Ban and Davy Make Good Records During the Stove League Season
ROM SIGNS DP
' FOUR BJW PLAYERS
Gets Two Pitchers, a Slagging
-Outfielder and a Reliable
' Catcher.
MAETY O'TOOLE TO BE BACK
Four new ithletes to fill the holes
left in the 1916 pennant-winning ma
chine by the graduation of tight of
the champs to faster company were
purchased last week by Fa Rourke.
In addition Pa has procured Marty
O'Toole again, Columbus, who farmed
him out to Omaha last year, having
sold him to Kourke this time.
The four new players secured by the
Omaha magnate include two pitch
ers, a catcher and an outhelder.
Harry Benton and Wayne Barham
arc the hurlers. Benton comes trom
the Winnipeg club of the Northerh
league and Barham from the Van
couver club of the Northwestern
loop. Rourke also got Hal Brokaw,
the outfielder, from Winnipeg. The
catcher is Larry Pratt, who comes
from Columbus.
Faith in Canadians.
Rourke is putting a lot of faith in
the twb Winnipeg recruits. Benton
ranked second among the hurlers of
" the Northern league for both sections
of the split season, He pitched a
total of ,2(W innings during the cam
paign, winning seventeen and losing
live games for an average of .773. He
allowed 140 hits and fifty runs. He
struck out 155 batsmen and gave
bases on balls to forty-five.
He is a big fellow who can stand
a lot of work. He is said to have
plenty of speed and a wide assort
ment of curves and hooks. St. Paul
looked him over last spring, but, hav
ing a full staff of experienced hurlers,
turned him back to the Canadian club.
, Brokaw was the class of the league
in the outfield. He led the league
in fielding, hanging up an average of
.991, which is considerable average.
He ranked sixth among the league
hitters. He made 106 hits and fifty
nine runs in 113 games for an average
of (303. He also stole thirty bases
last year.
Benton, Rourke believes, will fill
the hole left by Lou North, who went
to the St. Louis Cardinals, while Bro
kaw is expected to prove even better
than shag 1 hompson in center.
Pratt Is the Goods.
Larry Pratt, Pa believes, will plug
up the hole in the backstopping dc
partment. Pratt is a finished catcher,
as a receiver he is a better man than
Ernie Krueger and he's a wonder at
cutting down-base stealers. He is not
as strong a hitter as Krueger, but
Kourke, who has seen him olav sev
era) times, says he will slug the ball
; consistently even though he doesn't
quite reach the .300 mark.
Of Barham little is :known except
that Rourke has received excellent re
ports of him. He is a. youngster who
went to Vancouver the latter part ot
the 1915 season. He. won a majority
ot his games last year and a couple
; of scouts who looked him over re-
' ported-to Rourke that he has the stuff
to be a star in the Western and is
purely potential big league timber.
By securing the return of O'Toole
Rourke does not have to worry great
ly over his pitching corps. North is
is the only loss and already he has
signed up Benton whom he thinks
will prove just as good a hurler as
Lou, and Barham he believes will also
make good.
Rourke still has a few vacant posi
tions to fill. He must get another
catcher to assist Pratt, although there
is. of course, the chance that Krueger
. will be sent back by the Giants. He
is also after a first basemen to take
Ray Miller's place. This is his big
task. He also wants another out
fielder. Several Deals On.
Pa has several deals, on and several
of the big league clubs have1 promised
him some of their surplus talent.
Rourke is due to get' a couple ot
rookies from Muggsy McGraw and
will probably journev to Marlin,
Tex., the Giant's training camp, after
the training season starts to pick out
a couple of men.
After he gets a new first baseman
Rourke probably will hold his infield
intact, playing Ireland at second,
Krug at short and Burg at thinV
Pa Rourke Books
Two Combats With
Kansas City Club
Two exhibition games to be staged
at Rourke park prior to the 1917
Western league season have been ar
ranged by Pa Rourke. They are with
the Kansas City American associa
tion club. The Kay See athletes will
come to Omaha for two contests on
April 7 and 8. Ganzel has assured
Rourke he will send his first team up
here as he cannot play in Kansas
City, the Giants and Tigers meeting
each other there on those dates.
It is also probable the Chicago Cubs
will play a pre-season -game or two
in Omaha. The Cubs will come
through this way from the coast and
overtures have already been made for
a stop in this city. One or two other
exhibition games are also to be
looked by the Omaha magnate.
