Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-23
Judgments

may De their character. A week ago
at chicago the American derby was
revived after lapse of twelve years.
Every effort was made to suppress
the betting. There was no betting
ring Several hundred detectives
mingled through the crowd to clamp
the firm arm Of the law down on
handbook makers. Suspected pool
rooms in Chicago were watched
closely. But, despite all this, reports
OF the big event carry the news that
betting was as brisk as it was in the
halcyon days of old. The bookies
had the better system and they hood
winked the promoters and authorities.
There is no gainsaying the fact that
the American propensity ito take a
chance" is omnipresent As long as
there is competition there will be
betting. In horse racing this is espe-
cially true. Racing of the thorough
breds has been termed the sport Of
kings. 1t is. Unusual is the indi-
vidual who Is not thrilled BY the
jumpers. Harness racing is merely
patchwork compared to thorough
bred racing. But thoroughbred rae
ing will never really come back clean
from the betting evil And yet it is
something to wonder at sometimes
that horse racing was made a dead
issue by reformers, while the wrestler,
the boxer and divers others of his
kind thrive and prosper by milking
the public on fake events, trimming
not only the man who risks his money
but the man who pays his honestly
at the box office as we'll.
The American league is providing a
pennant flight this year that should
provide the palpitating fan with suf-
ficient excitement. With the season
half over, as yet not a single team
has broken away from the field to
make threatening squirt toward the
coveted goal. Ordinarily a line on
what can be expected can be made
at this time of the season, but this
year as much doubt covers the
eventual outcome as it did when the
eight starters broke away from the
barrier in April. On form Boston
looks the best bet, with the White
Sox to follow, but New York and
Cleveland have been going great guns
and these outsiders are just as like
as not to whizz down the pike to
victory. And Washington and De-
troit are still fighting for honors with
moderate degree of success. It's an
open race in the American league,
one which may terminate in almost
any fashion and no team is.more than
an even bet.
The announcement that Columbia
may give up rowing, owing to lack of
success, will be sad blow to the
Poughkeepsie regatta. In recent years
Wisconsin and Georgetown have
given up rowing, Stanford and Wash
ington have ceased to go east, and
now Columbia is willing to quit.
Cornell, Syracuse and Pennsylvania
are about all that is left. Rowing is
a sport that is little appreciated out
here in the west. 1t causes some
furore in the east But rowing is a
difficult sport. It's expensive and it's
hard on the men who take part. Six
months of strenuous training is
necessary for few short races. It's
too hard on men who are also bur
dened with constant study and it will
never be popular except in a few of
the larger schools. As result, the
dropping out of one college, like Co.
lumbia, is a blow that hurts.
The United States Golf association
in its efforts to suppress profession
alism among its members, seems to
be oyer-reaching itself bit. Because
the Woodland Golf club OF Newton
refused to abide by the national as
sociation's decision that Francis
Ouimet is a professional, the Wood
land club has been denied its mem
bership. The national association is
getting so strenuous it almost insists
that a man who works for living
shall not be an amateur golfer. 1t
is said Ouimet is not of that social
caliber" which golf properly demands.
The national association may mean
we'll. but it's making itself ridiculous
and organized golf is going to sail a
turbulent sea if it continues along its
present lines, permitting the cheap
aristocratic minority to force its un-
democratic ideas into use.
Umpires are born, not made, is an
old saying. And which way does this
apply to Tom Connolly, dean of the
American league staff. Connolly
never played a game of base ball in
his life. In fact he never saw one un-
til he was of age. Tom was born in
the old country and it was not until
he had reached the voting age that
he came to the United States. But
he's great umpire. He is the most
popular umpire in the league with the
players. Pitchers are always sure
- they will get their dues when Tom is
working. With the batters the same
applies. Few arguments and fights
ensue over Connollys decisions. But
was Connolly born or made? Here's
chance for argument either way.
It's about time for Barney Dreyfuss
and August Hermann to quit harping
on the Sisler case. Continuation Of
the argument over the services of
this player will do no good. Sisler
has been awarded to St. Louis and
the public isn't crazy to hear any
more about it.
New Mack InfieIder Is
Son Of an 0ld-Time Star