The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-04-26
.tlheeSqeen
ofSport
by NS 9:aAA+ss

49,
Congress IS expected to take action at
this session and lift burden from the
Kids At America who play games win
tho repeal Of the 10 per. cent tax on
athletic. goods. which Is promised ny
leaders OF the ways and means commit
zee prices OF baseball uniforms. gloves
halls. bats. masks. running toys SHOES
and ait the athletic equipment that KIDS
MS, in their sports are expected to drop
until the kids are again able 10 equip
themselves for play.
The tremendous prices for baseoalls
and other equipment wnich nave ny
suited not only from the increase OF
cost 81 materials but the added 10 per
r.rt tax have worked serious harm 10
the athletic development OF young
Americans and but for the resourceful-
ness Of the kids would have done worse
harm The fact that the quarter ball.
,h, fftv-cent uritt, and the dollar uni
form went out Of existence when tho
t,x uls imposed has reduced the num-
brr OF uniformed kid teams tremendous
lr.
The situation was saved in part by
an agreement of the manufacturers 10
make cheap balls and gloves 10 sell oe
low actual cost in order that inc MUS
could afford the proper equipment Inc
Neal harm Of the tan has not yet pTt'
biz. Tens Of thousands OF kids VINO
we been unable to get equipment or
failed TO start
wing baseball and many OF them arc
q the age now when they ever Will
RI With tho quarter ball costing
enty-hyr cents. with uniforms the
: used 10 buy at slc to SIS Tor ten
ting $50. with shoes moro than
,bled in price, Il has been a hard
for the kids these last three years.
England, France, Italy AND
weden are subsidixtng athletic
ports among thu young. We are
ax1ng them.
The ingenuity Of thekids during tho
n nrice era has been the saving
Iture Of the situation. They can't
en- American kids from getting what
~ want by taxation or high prices or
vthinr There was one kid team out
Jefferson Park district OF Chicago
ich refused to be discouraged ana
ich kept tho sport alive in face OF
handicaps.
ron know that kids cannot have
h baseball team unless they can have
uniforms. That is what makes the
erence between real team and
lb bunch. This team met IN oasn
decided to organize. The leader
a kid named OSkiewski, which does
sound American, but Is. 1t was
that they have uniforms. and each
was orderedto go homo and hold up
family for as much as Posslole
result was about seven dollars
I'd with the seven dollars, the ten
descended upon Dave Levinson'
makes uniforms. and demanded 70
q head Of the firm. They wanted
Uniforms. ton pairs OF STOCKINGS
caps. and agreed to foreso inc
Oskicwski made a straight huSl-
proposition and outlined his plan
could pay 81 on account and tho
weekly, He explained that his
was TO buy two pairs OF stockings
ach uniform. with different colored
s. and have the shirts plain, so
initial of any team could b" pinned
q breast He showed proof that
were a dozen Kid teams in the
borhood who would rent the suits
solemnly entered into the arrange
So tho Bears wore tho uniforms
Law, the Jefferson Park White SoH
ber Oskievski charged each team
for the use of uniform. bats, mitt
gloves for ono game and superin-
sd tho changing OF suits. one att-
on three teams wore the uniforms
gular games. He paid tho bill in
NTH and his team owned the suIIS-
me Id who II hard to beat IN a
l ra1ns II . tough bird to stop
,en he goes to bat In the battles
business
mere is Brooklyn system which l
has spread all over America
rever kids organize ball clubs. II
been used in hundreds Of districts
he big cities. and as an example OF
finance II proves that you cannot
them.
he first move OF the kids Is TO save
r nickcls and pennies until they have
dollars Then they 80 to the bank
get five-dollar gold piece for the
nse. Next they rattle on the hve
bars selling chances from l cent 10
cents
ne business man in the neiShoorhood
% returns tho tive dollars.
Fhrrr IS one fve-dollar gold piece out
Flathush which has been loaned to
Ir different, lunches Of Kids FOR
Ming purposes and three times re-
Fned by the lucky holder OF the num-
T. The kids who originally owned the
. dollars loaned it TO other Kids To
cr Us a prize for the raffle. Then
> old crouch OF groceryman won
at hv" dollars and kept It.
The owners demanded restitution
pm the team which had borrowed It,
d after tho uniforms had been pur-
aScd there wasn't enough In the
raSury 10 repay There was prospect
war between the two teams when
financial genius. or future big bust
IS bandit. MT upon the idea. Tho
& week every kid on the two teams
Crd I" 10 permitted to do the mar
Ing. Tho grocer discovered he had
a lo' nr trade and inquired why.
kids had boycottcd him. He agreed
return tho gold piece. peace was de-
red and when nc offered to present
m with 4 mask and two bats one