Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-05-13
Judgments

the III per cent war tax is imposed
there is no doubt that most OF the
parks in the country, especially the
minors, will be compelled to shut
down and wait for times of peace and
prosperity. But unless the tax is
imposed base ball at the worst should
not suffer worse season than 1916
Bad weather this spring has caused
most of the apprehension. For ten
days rains predominated all over the
country, with the result that few
games were played during the period
and those that were played were not
we'll attended. 1t has also been pref
ty cold this spring and the fans wait
ed for the day when he could see the
game without draping himself in an
overcoar In Omaha, for instance, a
week ago today 5000 persons saw
the game, and it wasn't by any means
a comfortable base ball day. II
would seem the magnates are getting
a little previous with their worries
and unless they run into another pro.
longed rainy spell or the war tax is
levied base ball should do fully as
we'll this year as last, if not much
better.
While boxing fans haven't any great
love for Freddie Welsh, one must con-
TESS an admiration for the lightweight
title holder for his business astute-
ness. Welsh has been in the ring for
many, many years. He has probably
survived as long career as any boxer
And in that long career Welsh has
probably lost as many fights as he
has won. We use "lost" advisedly
outpointed might be a better word
for, of course, most of the defeats
have been of the newspaper species,
which have no bearing upon the
championship. Welsh has earned
many a dollar in the ring and as he
still holds the championship he nc
doubt will make many more. We may
not admire Freddie's methods, but
we must admit they win for Freddie
Umpires in the Western league
have apparently taken President Zeh-
rung's instructions literally. They
tolerate no wrangling at all. This
may be all right, but it may be all
wrong. The reason, of course, is tc
prevent any rowdyism on the field
but it might be well to remember that
base ball isn't tea room sport and
the fan likes little excitement for
his money. Taking the spirit out Of
the play by having the umpire yell
Five bucks" whenever an athlete
opens his mouth or bats his eye is bad
business reasoning, and if overdone is
more likely to keep the attendance
down than the war or the high cost
of living.
Word trickled over the wires last
week that the American association
had lost $4,000 a week since the
opening of the season. Association
club owners have always made the
mistake that they were conducting
ball clubs in major league towns
They have employed high-priced bal
players, mostly stars just fading from
the big show, and they spent theil
money as extravagantly as big league
nagnates. The association plays {
faster article of ball than the Other
"A leagues, but with couple of ex
ceptions the towns in the league dc
not justify the extravaganza.
Omaha fans have placed the STAMP
Of approval on Outhelder Schick. Will
all the respect in the world for the
late, lamented Mr.. Forsythe, Schicl
appears to be a decided improvement
The new gardner is fast fielder, ha:
the earmarks of 300 swatter and i:
fast on the bases, The Omaha out
field of Smith, Thompson and Schicl
looks like big league stuff and its {
cinch it is the class of the Zehruns
circuit
The Wisconsin commission ha
eliminated the large guarantee fol
boxers. Another move toward thu
better. 1t is quite ridiculous to pa,
fighters the enormous sums which
many of them have received, and thi
is one of the reasons why the ring
game has fallen into disrepute ii
many localities. Other commissions
would be wise to follow Wisconsin
good example.
Boxing has been Saved" in New
York and T. Jones and ]. Curley, ii
behalf of Mr.. Willard, may permit /;
sigh of relief to escape. With thu
Jones-C urley conception of fitting re
Enumeration for Wizards ten-rount
services fuctuating between the mod
est little sums of $4,000 and $4,000
it is fortunate indeed that New York
fertile crop of suckers be retained.
John Olin, the we'll known Finnish
gentleman, quit to young Zbyszko a
Louisville Friday night. Now Zbysz
ko will insist Stranger Lewis ha
nothing on him as the logical oppo
nent to meet Earl Caddock. Wrest
ling is a grand little pastime, as it i
manipulated by crafty managers AM
promoters who never give the dolla
an even chance if they can help it.
Marin Plestina, Omaha wrestler,
scheduled to clash with Adolph Ems
at San Francisco Tuesday. If Pies
tina throws Ernst he will vanqulsl
one of the cleverest wrestlers in tn
business and it will no longer be pos
sible-or at least good policy-for tn
topnotchers of the mat game to con
tinue to ignore the Omaha man
challenges.
George Sisler has crowded Tri
Speaker out OF hitting honors in til
American league and Benny Kaui
has climbed to eighth position in tn
National. The dopesters wouldn'
have much of fit if Sisler shout
beat both Iris and Ty out and Benn
.,,sl.. S..-i l.. ...1-,.;.n I