm
was pretty good sob artist, himself
Rather il inspires a new confidence
in Stewart to learn that he does lean
toward the gloom. The coach who
bubbles over with enthusiasm and ou-
timism often gets a rap in the neck
So long as he is only displeased and
doesn't get discouraged we'll let him
sing tales of woe in every key on the
scale.
A great hue and cry has been
made by supporters of the major
leagues over the great sums Of money
the majors have spent in purchasing
talent from the minors, the conten-
ton being made that many minor
clubs were enabled to weather the
stormy 1916 season through the
money derived from the sale of
these players. 1t was very noble of
the majors, indeed, to spend all this
money. A score Of scouts visited the
Western league this year. A dozen
ball players were purchased. Some
were bought outright, but we have
a hunch the number is small. Most
of the players must make good before
the Western league owner gets his
cash. That is the kind of deal Pa
Rourke made for Smith, Kilduff and
Kruger. The scouts were willing to
purchase a lot OF talent. They made
offers for many ball players that were
refused. For instance, we know one
scout who offered Hugh Jones OF
Denver $500 for a certain ball player.
Just think of it, $500? We also know
Of half dozen other similar offers
that were made and we presume there
were many that we didn't hear about.
Very generous, indeed, very generous,
indeed We suggest that Mr.. Carne-
gle ought to give medals to the ma
jor league club owners for their ex-
treme generosity.
Tis said in major league circles
that the National commission, the ST.
preme court of base ball, will have
a new chairman named this winter.
The National commission as it now
stands consists of President Johnson
of the American league, President
Tener of the National league with
Garry Hermann, owner of the Gin
cinnati club, as chairman. The move
to elect a new chairman is the re-
suit of dissatisfaction that the Ma
tional league has two representatives
on the commission, while the Ameri-
can league has but one. The asso-
citation of minor leagues might take
a tip from this proposal and try to
work one of its members into the
board to fill that position. The Ma
tional commission rules over the |
minor leagues, but the minors are not
represented on it, A man represent
ing all the minor leagues ought to
make the best kind of chairman for
the board--it would be fair to the
majors and fair to the minors-and
it would be wise move for all base
ball if such action was taken. The
minor leagues are finding the row
harder to hoe each year and they |
ought to be given little protection
and assistance.
The Omaha Amateur Base Bail as
sociation closes the most successful
season in its three years of existence
this afternoon, with big field meet
at Rourke park. While its champion
ship team, the Armours, did not gain
any fame in the inter-city series as
did the Luxus a year ago, the season |
locally was the best the association
has yet enjoyed. 1t finished with
substantial sum OF money in its treas
ury and the interest this year was
much greater. Some trouble was ex-
perienced with rowdyism, but the
sandlotters are learning that it does
not pay to be too prone to start fights,
or work on the theory of anything to
win" and are becoming better sports
men. Next year the amateurs should
have better season than this, and
they will if they will only exercise a
little care.
'Tis said Pa Rourke is the only
Western league magnate who made
any money this year. And we'll wag-
er Pa would willingly swap fortunes
with Rockefeller at that.
Frank Isbell declares Wichita is not
a dead base ball town yet and urges
the Western league to stick to it. All
right, let 1sbell take charge down
there.