Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-28
Judgments

SoA~ASAeH
AvY FuLTz' very cute and
N foxy move of seeking affilias
ton for the players fraternity
~ with the American Fedora
ton of labor has missed FIRE,
according to reports from Washing
ton, which say the Fultz application
has been denied by the labor leaders.
Notwithstanding any merit the strike
of the players may or may not have.
the labor leaders have taken the right
action. II Fultz could have secured
admittance of the frat it would have
been ten-strike for him and would
unquestionably have been big aid.
But the players fraternity has ex-
listed three years now and not until
a few days ago did it apply for men,
bership in the federation. A strike is
impending. On the surface it is ap-
parent the Fultz move was a strike
move, that the players fraternity
hoped to use the labor federation as
club, not that players really desired
to take part in the work of the fed
Grafton. Can you imagine one of our
$1,000 year athletes taking any in
terest in bricklayers' or carpenters
strike? Can you see the players fra
ternity paying any dues into the fed
Grafton after the players strike has
become a lost issue? What? Evil
IDENTIFY the labor leaders saw. it in the
same light and refused to fall for the
sly political move of the foxy Fuhz.
But you have to hand it to Davy at
that; he's shrewd bird and over
looks few bets.
The automobile speedways of the
United States apparently have made
discovery, said discovery being that
cooperation is a better method of
doing business than cut-throat COM
petition. The speedways have banded
together and have secured the passage
of legislation which will force the
five leading drivers of the country
to appear at every championship
event. Last year when contest d.
rectors of the various speedways tried
to sign up drivers they encountered
trouble among the leading stars The
big fellows wanted guarantees or ap-
pearance money. As result some of
the speedways didn't get some Of the
big stars, they didn't have the money
to pay for them. If any automobile
driver deserves appearance money it
is the little fellow, the chap whose
car isn't fast enough to win prize
money for him consistently. He has
a hard time getting along. while the
big fellow, who has a swift machine
and makes enough in prize money
to net him a substantial income for
the year, goes out and collects lot
more in guarantees and appearance
money. But that day apparently has
passed and the goose that laid the
golden egg for tRe big drivers has
been killed,
Mr.. Waldo Zbyszko has announced
to the palpitating world that he in
tends to start Immediately in pursuit
of the wrestling championship of the
United States, Europe Afghanistan,
Mars and few other points which
we fail to recall, and furthermore, as
severates that Joe Steeher is destined
to be the ultimate victim. Mr., Zbysz-
kos intentions, no doubt, may be
very commendable and very laudable
but we have suspicion Waldo is
going to encounter some rough going
if he attempts to invade the dense
underbrush of the wild and woolly
frontier of barbaric Nebraska. Ii
Waldo will only come this way we
can refer him to half dozen young
savages who will do their best to en-.
.tertain him, and we'll also risk our
share of the Bethlehem dividends
he'll be ready to beat it back to that
dear old Broadway George Cohan
used to write songs about after he
tangles with any one OF them. And
we are confident Messrs. Stecher
Plestina, Peters, Caddock, Pesek ct
al will bear US out.
Base ball critics seem to be award.
ing the 1917 National league penpanl
to John McGraw already. On paper
Muggsy's crew Of prize pippins have
all the earmarks of flag winners
Hollie, Zimmerman, Fletcher and
Herzog look like the classiest inheld
in the business. And what better
outfeld could one ask than Robert.
son, Burns and Kauf? McCarty is
about the best of the National league
catchers, while Benton, Perritt Tes
reau, Schupp, Sallee ct al make up q
formidable hurting staff. And in ad
dition, of course, McGraw has scort
of rockies any one of whom ma,
prove sensations. On paper it look.
like McGraw pennant But pecu
liar things happen in base ball; you'll
remember the Braves once beat the
invincible Athletics four straight, anc
even Cincinnati might even take the
Giants to cleaning. There is al
old adage that's almost become a bro
mide about don't count your chick
ems" and it's one proverb that bats {
thousand in base ball.
If the Western league observes one
new rule established by the big
leagues, few of our hurling expert!
are going to have tough time. Th'
majors hay prohibited the use o
rosin by pitchers. Ball games in thu
Western last year generally ran iron
one hour and forty minutes to two
hours and thirty minutes, and abou
half of the time was taken by pitcher
digging into their pockets after ;
chunk OF rosin. Some pitchers neve
threw a ball without plastering it witt
40 cents worth Of the gummy sub
stance. The Western league mogul