Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-24
EARLSMITH HAS
CHANCE TO STICK
Rourke Outfielder Has Better
Opportunity Under Mitchell
Than Under Tinker.
WICHITA Is WAKING UP


is tickled to see Fred Mitchell sue
iced Joe Tinker as manager of the
Chicago Cubs. That man is Pa
Rourke, owner Of the Omaha club.
Pa has a chance to collect a nice
slice of coin from the Chicago Cubs
and he believes the chance is much
better with Mitchelf>at the helm than
Tinker.
1t will be remembered when Rourke
sold Earl Smith, the crack left fielder
OF the Rourkovinians, he took gam
bler's chance with Charley Weegh-
man. If Smith makes good Pa gets
several thousand dollars. If he fails
he doesn't get cent, but Smith comes
back to this city.
That Smith is major league out
fielder is Pas belief. And it's the be-
lief OF many Omaha fans, too. Earl
is finished fielder already, he doesn't
need any tutoring along this line. He
is quick to Judge fly, runs forward
and back, has a great throwing arm
with which he throws with constant
accuracy and he keeps hits to the left
garden down to the least number of
bases.
Is Good Hitter.
Earl is also a good hitter, but should
be still more of a power with the war
club with little big league coaching.
He has the makings of base runner,
too, with some good coaching.
Under Tinker last fall Smith got
away to a bad start. Tinker had half
a dozen outfelders and he juggled
them around like men on chess
board. One day it was one man, the
next day another and he even switched
EN- around during the game.
Tinker's system is all right with
veterans, but it's poor way to ham
die recruits. 1t makes them nervous
and they lose their confidence. I'm
der Tinker Smiths chances to stick
in fast company weren't any too
rosy. But under Mitchell it is be-
lieved he has more than an even
chance. Mitchelps strong point-it
was with the Braves-was develop
ing youngsters. 1t is believed he will
see the possibilities in Smith and give
the lad every chance to make good.
And Rourke and Omaha fans are con-
fdent he will
And that's why Pa Rourke is
tickled ITO see Mitchell step into the
managerial shoes at Chicago.
Wichita Wakes Up. ,.a.
According to the latest reports
from the jobbing city, the business
men OF Wichita have at last opened
their eyes and decided that Wichita
should retain a place in the Western
league. The period of slumber seems
to be over. :,
When Frank Isbeli paid Wichita
his first visit the business men gave
him the merry litter. They refused
to put up a dime and tried to hold
Izzy up to boot Now they are sing
ing another tune and offering Isbell
all kinds of inducements to return to
their city. They have promised to
sell $4,000 worth of season tickets as
a starter and have assured the bald
eagle they will do all in their power
to give the team the proper support
AS Isbell always had a liking for
Wichita, it is believed the Des
Moines owner will try to Nreinstate
base bail il the Kansas town.
Such a move would, of course, ne
cessitate new owner at Des Moines.
This, however, should be simple
matter, as it is pretty generally known
that Tom Fairweather and the Chi
cago White Sox have the money i'll
the Iowa capital, not Isbell. That,
it is believed, is one reason why Is
bell is sweet on Wichita; he wants a
club Of his own. Fairweather and the
White Sox could get successor to
Isbell without any trouble.
1t is also said Topeka is waking up
and that the JayhawH capital does not
want John Savage I'd quit the village.
In case he insists, it is said, number
of Topeka BUSINESS men may come
to the front and buy the club.
Wants Eight Clubs.
Jack Holland down in St. Joseph
has come to bat with plea that eight
clubs be retained in the Western
league, no matter what the outcome
of the Kansas muss. Holland prefers
a far-hung eight club circuit to com
pact six-club circuit.
The Joetown magnate suggests that
in case Topeka drops out Davenport
be added to the list. Permission OF
the National commission would have
to be obtained to make this move,
but it is believed such permission
would be granted. Davenport should
be good territory. It's always been
pretty good base ball town itself
better than some of our Western
league towns, and Rock Island and
Muscatine are near at hand to swell
the population from which the club
could draw. Cheyenne is another
town Holland suggests, but it is prob
able the other magnates would be
leary about testing out Cheyenne.
Charley Moon, former secretary OF
the Lincoln club, is still angling for
a club. There is a chance that Charley
will be able to snap up bargain in
the reorganization that is due to come
He probably will be able to buy Saw
age out. -..