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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1918)
o THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: FEBRUARY 24, 191b. IS A DETROIT MOGUL STILL BELIEVES IN WILD VVILLUM Navin, Donovan's Best Friend, Takes Former Yankee Pilot Back When Job Fades Away. BOWLERS MEET TODAY TO PLAN STATEPIN PLAY Local Tournament Association to Convene at President Grotte's Office at 10 This Morning. MARS STRIDES ROUGHSHOD THROUGH RANKS OF SPORT, BUT NOT FOR WRESTLER Lynch Looms as Bantam Contender r :477, J - -7 Earl Caddock Only Big Time Grappler Who Has Found His Way Into Service of Uncle Sam; Dempsey Continues to Bask in Spotlight; Inside Dope on Downey. ?7 w 1 By JACK VEIOCK. -,cv York, Feb. 23. Frank Navin, the quiet, soft-spoken boss of the De troit Tigers, is the best friend Bill Donovan has in base ball. When Bill had outlived his useful ness as a pitcher for the Tigers he began to indulge in dreams of manag ing a major league club, and he told Navin of his ambitions. Some four years ago the opening for a new manager in American league ranks presented itself when the Yan kees were sold to Ruppert and Huton by Frank Farrell, and it was through Frank Navin that Wild Willum landed the managerial job with the Yank. Navin believed in Donovan, and till does. He figured Bill had all the qualifications of a successful manager, and during his regime with the Yanks Bill showed his value as a coach of young players, particularly the pitch ers. But Bill was not born under a lucky star so far as base ball goes, for the jinx that attached itself to the Yanks the first year he took hold of them never let go while he held the reins, and his passing was only a question of time. Smiles Out of Office. Smiling Bill took his dismissal from Colonel Ruppert good naturedly. There were no sore spots when Dono van and the colonel parted 'company, and Bill just smiled his way out of the office, though he had nothing in sight. When Navin heard that Donovan was through as manager of the Yanks he decided to take care of his erst while star, and he has Bill signed up now as coach and scout for the Tig ers, a berth that will be his as long as he cares to continue in the game. Donovan is immensely popular with the fans in Detroit. His rare good nature won him a life-long home with Tiger rooters while he was pitching for the Detroit club, and they have never forgotten him. Navin says there isn't a smarter coach of young pitch ers in the business than Donovan, and at the recent American league meet ing in New York the Tiger boss de clared that he was mighty glad to get Wild Bill back. So Donovan is one prodigal who re turned with a royal welcome awaiting him. ' Snyder Swaps Yarns. Ole Joe Sugden, who docs steam fitting around Philly, couldn't resist the temptation to run over to New York during the gathering of the ma jor leaguers at the schedule meetings to renew old time acquaintances, and punch the bag with the boys. Joe and his broad smile were prom inent around the lobby of the Wal dorf for several days, and he did more haad shaking than a guberna torial candidate. Gripping mitts with Joe is like grabbing a cluster of an cient grape vines. Joe's meat hand shows the scars of many a diamond battle, for every finger is twisted and broken and the knuckles are more like knots on a log than anything else. 77 .." ' "Some artistic pair of hands' IVe got," said the old catcher during' a fanning tree, '"but I ' wouldn't trade the memories ;I ' got with 'erri for a whole lot." , t 7 Sugden does scouting now and then for major league clubs, often going out for the-Detroit Tigers. He ex pects to look over the bushes for some big league team this season. Wilsi Bill Donovan Will ' Be Assistant to Hughey "Wild Bill" Donovan, former man ager of the New York Yankees, has landed a job with the Detroit club. Donovan once - was a star pitcher of the Tigers an'd no' doubt is glad to get back with. Hughey Jennings, his old manager. Donovan will act as coach for the Detroit team and he will be a :great help in rounding out the young pitchers. Many First Class Races " Booked for Varsity Rowers With the possibility of a good entry for the Child's cup race between var sity eight-oared shell crews on Carnegie- lake, Princeton's course; dual races between the Navy and Cornell eights and between the Navy and Penn on the Severn; Penn and Yale on the Schuylkill at Philadelphia and New Haven, the intercollegiate row ing outlook is far from unfavorable. Crack Floor Player on Coast Has Only One Limb One of the best players on the Whitman college basketball team has only one leg. Robert W. Garver, who plays at the center position, is able to hop about as fast as his team mates can cover gound with the use of both feet. Garver, who is a mem ber of the junior class, is a sure bas ket shot. He has