RJ t ,te Historical ooiety VOL..G LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, JULY 17, 1909 8 PAGES NO. 15 3 WV7A &Pfm m)W it U lomrsfr JU 1 Some Dope About the Great National Game The transfer of the ownership of the Lincoln franchise is by no means a matter of regret. Guy Green, who made such a wonderful financial suc cess of Uie "Green's Indian" team, found the management of a lot of white players a somewhat different preposition. There Is a very preva lent opinion that Mr. Green did not -nit It off well" with some of the players, and as a result there was a lack of harmony that was evidenced In the percentage table. But Lincoln's low standing is not wholly due to lack of Individual effort on the part of the players although no one who regular ly attends the games can conscien tiously declare that the players have done their best. It is stated that Mr. Green has cleared up over 13.000 with the team to the date he sold it. When one considers the number of games lost by rain, and other drawbacks, one must admit that this offers one mighty good reason for Lincoln's low standing in the table. A little more attention to Riving the people what they " pay for. even at the risk of letting loose of a piece of money, would have re sulted in a strengthening of the team. Instead of letting go of some of this profit Mr. Green contented himself, seemingly, with picking up an occa sional amateur pitcher or taking a cast-off from some other team, in the league. While be was pursuing this policy other managers were letting go of their money in efforts to strengthen their teams. Nor will it longer suffice to lay all our misfortune to the weakness of the pitching staff. Weak as that staff is, it has been doing better than the team behind it. Take the case of young Maxwell on Friday" of last week "Christy" Matthewson would have had hard work winning that game with the support of accorded the young ama teur. Same way with McCatferty the next day. YouH not see the weak ness of "Mac's" support shown up in the official score, but it was there, just the same. And it is growing just a little wearisome to have the whole blame for defeat laid upon a weak pitching staff and a bone-headed um pire. One is forced to admit that Has kell's umpiring is at times very much to the dandelion, but what's the use of longer continuing the foolish task of trying to believe that we lose games because his umps is against us? We know better. in the amateur teams of the state. I have been told of a dozen catchers who can hit a 763 clip, of a score of amateur pitchers who can win seven games out of eight, and I've got a line on short stops enough to equip a dozen leagues. I can not understand, after having all this dope given me. why any one should conceive the idea that ball players are scarce. Say, we might put the grandstand on the south side, turn the field t'other side to. and see if it wouldn't reverse this "luck" we hear so much about. Th reeular "fan" the "fan" who pays his good money to see every game, and who has no favorites to play is Inclined to the belief that a change of policy as regards the treat ment of the players might help things some. There has been altogether too much coddling, too much excusing, too much boosting of individuals, "with a view to helping them catch on in a big league." The result of all this sort of thing is too frequent "grand standing at times when every in terest of the game demanded that the player forget that there is such a thing as people in the seats. It will not do to longer say that "luck is breaking against' us." That is an old atorv. And the old timers at the game only laugh when they are asked td study the score for proof of the as sertion. Some scoring is a joke. And It Is high time. too. that Man ager Fox give about fifteen of his col leagues a couple of hypodermic injec tions of ginger and make them get out on the coaching lines. One might see a half-dozen games on the home grounds without seeing or hearing any evidence to prove that Lincoln's ball team Is not made up of a bunch of mutes. While visiting teams put men out oa the coaching lines and raise particular thunder. Lincoln's players remain glued to their seats as tight as a hired man to the shade of a tree when the boss farmer isn't around. Manager Fox was first up the other day, and he actually had to turn to the players bench and growl: "Get p on first there, some of you fellows, and get Into the game. . Then David son ambled to the coaching lines and for a couple of minutes made almost as much noise as a cat in cotton slip pers walking across a velvet carpet. That sort of spirit does not win ball games. It there la no one on the team who can get out oa the coaching lines and make a Boise like & fat man falling through a drug store window. Managers Despaiu and Stoner ought to hire tone leather-lunged "fan." put him la uniform and set him to going- What puts more ginger into a game than nifty coaching? After you ans wer that question for yourself just ask yourself how many of the Lincoln team sit on the bench and make a noise like a clam. Ever see Thomas out on the coaching line? He is com edian enough while in the field, and he could put life into the game if he got out on the line. But he does not. Ever see Jude out there? Or Wald ron. or when when one of the Lin coln team does get out on the coach ing lines do you ever hear him to any appreciable extent? One good coacher like that funny man from Wichita would be worth more to the Lincoln team right now than a first-class pitcher. gate from the ministerial union, was present and made a talk that won him hearty applause. Next Monday is an open date with the Foxes