Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-25
Judgments
A S MIGHT have been expected
II had the magnates given the

tary drill trick in the training camps.
At least two clubs have openly OBJ
jected. When war threatened the
magnates apparently were suddenly
seized with an intense patriotism and
announced military drill for their ath-
letes and employed drill sergeants to
accompany the athletes to the south.
Some skeptics have accused the mag
mates of "press-agenting" again and
scout the sincerity of the patriotism.
This viewpoint seems rather un-
worthy, the patriotism probably was
genuine, but the scheme, neverthe-
less, was poorly conceived and super
huous in its aims, The diamond ath-
lete is peculiar species of the genus
homo. About the only thing he can
be induced to take serious is his
semi-monthly pay check and occa-
sionally ball game or two. One
would have to be an optimist to be-
ieve he would accept military drill,
especially with the base ball bat sub
stituted for the Springfield, with any
degree of importance. Rather he
would be annoyed. And that's just
what has happened, with the result
that two clubs at least have kicked
No doubt, being as patriotic as the
average American citizen, credit
able percentage of ball players will
De ready to answer the call to arms
when the time comes, but base ball
amp is not military training camp.
The magnates have allowed their en-
thusiasm to run away with them
again.
Stock companies are in several cit
les being heralded as the salvation Of
base ball. Buffalo and Providence
in the International league have
launched stock companies and the
scheme is being tried in a small way
in Richmond. A stock company of
ians threatened to buy the St. Louis
Cardinals. Stock companies in these
cities may prove success and be the
salvation of base ball, but the scheme
never worked out very well in this
part OF the country. Stock companies
for short time conducted the Wich-
ita and Topeka clubs in the Western
league. Both gave it up as bad
Job, in fact conducted the clubs far
less successfully than private owner
ship did. The Nebraska State league
and the Mink league, both composed
largely of stock companies of fans.
blew up. A stock company exists
II Lincoln, and it weathered 1916 very
we'll, but it had club in second place
md in the race all the season and
what will happen when the team slips
little is uncertain to say the least.
The stock company listens good, but
is never been success out here.
The Western league booster meet
ng held in Omaha couple of weeks
go promises effective results, accord
ng to reports received from the var
Gus cities of the league. Represen-
tatives at the meeting upon their re-
turn home started the ball rolling
right away with the result that new
spirit OF enthusiasm seems to have
been instilled into the Commercial
and Rotary clubs. To Tom Fair
weather, the Western leagues newest
nagnate, must go the credit for this
move which promises such glowing
success. Fairweatier offered it to
he magnates as suggestion and con-
yinced them that, while it would
probably cost several hundred dollars,
would return the money expended
several times over. And even at this
early date it looks very much as
.hough Farweather had the right
lope and his follow magnates were
wise in accepting his suggestion.
Jess Willard, our industrious little
champion, with his managers, seems
to be lining up for the annual spring
and summer drive on the circus. Mr..
Willard is one of our best little circus
champs. But the circus pulled a bone
this trip. Undoubtedly Wizards con-
tract calls for the payment of large
sums of coin each and every Saturday
night. The circus will try to get back
part of the said large sums by stag
ing an after show, for which an addi-
tional admission price will be charged.
But the public is getting more or less
tired of Willard, they aren't interested
in him any more and won't be until
he defends his title, and even then
the interest is likely to be largely
desultory. All the glamor has worn
off of Jess "vindication of the white
race" so called. And if the circus
gets back the money invested on Will
lard this year, we'll pass and admit
lnything can happen.
That figures do lie is the gist of
dope yarn by record-breaking
scribe, who has selected a Worst
club" 1t is made up Of the play
ers who have given opposing clubs
the most runs by the error route. The
scribe finds that Iris Speaker booted
away more runs than any other center
fielder in the game, that Art Fletcher
led the shortstops, Whitted the left
6elders, Wingo the catchers. Faber
and Morton are the pitchers The
scribe's Worst club" would come
pretty near being a pennant winner
u SllilSi Dls lSdSuS. III DdSC Ddll, dt
cast, figures do lie occasionally.
Although the big Finn came into
He central west, wrestled four
matches in five night, winning. of
curse, all four, and made desperate
effort to make all impression, John
Din doesn't seem to have started
The wrestling fans in this part of the
globe much. Omaha gave him the
icy stare-almost ignored his pres
'nce--Sioux City merely became mild
ly interested, and Chicago, where they
"esuscitated Doc Roller to provide an
opponent, refused to be annoyed.
Din should have sent his press agent
'Iut here and stayed away himself.