The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-22
Buck Was Idol Of South Side
Rioters, Who Can't Yet
Make Themselves Believe
He Belongs With 0utCasts.
aY OSCAR c. REIcnoW.

CHICAGO, Oct. 90.~7What Buck
Weaver is alleged to hAYe done in
the worlds series games OF 1918 be-
tween the white Sox and the Gin.
einnati Reds has shattere0S the local
fans faith in baseball as much, II
not more, than anything that has de-
veloped out of the scandal. Weavers
connection--which he denies--with
the affair has been a severe Jolt TO
the fans who were not only surprised
but shocked when his name was
mentioned. They could hardly Pc
lieye II and there are many here to-
day who still believe he was not "a
party to throwing any games to
the Reds.
Weaver was an idol on the South
Side. not because Of his personality,
buzz because of the aggressiveness
with which he played. Few more
aggressive ball players ever have
been In the American league. II
was thought he could not loaf in
a. bali game II he tried, because he
loved to win too much. He always
tried, was ever ready to take adj
vantage of an opponents mistake and
enthused beyond compare when 1t
fell to his lot to drive home q run
or win a ball game. 1t was this
unlimited interest," this determine
ton and this dexterity that caused
the, followers of the White Sox team
to place such implicit faith in this
honesty. a
Weaver's MmeNot in Gossip.
Throughout Me summer there
were rumors going about that the
series of 1919 had been framed.
Naturally guesses were made as to
which Of the White Sox players were
guilty. Weaver's name was one that
was never mentioned. Fans thought
it hmpossibA that he would figure
in any such rotten affair like that,
knowing his disposition to fight for
ball games every second he was on
the diamond. They refused to link
his name with the scandal in any
way, and therefore were stunned
when his name was involved by the
players who confessed their guilt.
Weaver insists that he Is innocent.
Nothing could be more pleasing to
the followers of baseball in Chicago
but they declare he made the mis-
take of his life when he did not rush
UP to President Comiskey after the
first game was played in Cincinnati
and explain to him what was being
pulled off, IL he knew what was De-
ing done, and it is said he did. He
should have protected the fair~name
.of-the national game and at the
same time kept the finger OF sus-
picion from pointing strongly at him.
In addition he could have saved ms
reputation, moral character ana
decency of the players who are now
49, f~c al
The only way can figure Weavers
attitude last fall, if he knew what
was on the fire, is that he did not
possess the courage to go to the
front and uncover the dishonest men
on his team. That, in my opinion, Is
the trouble with many ball players
They lack the CUTS. They should
not fear. If they know that certain
players are in collision with gamb-
iers and tip 1t off to the clubowners
they will be protected in every way.
Not only will they receive the
strongest support from the leagues.
but they will have the backing sor
the. fans who admire man for his
nerve III turning up crook.
The situation here Is O. queer one,
It surely has a fellow thinking which
way to lump, One can hardly deny
that President Coriskey had a
strong suspicion, and possibly
knowledge, that something was
radically wrong in the playing OF
the worlds series. 1t has come out
in testimony given by President
Heydler of the National league that
he was told by Comeskey that the
games looked bad to him. Manager
Gleason also had bunch something
was wrong. He, too, went to Com
iskey. Yet they permitted the series
finish with the players still An
the game, that surely does not sound
good.
have talked to several baseball
magnates and managers since and
have asked them what they would
have done had they been confronted
with the same situation They all
replied they would have taken every
man at whom the finger Of suspicion
pointed and yanked him out OF the
game. In my opinion that is what
should have been done. I am COM
nelled to criticize Comiskey for not
doing it and for letting these play
ers stay on his team this season.
they should not have been permit
ted to put on a uniform on any
team considering the clouds that
hung over their heads. / am inclined
10 feel that Comiskey and Gleason
knew enough after their investiga-
tions which, they said they made, to
step out publicly and say these
were the men accused, and although
nothing tangible had been obtained,
enough had been found to keep them
out Of baseball. i,
"What would have happened had