'lorperans Too Fast for
Lads of Deaf Institute
The Thorpeian Athletic club bas
ct ball quintet proved too fast for
!'c Deaf Institute five and the former
"pturcd a hard-fought combat, 22 to
'0. after a remarkable display of
imperative powers in the second
' !ia!f. The first half ended with the
eorc 8 to 8. The Thorpeians got down
l business in the final period, al
lowed the deaf lads but one goal, and
run their own score up to 22.
Bennie Abramson, N. Lavinson and
Abe Milder were the stars for the
Thorpeians, while Andy was the shin
ing light for the mutes.
Walter Rehg is Victim
Of Holdup in Wichita
Walter Rehg, Providejice infielder,
was held up at his home in Wichita
one night recently by a couple of
gunmen and robbed of a diamond
scarf pin worth $300, money to the
amount of $23, a gold watch and a
knife.
Evers Says Gaffney
Is Greatest of All
v Johnny Evers thinks that the
greatest man who ever stepped
into base ball was Jim Gaffney,
formerly owner of the Braves.
Gaffney is the man who paid Evers
120,000 for signing a contract with
the Braves. Evers had lost all of
his base ball earnings in a shoe
store venture and was broke when
Charles Webb Murphy dismissed
him as manager of the Cubs,
Through Gaffney's liberal terms,
Evers was able to recoup his losses
and is now on easy street.
OUIMET IS STILL
CLASSED AS A PRO
U. S. O. A. Sustains Ruling that
Will Keep Famous Star
V Out of Amateur Play.
PLEA FOR TRUE SPORT
New York, Jan. 13. Several golf
ers of national reputataion will be
driven from amateur ranks by the ap
plication of the new definition of am
ateurs, approved early today at the
annual meeting of the United States
Golf association. The meeting also
sustained the rule under which Fran-
cis Otiimet, Paul Tewksbury and J.
M fulljyan jr., of the Woodland H
(Mass.) Golf club were deprived of i
tneir amateur standing.
A motion for a direct vote on the
action of the executive committee in
giving notice to the disqualified golf
ers and calling on the Woodland club
to withdraw their names from the
handicap list of the Massachusetts
Golf associataion was ruled out of or
der after the vote on the main ques
tion had shown that Ouimct's friends
were well in the minority.
After a spirited debate the dele-
gates by 80 to 12 upheld a report of
the executive committee sharnlv re
stricting the status of an amateur.
The rule, as amended and adopted,
makes ineligible as an amateur the
player "engaging in any business con
nected with the game of golf wherein
one's usefulness or profits arise be
cause of skill or prominence in the
game ot golf.
The interpretation put upon this is
that it will class as playe-s engaged
"in laying out, construction or up
keep of a golf course or any part
thereof" commonly known as "golf
architects."
Old Rules Hold.
"In making the latter cKange the
committee does not intended to alter
the intent or comprehensiveness of
former ruling No. 6," the report
stated. "The new. wording is used sim
ply for the purpose of greater clarity
and to avoid any impression that dis
crimination is intended between em
ployer and employe." .
Ruling No. 6 had made ineligible
players "accepting or holding any po
sition as agent or employe that in
cludes as part of its duties the han
dling of golf supplies, or engaging in
any business wherein one's usefulness
or profits arise because of skill or
prominence m the game of golf.
Determined efforts were made bv
the Woodland Golf club to have the
delegates take some action looking to
the reinstatement of Ouimct, Tewks
bury and Sullivan. W. M. Noble of
the Woodland club did his utmost to
convince the gathering that the three
players had been dealt with unjustly.
Sport for Sport's Sake. '
Frank L. Woodward of Denver, re
tiring president, rose to the defense
of the executive committee in reply
to Mr. Noble's allegation that Ouimet.
Tewksbury -and Sullivan had Jjeen
barred without having been given a
chance and made an impassioned plea
for "sport for I sport's sake and not
sport for gain."
Silas H. Strawn of the Old Elm
club, Chicago, also defended the ex
ecutive committee.
"All the committee asks," he said,
is that there shall be no discrimina
tion between the man who sells eolf
clubs and the man who lays out a
goit course tor pay.
Frank M. Bowers of New York de
clared that the defeat of the report
would be "the end' of a gentleman's
sport in this country."