also played foot- j ball. N. Y. Billiard Rooms Aid . In Big Red Cross Fund Six hundred billiard room keepers of New York City are supporting the campaign to raise funds to buy am bulances to give to the government's Red Cross work. Quaker City room keepers give 10 per cent of the re ceipts each Wednesday for the same cause. - Philly Boat Clubs Open For Boys to Save Sport Schuylkill navy rowing clubs of Philadelphia may open their houses alon the Schuylkill river to school boys in order to keep up interest in rowing, somewhat lessened by the large number of crewmen who have jo'ned the colors. Land Enlists. Catcher Grover Land, who jumped the St. Paul association team in mid season and finished up the year play ing independent ball in Virginia, Minn., has enlisted in the coast ar tillery and is at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, waiting assignment to duty. Omaha bowling leaders will get .together this morning for the first time to plan their campaign for the state bowling tournament, to be held at the Omaha alleys March 16 to 24. President Dick Grotte of the local tournament association has sounded the call for the meeting, which will be held in Grotte's office, city hall, at 10 a. m. today. Officials of the tourna ment association, and presidents and secretaries of all local leagues have been requested to attend. Omaha wants to make this year's tournament the largest state meet ever held in Nebraska. Despite the war, Grotte is confi dent that the entry list will be a rec ord one. Solicitation of entries will be conducted by mail and by the work of volunteers whose business carries them to bowling centers throughout the state. The publicity bureaus of the Cham ber of Commerce has lined up behind the local bowlers in their attempt to put across a record breaker. Added Attraction. An added attraction is the Farnam alleys handicap tournament, which starts March 23, day before the state meet closes. Bowlers from out-state can stay over and take in both tour neys, without paying the additional train fare. Manager Myron Stunz of the Farnam alleys has agreed to ac cept all outside entries in the handi cap tournament, but will allow handi caps only to Omaha teams. The Far nam alleys tournament was original ly limited to local teams, but at the re quest of officials of the State Tour nament association, Stunz agreed to accept outside entrants on a scratch basis. Entries for the state meet will be received up to midnight, March 9. They should be sent to Harry E. Eid son at the Omaha National bank. Hug Wants Tillie Walker For His Yank Outfield "Tilly" Walker, star center fielder of the Boston Red Sox, may wear a Yankee uniform this summer. Walker was traded to the Athletics along with Gardner -and Pennock in payment for Stuffy Mclnnes. Miller Huggins, man ager of the Yankees, has been on the lookout for a heavy hitting outfielder for some time, and according to re ports floating about Walker is a fast man, a good fielder, has a great throwing arm and is a normal .270 hitter. Coaster Insists Phils Must Put Up More Money If Manager Moran of the Phillies expects Justin Fitzgerald to cross the continent and play the outfield for the Quaker City team he will have to come across with a better contract, says Fitz, who declares he can make more money playing independent ball in California than the Philadelphia club has offered him. Frazee's Co-Magnate at Boston Goes to Australia Hugh Ward, partner of Harry Frazee and U. J. Herman in the own ership of the Boston Red Sox, has gone to Australia to look after his theatrical interest in the kangaroo country. He expects to return along in the summer and hopes by that time the Red Sox will have clinched the American league pennant. Gandil Has Operation on His Windpipe Performed First Baseman Chick Gandil has acted promptly on Manager Row land's letter to his players that they must report in condition. Gandil, who has had trouble with his breathing ap paratus, has had a minor surgical operation performed and as soon as he recovers means to get in training at his winter home in Cleveland. Joe Evans Not Available Until After School Closes Joe Evans Cleveland third sacker, who was released from the draft that he might finish his medical course at the University of Mississippi, will not be able to rejoin the Indians until June, but he will keep in shape by working out with the base ball team of his school, for which he also will act as coach. McGraw Expects Wonders From University Hurler In listing the pitching staff of the New York Giants George Smith, the former Columbia university pitcher, Is not to be overlooked. Manager Mc Graw thinks he is ripe for a big year. Smith pitched good ball for Rochester last year and after his re turn to New York in the fall looked good in several games. In Game of Padded Glove Bike Rider Seeks Fame Bob Spears, the