and Messrs. Despain and Stoner have decided to give the play ers a day of rest. A fishing expedi tion to Milford is now on the card. Wednesday's Evening News. That's a pious idea. On the princi ple of "siniila similibus curanter" the Lincoln team ought to catch enough bull heads at Milford to fill a freight ear. CENTRAL LABOR UNION. A Short Session Gets Away with a Lot of Business. The Central Labor Union met Tues day evening and got away witu a goodly bunch of -business in good time. It was unanimously agreed .'was adiudsed the winner. WEAKNESS OF CIVILIZATION. If the world were actually all civil ized, wouldn't it be too weak even to ripen? And now, in the great centers, where is accumulated most of what we value as the product of man's best efforts, is there strength enough to elevate the degraded - humanity that attends our highest cultivation? We have a gay confidence that we can do something for Africa. Can we reform London and Paris and New York, which our own hands have made. Charles Dudley Warner. Among the Live Ones Here and Hereabouts CAPITAL AUXILIARY. Officers Installed at the Meeting Held Wednesday Afternoon Capital Auxiliary No. 11 met with Mrs. August Radebach last Wednes day afternoon, and the officers elect ed recently were inducted into office. Recently a prize was offered to the member who would turn into the label committee the largest number of pieces of printed matter minus the "little joker. The contest ended Wednesday and Mrs. W. M. Maupin Another Haven't we had about enough ex cuses for failures to win games? And isn't it about time to have it under stood that the people who pay their good money to see ball games are en titled to something more than individ ual "grandstanding" and friendly- ef forts to boost into the big leagues? We've had the luck gag spring often enough. We've had a surfeit of ing the ump." If we could have one fifth as many hits as we've had ex cuses we'd be at the top of. the per centage table. The faithful "fans" are not demanding the impossible, Where is there another city in the Western league that would have con tinued such royal support of a per-1 that the body go on record against a parade Labor Day and in favor of a general outing. A committee was also appointed to arrange for a the atrical benefit. Another committee was authorized to go ahead and se cure two hundred members to an organization with a view to meeting more than half way the promoters of the "labor headquarters"-idea. - Several new delegates were obli gated and a collection of $3.50 taken up for the benefit -of the striking hat ters. Rev. Mr. Zenor, fraternal dele- contest of the same kind was at once instituted. Mrs. Will Bustard was warmly wel comed at the meeting. She has fully recovered from recent severe illness. Mrs. Hoffmeister is slowly recover ing from her illness, but she is still confined to her bed. Mrs. W. M. Maupin and children returned Monday after a pleasant visit with relatives in North Bend. The next meeting will be held on July 28 at the home of Mrs. C. B. Righter. UNIONS HAVE DOME MOST TO BETTER WORKER'S LOT luck 'and "his umps." The new management of the Lincoln team will be backed up In its every legitimate attempt to strengthen the team by the acquisition of new play ers, but there are those who insist that the first thing needed is to convince some of the men already on the salry list that they'll have to brace up if hey continue to connect with the en velope. It's all right to holler against "knockers." but even the most persis tent and consistent booster loses heart when he coughs up half a ducat every day to see games lost by woozy playing and futile swipes at the horse hide. Give us a rest oa this "weak pitching staff dope and get busy with the amiable gentlemen behind the pitchers. Johnnie Dugan, the printer umpire. couldn't last- Dugan's health failed There ia more thaa owe "fan" who Is ot the opinion, that there are about ntne too many would be home run hitters on the team, and not nearly enough hitters who are content to hit the ball just hard enough to get them to first. It fa awfully sweet, no doubt, to bear the plaudits of the multitude when one swats the ball up against the back tjeld fence, but plan dits tor that sort ot thing are becom ing woefully scarce these days, but there Is a discouragingly large num ber ot would-be home runs that arch up into heaven like a rainbow and gently descend into the waiting hands of opposing fielders. A tew more sinrle and a few less attempts to The following article, which appeared some time ago in Col lier's is so appropriate and is such a surprise to see in one of the leading publications of the United States, that we reproduce it: "To those who have plenty to eat and wear, and eomfortable houses, and no anxiety for the future, this world may naturally wear an aspect slightly unlike the one presented to the struggling many. Speaking of industrial progress. Mr. Raymond Robins remarked that both are necessary, and yet both are often utterlv inhuman. He spoke of the man who had worked twenty years as sistent tail-end team? But the loyal a type-setter, and who is too old to leant a new trade when the "fans" are going to demand as thej j 1 ""'J pe iorces mm out; oi me wooa carver oi yesterttay who 15 have a right to demand that this ex- out of work today because of the patent process of compressing cuse business stop and a little more sawdust, putty and clay ; of the man who had worked twelve vears effort made to win games despite "hard in a shop and had bought a home near his work and is slowlv pav ing off the mortgage, when this shop is closed down without warn ing by industrial consolidation: of him who has lost