The national amateur chamnionshiD
tournament for 1917 was awarded to
the Oakmont Country club, Pitts
burgh; the national open champion
ship to the Braeburn Country club.
West Newton, Mass., and the national
women's championship to the Shaw
nee Country club, Shawnee-on-Dela-ware,
Pa.
Howard W. Perrin of the Pine Val
ley Golf club of Philadelphia was
elected president.
Basket Ball Holds Full
Sway Now at Bellevue
Basket ballVoutine, with its grind
of daily practice and training, has at
last got under way at Bellevue. Regu
lar basket ball practice has had a
rather late start at the suburban col
lege because of the interruptions inci
dent to installing the new gymnasium
equipment. The interclass tournament
is at last out of the" way, with the
juniorsJwinners of the banner.
Tljis same junior class will probably
land three out of the five varsity
places on this year's five.-Captain Al
len is slated for one of the forward
positions, with "Chick" Evans as his
probable running mate. Picotte is an
other junior who looks like a varsity
man. He probably will go to center.
Racely of the senior class and Erwin,
a sophomore, look like the selections
for the guards. In addition there are
Kinnier, Johns and Stewart of last
year's five, who will furnish zest in
the race for varsity honors.
lhe freshman class at Bellevue con
tains more basket ball material this
year than has any entering class for
years.
Coach Benjamin will start his men
right out on their schedule. Games
with Creighton, Cbtner, Doane, Wes
leyan and probably the University of
Omaha are booked.
Robby to Give Merkle
Chance at Shortsop
Manager Wilbert Robinson of the
Brooklyn champions, intimates that
he has plans in mind to give Fred
Merkle a tryout at the short field
position next spring.
FOOT BALL .YIELDS
CASH TOJEBRASKA
Basket Ball, Track, Wrestling
and Tennis Are Drains on
Uni's Treasury.
BUT NET PROFIT IS LARGE
By JAMES E. LAWRENCE.
Lincoln, Jan. 13.-j(Special.) Foot
ball is the only branch of Nebraska
athletics which is self-supporting, the
annual report of T. A. Williams, treas
urer of the University of Nebraska
athletic board, isued today shows.
The report covers the fiscal year un
til August 31, 191b.
Basket ball, track, wrestling, and
tennis have all proven a heavy drain
on the finances of the Cornhuskcr ath
letic board and were it not for the
popularity of the gridiron game there
would be a big deficit at Nebraska.
Williams' report shows that foot
ball cleared the season with the hand
some profit of $10,14328. Basket ball
ate into the treasury with a deficit of
$1,360.19; track entailed another loss
of $1,994.70; wreslting showed a de
ficit of $153.41 while tennis, cross
country and skating cut in to the tune
of $280.7-'.
Net Profit.
With deficits in all branches of !
sport but foot ball the net profit for I
the year is shown to be $4,541.18. i
oA;n i.H i .....
' hi'h .., mrk wjth J8.128.S2.
Treasurer Williams reports that he
nad $1,813.15 left over from the ore-
reeHina vesr T1,r tilt at tvt-iiiHiiiirf
for the year were $34,586 .14, but added
to this must be $1,000 which the
Husker athletic management invested
in a $1,000 farm mortgage, drawing
7 per cent interest and which is a
part of the fund for a new athletic
field.
It was Jess Harper and his crew of
foot ball players from Notre Dame
which drew the largest crowd. The
Notre Dame receipts were $11,708.2.1,
i with Kansas $8,441.24 and Iowa
$6,937, following in the order named
Another $4,776 was realized from the
sale of season tickets to students,
which entitled the holder to admission'
to athletic contests in all branches.
Omahans Loyal.
University of Nebraska alumni, liv
ing in Omaha, contributed $928 to the
school's athletic exchequer during the
year, according to Williams' report.
Of this amount $828 represented the
sale of tickets for the Notre Dame
game and $100 for the Iowa game.
Noter Dame also got a nice little
piece of coin for its trouble, its share
of the gate amounting to $5,574.03.
Iowa received $3,500, Washburn $350
and the Kansas Aggies $300.
Basket ball games failed to attract
any crowds last season, the bulk of
the receipts coming from the 12 per
cent allotment of the sale of season
tickets, amounting to $573.12. Owing
to the intense rivalry between Ne
braska and Wesleyan in basket ball,
the Wesleyan games topped the sea
son, in receipts with $120 for two
games, Kansas yielded $114.50, the
Ames Aggies $46.50, Drake $51.50
and Tarkio $3.