Australian six-day bicycle rider, is another star of a particular sport who thinks he could be a champion boxer. Spears is an exceptionally good boxer and is about to start training with the intention of getting a bout with some of the top notchers in this country. Yale Natators Will Visit Chicago on Western Trip The Yale University Swimming as sociation has ratified a western trip to begin March 26 and last during the Easter vacation. Contests will be held in Chicago. The Yale teams both in swimming and water polo are at pres ent at the head of the intercollegiate league in the east. Murphy in Army. Tommy Murphy, the Kansas City boxer who won the 145-pound nation al. amateur championship la:t year, is now stationed at Fort Sill. Murphy is now boxing at 125 pounds and will compete in that class this year. Hobby to Play. Failing to make thearmy&when he tried to enlist as a dentist Dr. Dick Hoblitzel will again take up pastim ing at his old stand at fir3t base for the Red Sox 5 v,7 i lx x 1 IZTT- 1 Is v ' J PETE. N V 0J 3 N s tr , v ; 77 Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. Pete Herman, king of the bantamweights, is having his trou bles. Peter recently eliminated a dangerous contender for his title, Frankie Burns of New Jersey, and is now threatened by a youngster who HERE'S WHERE AMERICAN WILL MEET SOMETHING NEW Johnny Evers, Alarm Clock of Base Ball, to Chatter in Johnson Loop This Year. John Evers' transfer of allegiance to the American after sixteen years of service in the National stirs afresh the interest in this most striking figure of baseball and has revived many a story, good and bad, of his career. It is some tribute to him that even sixteen years of acquaintance with National league fans did not cause him to lose his hold and to American league fans who have not known him he should prove a refreshing experience. Evers has been called the "Alarm Clock" of baseball, but unlike most alarm clocks he is not set to ring at any particular time in the day or night. He barks most any time, at anything, anywhere. Like all alarm clocks, once started he is harti to stop, and rings and blats merrily while someone is fumbling for the switch. He may appear to be at rest. But this is the volcano gathering strength. Some faux pas out around his old stamping ground may mar the scen ery before his eyes. He howls. He draws from his experiences, from the language of his mates of winning days the Joe Tinkers, the Frank Chances and shoots and shoots. When he is done when he pauses for breath the dead, the wilted, the all-in, lie about as in a scene on a battle field, just le fore the Red Cross people get in to work. , There is no accounting for John Evers. He may crack out an hour too soon, but never an hour too late. He'll Lose No Time Winding Up Doubtless Evers will proceed to wind up at once to go off with his shrill rattle in the American league, just as he has done in the National. . Imagine this alarming individual, seated on a couch, pillows at his back, perusing the life history of the chanv pion White Sox. He will store in hi$ memory many little incidents upon which to erect large stories. He will go carefully over the records of each man to find the awful flaws. He will need these in repartee. If the White Sox failed to buy any Liberty Bonds, be sure Evers will know of it. If the Athletics display no patriotism Evers will comment on it. Or if anybody on the St. Louis team exhibits pep, what a play Master Evers will make on the court experiences of ball players. Altogether Evrs' advent into the American league will create interest. He may be the alarm clock for the entire league. Ting-a-ling-ling Evers. Alarm Clock Johnny is being wound up for the season and the time hand is set for April 16, along about 3:30 in the afternoon, when a gent in blue clothes and a biting expression on his face says something about play in these war times. Even the reasons for Evers' depar ture from the National are evidences of his peculiar character. Evers is known to be pleased to get out of the old major organization, although he remained loyal to it up to' the last game of ball he played for the Phillies last fall. He could have leaped to the Federal league in war times at a great profit, but he chose'to stick to Organ ized Baseball also at a profit. He did not like to be known as a deserter and did everything in his power to keep players from jumping, and 'had little use for the men who did desert the old ship. The reason Evers is glad to join the American league forces is because of the e.imity that sprung up within the last year between him and President Tener. They were not on speaking terms. Besides, Evers believed the executive took every advantage to "pick on" him for what happened on the field. He also was under the im pression that the umpires were in structed to curb hira