his hand in an unprotected stieker after fifteen years of faithful labor. AH these possibilities have been foreseen and charged up and paid for by the consumer when the product was brought. But what of these workers! What of their jobs and their hands and legs by which they and their families live! Mr. Robins says that up to this hour the labor unions have done something, the universities a little, and the church next to nothing. The labor unions have won some sort of fair wages, hours and working conditions wher ever they have been strong. They have made a good tight against child labor, night work for women and unprotected machinery. let at best they reaeh only a small part of the working world. In regard to violence Mr. Robins speaks some very impressive words which touch upon that identity of interest that often exists be tween the press and the larger forces of business: "Our conscience has a way of going to sleep on the job and then working overtime. In the last four years the railroads of this country have killed 15.364 men and injured 219.495. We are very patient over this steady industrial slaughter, but if a union man slugs a 'scab' who is seeking to take bread from his children's mouths we make a great outcry. We don't seem to mind that the him at the beginning ot the season I labor laws are violated and how the workers are deliberate! v pois- and he had to go back east. He missed oned and crippled and killed in smelter and mine and faetorv, yet. when in the blind, hopeless struggle of infuriated masses of men some one is killed, then we are very much outraged and demand the troops to protect human life and enforce the law lest the foundation of the state crumble. I remember that durin- the great stockyards strike the packers imported criminals and prostitutes from the purlieus of Cincinnati and St. Louis and held private prize fights in the yards to keep them amused after the day's work. These vicious and diseased persons worked over the meat that you and your family were to eat, yet the conscience of the country spoke not a single word of protest. How is it pos sible the people can be made to carry so much at one time and so little at another! I want to tell you why and I want you to re member this much, at least, of what I say tonight. It is because of the industrial censorship of the press. The great employers are the great advertisers, and they can make or break a newspaper. This skilful industrial censorship creates false moral resentment or enthusiasm at will, and thus the press of the country is used tc play upon and mislead the moral forces of the nation. Nor is this industrial censorship confined to the press. It is over th pulpit , and the best clubs and the most select society." The interest that organized labor takes in everything that makes for the advancement of the community has been demonstrated by the build ing trades unions ot Lincoln during the last week. As is well known the park com mission is sadly hampered by a lack of adequate funds. Because of this fact it , is compelled to Just "plug along" as best it can. trusting to time to convince the people that is i3 a duty they owe themselves to appropri ate an adequate amount every year for park purposes. The commission re cently decided that in view of' the fact that enterprising citizens were contributing' to a concert found it would provide a band stand. It could spare only $200 for that purpose, a sum pitifully inadequate, but it was thought that sufficient contributions could be secured to make up the bal ance required. Ex-Mayor Frank Brown, a member of the commission took the matter in charge. He found on the part of everybody he approached the utmost willingness to help the good cause along. Building material men donated practically all of the material needed. As soon as the Union Brick layers heard of the plan they immedi ately offered to donate the mason work on the foundation. Immediately the Union Carpenters agreed to provide for all the carpenter work without ex pense to the board. The Union Paint ers immediately got into the game and agreed to artistically paint the band stand. Then the Union Electrical Workers stepped to the front and agreed to wire the stand. Thus it is that Lincoln will have a band stand in Antelope park that is wholly the product of union labor. and the - labor contributed by union men who have more than once shown their desire to help advance the ma terial and moral welfare of the-community. The brick layers showed np at the park Tuesday evening, and in such numbers that the foundation grew like magic Ex-Mayor Brown declares he never saw a better job, nor one completed in such a snort space of time. Mrs. Frank W. Brown, assisted by several friends, entertained the bricklayers at luncheon, and the occa sion was thoroughly enjoyea oy ah who had the pleasure of participating. The Carpenters' Union dipped into its treasury and hired a number of its own members to do the carpenter work. The carpenters went to worm Thursday morning uncer the foreman ship of George Quick and as The Wageworker goes to press they are working with a will. The carpenters on the Job will be entertained at luncheon by Mrs. Charles W. Bryan. As soon as needed the electrical work ers will get onto the Job and then the painters will come on and put the fin ishing touches to the structure. When completed the band stand will bear a tablet setting forth the information that it was erected by union labor, and the names ot the contributing unions will be given. The Union Musicians have also shown their public spirit by coming to the front with a contribution of $150 to the concert fund. The Wageworker Is of the opinion individually and collectively, became prime favorites with the theater goers of the city, and Mrs. Jess Fulton add ed new laurels to those the has al ready gained. 