The Kansas track meet was prac
tically the only one in this line of
sport which made Nebraska any
money. J he total receipts there were
$142.50. tennis and wrestling were
entirely dependent upon the 4 per
cent sale of season tickets credited to
those branches for support. It cost
the Huskers $50 to send a tennis team
to Kansas.
Scouting Costs.
Scouting cost the university a
pretty penny during the year, the
total bill being $535.99. Coaching
amounted to $2,904.36; officials for
games and expenses ate up another
$1,313.42, and the remainder of the
expenditures came , from transporta
tion, equipment, advertising and train
ing. Athletic Manager Guy E. Reed is
having a world of trouble in framing
the last three games of his foot ball
schedule. Reed today notified the
Michigan Aggies that stuff was off
for the date of October 20, owing to
the failure of the management to j
agree to Missouri Valley conference :
rules. The Michigan Aggies have a!
number of four-year men on their
team and Nebraska refuses' to play
under those conditions, which is in
violation of Missouri Valley confer-!
ence rules, and which renders the
school liable for a reprimand.
Michigan Game,
The Michigan game at Ann Arbor
is still dangling in the air, but chances
are excellent that the date will be
closed and that the Huskers will meet
the Wolverines next fall on the grid
iron. With the schedule worries on his
hands, Reed has delayed sending out
the notices relative to the Nebraska
High school basket ball tournament
until next week. There are 45Q high
schools in his list and he is confident
125 of them will be represented in
the tournament. The early reports
reaching the university authorities in
dicate an unusually large number of
strong teams in the smaller towns of
the state, and it is certain that the
Big Three Omaha, Lincoln and Bea
tricewill have a run for their money
this year.
Reed is planning to call for entries
the middle of February, and will close
them the last week of that month.
The tournament is to be held the
second week in March and extends
over lour aays.
Kavanagh Plays Floor
Game to Keep in Shape
Marty Kavanagh, utility infielder of
the Cleveland Americans, is keeping
in condition this winter by playing
basket ball with a Detroit five. Poor
condition was responsible for his in
different showing with Detroit last
season, Kavanagh believes.
McGraw Signs Rookie
. . Boosted by Coaklev
Sterling Stryker, a semi-pro pitcher
from Atlantic highlands, has been
recommended to the Giants by Andy
Coakley and will be given a tryout
by Manager McGraw.
Bresnahan Drops Big
Chunk On Toledo Club
Roger Bresnahan is finding the life
of a magnate rather expensive. The
Toledo sleuth admits that he lost $10,
000 last season. Bresnahan asserts
that he had a pay roll of $43,000.
SPOR TS SECTION of
The Omaha
Sunday Bee
' I?0""15510 J 4
mi i i Hi ii i ii i ' mi
The National Base Ball commission, photo
graphed at the Sinton hotel, Cincinnati, immediately
after the election to office of its members. Those
in the picture are,, sitting, from left to right, John
K. Tener, president of the National league; August
SIX GRID GAMES
SIGNEDBY MILLS
St. Louis, North Dakota and
Haskell Indians Among the
Schools Scheduled. "
ALL TO BE HELD IN OMAHA
Negotiations for six gridiron con
flicts for the Creighton foot ball
eleven this coming fall have been
completed, by Coach Tommy Mills.
The schedule is as follows:
Trinity cohere at Omaha. October 6.
Dubuque'roltete at Omaha. October 20.
Cotncr college at Omaha. October 21.
St. Louts university at Omaha, Novem
ber 3.
North Dakota at Omaha. November 10.
Haskell Indians at Omaha, November 17.
Three other games are -yet to be
arranged, the plan being to have a
nine-game schedule. .Negotiations
have been nracticallv- comnleted for a
nlnl. uritl, Wvnminff i,n ivorcit v hilt '
the date has not been decided yet.
Wyoming wants to play here Thanks
giving day, but Mills is reluctant to
award this date. Mills is also after a
game with Nebraska Wesleyan and
hopes to have South Dakota remain
on the schedule.
All of the 'six games so tar signed
will be olaved on Creighton field.
Trinity college of Sioux City will be
the first opponent, followed by Du
buque college, which held Creighton
to a 6 to 6 tie at Dubuque last year.
