The Washington times., 1921-01-20

Heisman. Now the trains keep I
is sighted through its smoke.
For six years Connie Mack's i'll
trained schoolboys have Travelled over
the American League circuit. making
new records for straight defeats, for
poorly-pitched performances. for er.
rorful contests. for about everything
except victories. II shall build from
the ground up" Connie promia ed hack
In 1916. but he must have starte in
q deep hollow. His head hasn't yet
appeared at the earth's level.
With the passing of Pat Moran, tho
Phillies. too. began Sliding back ard.
They reached the absolute ult mate
last year. The fans. wanting base
ball and unable to get 1t at either
Broad and Huntington or over on Lee
high avenue. began following the in
dependent teams, Of which there are
many good ones in the Quaker met
ropolis. The immeda ate future Of the
two big league entries In Phi adel-
phia cannot be called encouraging.
THE WORM WILL TURN.
But the worm will always turn
sooner or later. For years Conn e
Mack, personally popular with all
who know him, was protected by the
baseball writers, not only in Phila-
delphia- but elsewhere around the cir
cult. The managers Of the Phil es
also came in for some Of this pro-
lection. But the worm has turned.
Ed Wolf. writing in the Philadelphia
Inquirer under the pen name of Jim
Nasium. has been coming right out in
meeting recently and has focused the
country's attention upon the truly de-
plorable situation in Ben Franklin s
old town.
We like Philadelphia, strange as
that may seem. Many happy hour
have we spent in it's class c precincts
We have many good friends there.
Philadelphia has some excellent sp Jrts
writers. Jimmy Isaminger, of the
North American, is the funniest in
many moons, probably because he
has SO much practice writing Of the
frailties of tho Phillies.
Tiny" Maxwell, who reigns in the
Evening Public Ledger. ranks with
the best sports writer's in the busi-
ness, his principal drawback being
the necessity Of going out Of town
for copy. He has our sincere SYM
pathy.
This Ed Wolf. who is attacking the
policies OF the two Philadelphia
clubs. Is q veteran baseball writer
He knows what he is talking about
and, too. possesses a likeable style
with which to tell 1t.
WASHINGTON FORTUNATE.
Washington fans are fortunate. For
years they faced about the Same stu
alton now confronting Philadelphi ans
They knew Walter Johnson would
pitch the opening game and that
barring accident or war, the season
l.
And that's about all there was for
them. But II Is not so just now.
Here we are, figuring on putting the
team In the hunt from tho very be-
ginning.
Philadelphians know well RICH,
now what their two so-called major
league teams will do next summer.
They know It will be absolutely
nothing. spelled with small letters.
They know that the National League
magnate squeezcs dimes till they At
N . camers eye They know that
Connie Mack has a third-rate ball
club ~ compared with his competi-
tors
There h hope for Philadelphia,
though. for Ed Wolf Is rousing pub
lie opinion. BY the time he is done,
there should be changes for the bet
ter In both clubs. Letters are pour.
ing in upon Wolf each fan cheering
him on In the good work of inprov-
ing professional baseball in Ben
Franklin's old village.
Philadelphia is a big city, the third
largest In the country. For years
the Athletics set the pace on the
diamond. The fans became accust ON ed
TO winners. II Is wonderful that
they have shown so much patience
N the last Ave or six years
LETS QUOTE ED WOLF.
Let's quote Ed Wolf a bit:
With the Southern training trip
less than two months away, ano
the opening OF the baseball season
tri1e less than ninety days hence,
no visible attempts or earnest
methods have been attempted by
our local clubs to strengthen their
aggregatlons in any one spot. In
fact, solemn and vociforous
silence seems to have cloaked
everything connected with the Ath-
letics and Philiies. silence so
dense and 40 apparent that ovrn
the protests of the fans against
another season of tail-end bascball
has failed to slash II, or to rcnd
the great, great mute conditions.
Certainly X there be no other
players obtained the Athletes and
the phils will take their downward
dive into the cellar about mid.
season, II not earlier. and there
they will remain IN the old home
until the curtain nnally drops uown
in brown October.
But while no rumbles ~ trades
or purchases TO bolster up tho 40
credit and declining hell clubs have
been murmurcd TO tho car OF tho
fanatic. thero arc sounds that roll
along the neiRhborhood OF the Stove
League which would indicate that
John T. Alibi. our esteemed base