3Irs. Fu'toe friend equal in number the theater patrons of the ciy and her exceptionally good work has been the mean of add ing materially to the number of peo ple who regaiariy attesd the theater. Everybody hopes that the company in its entirety will be re-engaged for the ccming season. The la terra Lionel Typographical Union is engaged in some strenooo organization work in Nebraska jast now. Siate Organizer Fisher of Om aha is visiting different parts of the state with a view to interesting com petent printers in the organization, and the indications are that in a few months Nebraska will Lave several more Typographical Unicns. Whoever has the concession at the baseball park is playing a losing game by not looking a little more carefully to the label. About three time oat of five the boys who go around with the cigars flash the "scab" article, and as a result the hundreds of cnEcn men who attend the game pass them up. Last Saturday a bunch of a dozes printers sai in the bleachers and a couple of them made a bet of the ci gars for the bunch that a certain play would be made. The loser called three different boys with cigars and none of them had the union good. As a result the bet was not paid aisr.il the printers got np town and cooid get hold of nn ion-made cigars. Sam DeXedry, editor of the Wash ington Trades Unionist, and a dele gate to the Trades and Labor Coun cil from the onion of, his craft, has bees deprived of the delegates hip by the president of the onion on the ground that he is "too t-adicaL Per haps he is a "radical.' but his radical ism is of the type that meant some thing when conservative of the craft were whimpering. "For God's sake don't start anything or well lose what we've already gained." His is the rad icalism that accomplishes things while conservatism is looking for ways as.! means to dodge responsibility. It was the radical in Columbia Typographical Union who took the boll by the horns and kept the big government printfry in line while the conservatives were trembling in their boots and afraid to sweat a hair. We'd rather be the radical deprived of a deegateship thaat the president of the union that t aim back. a mighty good time by not umpiring a series in Lincoln, for the printer Soys had framed up a reception for him that would hare warmed the cockles ot his Irish heart. Here's hoping he can get into the game next season. The greatest ball game ot the sea son will be pulled oft at tbe fair grounds some time soon. The east end of the state house is going to play the west end. The state board of health will umpire the game and Major Birkner will be on hand with his hos pital corps and the red cross ambu lance. "I've been hvlping manage the team for about ten days now," said Don Des pain Saturday, "and already I have drive the bail throush the blue dome ! been asked to keep an eye on sonie- wculd fce'.p artatiugSy. I thins like seventeen hundred 'comers' Timothy Sedge-sick, toe York print er who seems to have had a big drag with the state printing hoard in the days gone by, made the first delivery last Monday of the biennial report of the state superintendent of public instruction. He delivered fifty copies of the 1.000 ordered. Sedgewick is only five months behind time, and if he is penalized as the law provides he will be in debt to the state. Accord ing to precedent, however, he wis get his money. The State Journal takes a back- that the facts set out in this little hand swipe at Governor Stuuieaberser story rather sets a record on the part of organized labor in this section of the moral vineyard. The Central Labor Union, too, got into the game by sending Mr. Brown a contribution of $2.50 to the concert fund. The central body does not col lect enough dues to enable it to main tain a surplus, but it showed its good intent by making even a small contri bution. A number of unions have selected their Labor Day committeemen, and the first meeting was held last night (Friday) at the office of the labor commisisoner. Unions that have not yet selected their committeemen are requested to do so at once. The com mittee will meet regularly from now on until after Labor Day. because he refused to siga tract leasing the convicts to a gar ment making firm front St. Loais and then signed a contract for additional convicts for the broom factory. In re fusing to stand for the garment mak ing deal Governor ShaHenberger ex pressly mentioned the broom contract and said that while be would oppose patting convict labor into competoios with free labor along any farther tines, the damage to the free broom makers had already been done, and a contract was already in existence. Therefore, he would recognize the broom cco tract. but further thaa that he vooM not go. This may not meet with the approbation of tbe JooraaJ. bat it does meet with the approbation of basest workingmen who are trying to make a living fcr themselves and families, and with that Governor S&ailen&erger is doubtless content. Last Saturday evening the Fulton Stock company closed the season at the Lyric, the season having lasted for fully nine months. During this !ong engagement some of the very est of the modern dramas were pre sented, and always in a manner to ueet with the hearty approval of the people. The members of the company. A BLOW BELOW THE BELT. "Young man." said the SnecessfaJ Old Guy. "I started as a clerk oa three dollars a week, and today I cwn the business-" "I know." answ,?red the Toaag Chap, "but they have rash registers in all the stores now." t