I St. Louis university comes to
! Omaha November 3. Creighton wal
j loped St. Louis at the Mound Cttv
j last year. It has been five years
' since a St. Louis eleven journeyed to
; Omaha.
I ' North Dakota is a new comer to
Omaha. The Flicktails had a strong
team last year, eyen stronger than
South Dakota, and they arc expected
to make one of the most interesting
conflicts of the season when they
clash with Mills' warriors on No
vember 10.
Creighton did not play the Haskell
Indians last fall, but games with the
redskins were annual events in pre
vious years. The Indians wanted to
be placed on the blue and white
schedule again and as they have al
ways played good foot ball, Mills was
willing to give them the November
17 date.
Big Coyote Drive
Today; Cold Puts
Stop to Barbecue
The big barbecue which was
originally scheduled to be held di
rectly after the coyote drive on the
grounds of the Hit. or Miss club on
the river bottoms, 'ust east of Cal
houn, today, has been called off. The
severe cold is the reason, leaders of
the Hit or Miss club deciding that ,
zero weather is no time to hold bar
becues. The coyote drive, however, will be
held, no matter what .the weather
conditions. Nimrods who intend to
take part in the event will meet in
Florence at the end of the car line
at 9:30 this mornjng. The remaining
distance of the voyage will be covered
by automobile.
Tommy Gibbons Wants to
Fight Miske or Battler
Tom Gibbons, brother of the more
celebrated Mike, is anxious to box
anybody in the middle or lightweight
class, Billy Miske, Battling Levinsky,
Boh Moha or Knockout Brown pre
ferred. Gibbons' manager states that
though Tom can make 158 pounds,
he is willing to allow Miske to come
into the ring at catchweights jf a
match can be arranged between the
men.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 14, -1917.
The Supreme Court of Base Ball
OMAHA REFUSES TO
LEAD OUTLAW LOOP
Local Officials? Do Not Favor
Starting Middle West Ama
teur Association,
OMAHA WOULD BE OOAT
"The Omaha Amateur Base Ball as
sociation will not assume the leader
ship in the agitation to form a middle-west
amateur base ball associa
tion, The Des Moines and Lincoln ama
teur' associations and a number of
local sandlot enthusiasts have urged
umcu ui u.c wiiiaua kuiuiuun iu
start a movement for the organiza-
(ion of the middle-west circuit com
prised of cities between St. Louis
and Duluth and west of the Missis
sippi river. Tlie desire for this inde-j
pendent organization is the result ot
the far from satisfactory finishes of
the two national organizations last
year. ,
President Isaacson of the local as
sociation, however, does not believe
it would be good policy for Omaha
to assume leadership in such a move
ment. He has conferred with other
officials of the local sandlot body and
they have agreed with him.
"If Omaha were to take the leader
ship and form a middle-went associa
tion," declared Isaacson, "I have no
doubt its formation would be suc
cessful. I believe we could get ten
or a dozen, perhaps fifteen, cities to
join.
Omaha Would Be Goat.
But Omaha would be the goat.
The new association would encoun
ter nothing but trouble during the
first year of its organization at least.
everybody would nave a grievance
because it takes time to adjust things.
And everybody would blame Omaha
and insist Omaha was getting all the
gravy. That's what happened to
Cleveland and Indianapolis last year
"In addition. I am Convinced, and
the other local officials express the
same sentiments, that the national
association has learned its lesson
the ihvver nnish last year will not
occur again. President Goss of the
-national association is a smart base
ball man; he knows now the mis
takes he made last year. And I be
lieve everything will be clear sailing
in the national body this year.
for tnat reason I believe we
would be foolish to undertake the or
ganization ,of a middle-west associa
tion, because we would get nothing
but abuse il we should run into a
few tribulations, while the national
association would be running
smoothly.
Earl OaddoAWm
Try to Throw Pesek
Twice in One Hour
Earl Caddock, the Anita (la.) flash,
is scheduler! to undertake a tough
proposition at Shelton, Neb., Thurs
day night. Earl has agreed to throw
John I'esck, described as the Buffalo
county mat marvel, twice within ope
hour for a purse of $400 and a 75-25
cut of the gate receipts. Caddock is
on his way to the Pacific coast, where
he is carded to clash with Ad Santel,
alian Acjolph Ernst, in San Francisco.
