The Colorado statesman., 1922-08-19
A DIAMOND STANDARD

XATE very mucn doubt whether tle
" average Negro citizen of Den
yer holds II proper appreciation
of the valuable contribution to man
hood and skillful prowess being made
each year by small group of our
young men calling themselves the
WHITE ELEPHANTS. 1t is Il base
ball team composed of colored youths
that has gone ON year after year with
unimpaired strength, with victory aft
er victory being their common lot, un-
til today they are the most talked of
and feared ball team in or around Den
yer. For many years they were mem
bers of the city semi-professional
league and We're generally regarded as
the main drawing cards. But they won
championships too great IA regularity,
with the result that this year they
were cunnlngly left out of the league.
The white man will not stand the
gaff too long in any given line and the
fact that for three years in succession
the White Elephants bore off the palm
as the best ball team in Denver proved
exceedingly Not content with having
the city league all to themselves Il
scheme was devised in which games
were scheduled so far ahead that our
boys were practically excluded from
appearing on the Twenty third and
WeltOn street ball diamond. But an
opportunity was given them last sun
day, and the boys more than made
good. one of the largest crowds that
ever witnessed Il semi-pro game in the
city was on hand TO greet their bronze
idols All of the old-time fans from
dad" Mason on down turned out en-
masse. And to add glory and luster
to the occasion the boys won beauti-
fully contested game. The old-time
popularity still followed the team and
they proved themselves fully worthy
of it. Study the history and unchecked
successes of this baseball team from
year to year and Il lesson can be drawn
from it that will prove of value to
any Denver citizen. The underlying
principles of its achievements are the
same that apply to any other rule of
life, and that is ORGANIZATION and
TEAMWORK under capable LEAD
ERSHIP.
We have in mind at this moment
condition touching upon the history of
ent season. One of the players to
whom leadership had been accorded
by common consent in past years went
East, The White Elephants opened
the season as usual, but in a ragged,
half hearted manner. They could not
pull themselves together and were
buffed about by the most inferior ball
teams.
A huge vessel upon vast body of
water without rudder or pilot could
not have been more helpless. Finally,
one day the word rang out, Freddie is
back" and instantly there was another
story to tell. The famous White Ele-
phsnt ball team took on the needed
confidence and is once again the
dreaded foe of every team in the city.
They are sweeping everything before
them as of old, and there is Il reason
for it.
The boys have erected a standard of
excellence that could well be emulated
by organizations of a far different
character. Let no one suppose for a
moment that this team of capable ath-
letes is merely II patchwork affair.
The material is carefully selected and
once found worthy is kept constantly
in place The boys believe in one an
other and have carefully studied the
art and know the value of team play.
=,
a lasting success and this our proud
team found out years ago. Freddie
Hill may never wear medal as so
cial star or literary genius, but he
possesses what many of these are Woe
fully lacking in, and that is the ability
to lead men and to organize them into
a formidable non -defeatable unit.
Perhaps it is to our shame that
MANY of our leaders in other affairs
in Denver have not lent greater en-
couragement to this organization. The
boys have struggled for mastery and
gained ascendancy over the most FOR
bidding obstacles and handicaps.
Moreover it has been without finan-
cial gain for the little given them from
the collections ut the games is but poor
reward for such worthy prowess. The
Negroes of Denver owe more to the
White Elephant ball team than simple
praise and hurrahs during the excite
ment of the game. There should be
some benefit or testimonial extended
at the end of the present season as
riors whose unimpeded conquests may
be likened unto the "Glory that was
Greece and the grandeur that was
Rome"