at all times, keep him within bounds and that if lit did net remain there to eject him from the field. This was so apparent to Evers that he became disgusted and sought the change. Connolly Returns. Outfielder Joe Connolly, who laid off most of last year, will get a chance to come back with the Boston Braves this year. He has signed the contract sent him and expressed a desire for service , Vo 1 r n 11 1 1 -v appears to be even more formidable than Burns. Joe Lynch of New York, who recently knocked out Kid Wil liams of Baltimore in four rounds, is the boy in question. Lynch is a clever fighter and packs a terrific punch in either hand, as his knockout of Kid Bush and James Sign With Tigers; Maisel Joins Army Two more members of the Detroit Americans have signed their con tracts and another of Manager Jen nings' recruits has quit base ball to serve his country. Donic Bush, shortstop, and Bill James, the big right-hand twirler, came to Detroit from their homes in Indianapolis and Ann Arbor, respec tively, and attached their signatures to the 1918 papers. Each player said he was well satisfied with his salary and this fact has caused super-keen students of base ball to believe that neither man sustained much of a cut in pay. It is doubtful if Bush has his salary reduced at all, as he had a re markable season in 1917. He hit about 30 points above his normal speed and fielded like a gray ghost. With the signing of James it be came known that he made two at tempts this winter to join the army while on the Pacific coast. He was rejected because of defective eyesight James is eligible for the selective draft and may be called for military service before the base ball season opens. George Maisel, brother of Fritz, has been drafted in Maryland. Maisel is the property of the Detroit club and as an outfielder and hitter made a line record last season with the San Francisco team. How Charley Hollacher Got His Base Ball Start Charles Hollacher, who has signed to play with the Cubs this year, start ed his base ball career in the Central association and two former Waterloo managers claim responsibility for his start in organized base ball. He was discovered by Eddie Brennan and was taken in charge by Frank Boyle, at that time manager of the Keokuk club. Brennan was a member of Boyle's club at Muscatine in 1904. He recommended the youngster to his leader and Boyle signed him. The following season Manager Boyle transferred to the Keokuk club and Ned Egan succeeded him at Muscatine. Egan turned the young star over to Boyle, and in 1915 he played his first game in organized ball. He was the fielding sensation of the league that year, but failed to hit. Manager Boyle, however, rec ommended the youngster to Portland and he was purchased by that club at the close of the season. What Ho? Mike Donlin is After Job Under Big Tent Mike Donlin, the former Giant star, is anxious to get backvin the game. The fact that two or three major clubs were after the services of Larry La joie and Johnny Evers, old-timers like himself; makes Mike feel that he can play a little himself, although he is past 35. He would like nothing better than to land a berth , with a major league team as a pinch hitter, as he figures that his eye is as keen as ever. Many of the young players are now in the service and it may be that Donlin will land a job. Terry Turner Still on Job for Cleveland Club Constant playing with the Cleve land American league team since 1904 is the record of Terry Turner. Last season Turner was utility in fielder, and he took part in 63 games and made only four errors. Turner played 23 games at second base and out of 106 chances made two mis plays. He also took part in 24 games in the home field in Cleveland with out an error. Stress Sports at College To Cut Draft Rejections The University of Wisconsin is planning an intensive schedule in in tramural sports, in order to give stu dents additional training. This is said to be largely the outcome of the re ports showing rejections among re cruits for the army and navy for minor defects which easily can be remedied. Williams proves. Williams was never stopped before he met Lynch, But he did not last long with the New Yorker. Promoters all over the coun try are trying to arrange a match be tween Herman and Lynch. It may be that the pair will meet in the near future. Managers In American League This Vrar CHICAGO Clarrnre H. Rowland. Born Plaltfvllln, Wis , 1879. Entrrnd profnailonal bass ball In 110. Managed rluha In Pu buqua, Aberdeen, Waah., Jacksonville, III., Winnipeg and Teorla. Became manager of the White Hox In 1916. Won American league pennant and world'! champlonahlp In 117. , BOSTON Kdward 8. Barrow. Bora at Dpi Molnea, 1(68. First managerial experi ence ax pilot of Wheeling, W, Va club In 181. Afterward managed teaina In Pater on, Toronto, Detroit, Montreal and