Yanks Will Keep Full
v Crew of Scouts at Work
Though well loaded with talent,
the New York Americans will not re
duce their scouting operations next
year. Joe Kelley will again head the
gumshoe brigade, with BDbby Gilks
and George Leidy as his assistants
and Duke Farrell making; occasional
excursions to the minors.
Hermann, chairman of the commission; Byron Ban
croft Johnson, president of the American league.
Standing, left to right, John E. Bruce, secretary of
the commission, and Joseph Flanner, assistant secretary.
CREIGHTON QUINT .
) CARDS FOUR TRIPS
Mills' Men to Invade Wyoming:,
Iowa, South Dakota and
Kansas for Games.
YORK AND WESLEYAN HERE
Four trips into the land of
enemy have been arranged for
Creighton university basket
quintet. . . N
the
. the
ball
One of the trips will carry Mills'
nippers as far west as Laramie, Wyo.,
The University of Wyoming will be
nnrnA at ,1,9 nrtint !n !ai,,i,,M
out the local floor athletes will stop
at r,ntral Citv and Kearnev for con
flicts with the colleges at those cities,
and they may play Denver at Den
ver. ,
. A trip north , to Sioux City and
Vermillion, S. D., will be made, games
with Trinity college and the Univer
sity of South Dakota being carded.
The Creighton basketeers will also
go to St. Mary's, Kan., for two games
with St. Mary's college, and to Des
Moines for a combat with the Drake
university quintet.
The long trip east which Mills had
originally planned for his basket
shooters has been called off. Mills
planned to take his crew as far east
as South Bend, Ind., and intended to
remain away for at least two weeks.
Inability of the athletes to remain out
of school that long made it necessary
j to call this trip off and substitute the
! four shorter trips, which will total as
1 much if not more mileage and will
not necessitate loss of much time in
the class rooms. ,
South Dakota and Drake are two of
the big teams which will come to
Omaha for games with Creighton.
Drake will play here March 3. South
Dakota will be here some time in
February.
The Creighton tosscrs have two
hard games ahead of them this week.
York and Nebraska Wesleyan will in
vade this city to combat with Mills'
cage charges. York will play Creigh
ton at the Creighton gym next Fri
day night, and Wesleyan will be the
attraction at the same .place Saturday
night. If Creighton can wallop both
of these quintets it will cinch the
championship of the state, Wes
leyan is expected to trim Nebraska
uni. ,
Georgetown Will Have
Exendine Back Again
Albert A. Exendine, that cunning
Indian and great foot ball coach, has
signed a contract to handle the
Georgetown gridironers in 1917.
Wonderful advancement has been
made by the Georgetown team since
"Exic" took hold of the reins.
Charley Cox, graduate manaeer.
and the Indian finally came to terms,
and it is sMA that Exendine will re
ceive a good increase inltalary.
Exendine probably is the best
coach that Georgetown ever had.
During the last two years George
town, under the tutelage of Exendine,
has scored 750 points.
Peoria Signs Brother
Of Mike Prendergast
The Peoria Three-I club has sinned
as a pitcher Joe Prendergast, brother
to Mike rrendergast, now a pitcher
with the Chicago Cubs, who got his
start with Peoria. Joe has had no
professional experience.
Josh Oevore Says He Is
Now Positively Through
Tosh Devore. once Giant star, and
last season with the Topeka Western
league team, announces that he has
abandoned the game and will settle
down on his farm in Ohio. . -
WESTERN MOGULS .
GATHERIN OMAHA
President Zehrung Calls Spe- j
cial Meeting of League for
This City Tomorrow. f
SWITCH T0PEKA FRANCHISE :
Western league .' magnates will
gather ill Omaha tomorrow to attend
a "special meeting' called by President
Zehrung. , - S
The transfer of the Topeka fran- a
ehise to Pueblo, the length of, the 1
playing season, and the salary limit
are the principal topics due to come
befqre the assembled magnates.
There seems to be little uncer
tainty about the disposal of the To
peka franchise now. Pueblo business
men have promised to build a plant
to accommodate 5,000 persons. This
promise probably means the stands
will seat about 3,000. but that will
suffice. ; They also say they will build
the park within five minutes walking
distance of the heart of the city. Aud
last, but not least, these business men
have promised to sell a bunch of
season tickets before the drive for the H
nag starts.
That John ' Savage, holder of the
Topeka franchise, will accept the
terms offered by the Pueblo men is
believed. Topeka is unquestionably
a dead issue. It would be suicide to
remain there. Pueblo hasn't had base
ball for a number of years and is
considered about ripe. In addition the
steel mills there are now working
night and day, the population has
been increased since the Western
league was last in the Colorado- city
.and the town and its surrounding
country is more prosperous.
With Pueblo a member of the cir
cuit the schedule division will prob
ably be changed. Lincoln, Wichita,
Pueblo and Denver will be in the
western wheel and Omaha, Sioux City,
Des, Moines and St. Joseph in the
eastern loop. - . ,
That Salary Limit, v
The salary limit issue is expected
to recieve considerable attention. The
limit last year was $2,600 and accusa
tions of violations by every magnate
in the league were heard on every
aide.. " ;
Pa Rourke has a scheme to keep
the salary limit down. It also has
a number -of other advantages,
Kourke's plan is to pass a ruling
which makes it obligatory for each
club to carry at least six players who
have never before played in more than
fifty games in- Class A or better. This
means each dub wilt carry at least
six young ball players. They do not
necessarily have to be recruita from
the bush; they can be turned back
from the larger clubs, bt tney can t
have had more than fifty gamCs pre
vious lexperien.ee in the- fastei com-i
pany. I
Might Make It Eight. !
"We might even make the "ruling
eight ' young players," declared
Rourke, "but six would be enough the
first year. T.hil would automatically
keen the aalarv limit down, ,as it is
the veterans who draw the big money;
and make for violations ot salary
limits, v There is always somebody
who will violate a stipulated salary
limit, but this wsy there wM.be.noj
violations and each club owner will
be able to keep his pay roll within
his means. j
"In addition the fans like to see
young ball players, but in order to
win games we have in the pait had to
get a lot of veterans with Only one
or two youngsters, and they had to
he mishtv irood ones, in order to
keep in the race. With this ruling
it would be an even fight
What action will be taken on the
length of the rlavine season is un
certain. Some of the magnates tavor
the long' schedule, 154 games. Others
like the shorter 140-game schedule.
This will ail be threshed out tomor-1
row before the schedule comimttee isj
appointed.
John Olin Coming
West, But He Won't
Visit This State
John Olin, Finnish wrestling partyi
who suddenly, attained prominence.
when a referee awarded him de
cision over joe Steeher at Spring
field, Mass., is Westward, bound. Mr.
Olin evidently has visions of collect
ing a few western dollars, on the
strength of his performance against
steelier.. , - .,r . -.-.v , -
Olin is scheduled to wrestle in Chi
caeo some day this week. Renato
Gardini. a Chicago Italian, will be hisl
opponent. The Finn is also said to)
have several other Chicago engage
mcnts.
The conaneror of Joe Stecher. a
Olin s Dress agent delights to call
him. may get by in tne windy Uty
but there is little likelihood that he
will be so careless as to venture asl
far west as Omaha. Olin. it has been
discovered, is managed by Lundin, the!
gent who brought Harold Christensein
out here to be dumped by stecher a
the Tractor show, and went homcl
yelling bloody murder. He didn't even!
stop to take ihrtstensen nome with
him. -
When news of the Stecher-Olin
match was heard in Omaha Marin
Plestina offered to give the Finn $1,001
for a match, but the crafty Lundin
couldn't see it He didn't want hit
pet Finn to take any chances- with
Plestina. Also there is little proba
bility that Lundin would bring Olin
to Nebraska because Stecher lives in
Nebraska and Nebraska is somewhat
different from Springfield. It might
also be said Nebraska referees arc!
somewhat different from Massachu-I
setts referees.
Olin may get a few western dollars,
but he's not going to make any at-1
tempt to dram the Nebraska moneu
market, not as long as Stecher and
Plestina are alive and healthy, ?
Sam Fitzpatrick Takes , 5
Up New Jersey Youtr,
Sam Fitzpatrick, who piloted Jacll
Johnson to the championship of ttwl
world, is now - managing Jonnnj
Howard ot Bayonne, W. I. litz
Patrick desires to match Howard
with LesDarcy, and believes that hirt
record entitles htm to a bout with tht
Australian. Howard has met Jack
Dillon, Bob Moha, Gus Christy, MikJ
Uibbons and Billy Miske, and fritz
Patrick declares he is ready to pos
$2,500 to bind a match between How
ard and Darcy , -