Indian apolis. President of the International league from 1910 to 191T. CLEVELAND Lee A. Fohl. Born, In riitsbui-Kh, 1871. First base ball Job an catcher for Des Molnea team In UOS. Later played with teams In Youngstown, Pa., Ilomustcad, Ta., and Columbus, O. In lVt9 landed a berth aa manager of team at Lima, O. Afterwards piloted teams at Huntington, W. Va. and Watarbury, Conn. Waa holding down a position as scout and roach for the Indiana when selected to manage the team In 1916. DETROIT Hugh A. Jennings, one of the brut known manager in the game. Born at Plttston, Pa., 1870. Began Jiia profea slohal career with Louisvlll team In 1891. Traded to Biiltlmora three years later and developed Into one of the brightest stars of tho diamond. After five years In Balti more he was shifted to Brooklyn and later to the Philadelphia Nationals. Returned to Baltimore In 1901. as manager of the East ern league team. Became manager of the Detroit team In 1967 and has since won three American league pennants for the Tigers 1907, '08 and. !,, N . . - . , . . WASHINGTON Clark' Griffith, manager of the Senators and a one-time star pitcher. Born at Nevada, Ma.,' 1H69. He nan playing professional ball at Bloomlngton, 111., In 1OT. Later pitched for Milwaukee, Ht. Louis, Tuconia and Oakland. Left the Pa cific coast to Join the Chicago Nationals and continued a member of the old Aaaon machine until 1901, when he went to the White Sox. After pitching the Sox to a pennant In 1901 and third place in 1902, Griffith became manager of the New Tork Yankees. Seven years later he went to Cin cinnati and piloted the Reds during 1909 1911. The following year he took charge of the Senators. NEW YORK Miller J. Huggins. the new Yankea manager, waa born In Cincinnati In 1S80. Entered the professional ranka In 1899 In Interstate league. In 1901 landed In St. Taul, where he developed Into a star second baseman. Season of 1904 found Hug gins with the Cincinnati Reds. After six vears with the Reds he was trsded to the St. Louis Cardinals and In 1913 became manager of tho team. Huggins made the Cardinals a pennant contender and Is ex pected to duplicate his fine work In New York. ST. LOUIS Fielder A. Jones, boss of the Browns, born at Shingle House, Pa., In 1171. Entered base ball In 1895 aa a member of tho Blnghampton. N. Y., team. Went to Brooklyn tho next season and during his five years with the Superbas developed Into one of the atar outfielders of the day. In 1901 Jones Joined the Chicago White Sox and In 1904 he succeeded Jimmy Callahan as manager of the team. He piloted the Sox to the American league pennant and the world's championship In 190$. He re tired from tho game In 1908. returning eight years later as niHniiger of the Browns, PHILADELPHIA Connie Mark, dean of base ball managers, born at East Brookfleld, Man., In 1892. Played his first professional engagement at Merldan, Conn., In 1884. En tered the big league two years later as a catcher for the Washington tasm. From Washington he went to Pittsburgh as man ager and catcher for tho Pirates. Mark's managerial career covers a period of 24 years. He has piloted teams In Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. Prior to 1915 Mark's Athletics was one of the most pow. erful base ball machines ever organized. After the disastrous defeat at tho hands of the Boston Braves In 1914. In the series for the world's pennant, Muck disposed of most of his stars. The Athletics have been tull-enders ever since. Ex-Chicago Grid Star to Lead Real Tanks in Field Stanley R. (Snitz) Pierce, remem bered as a member of the University of Chicago foot ball backfield com bination of Norgren, Gray, Russell and Pierce, has enlisted at Cleveland in the 65th engineers to handle Uncle Sam's first "tanks," which are ex pected to appear within a few months on European battlefields. Pierce had beqn in the east for several months studying munitions tactics, with a view to obtaining a commission. Stagg's four members of the 1913 eleven which won the conference championship are now with the col ors. Paul Russell and Dolly Gray hold commissions in the national army. Nelson Nordgren has passed the aviation test and is awaiting call. Fails to Make Good in His Home Town Another of those Chicago kids who couldn't accomplish anything near home is making a noise on the coast. His name is Georgie Adams and a few days ago he stopped Char ley Moy, the California four-round bantam champion, in three rounds. He hit Moy so hard that the said Moy didn't want any more and hopped the hemp. In spite of his name and his hop ping proclivities, Moy isn't a chink. By RINGSIDER. Chicago, Fb. 24. Mars has strode roughshod through the ranks of sport and has caused stagnations or partial paralysis in many lines of athletic endeavor. But the ancient game of wrestling, often in disfavor, but never entirely dead,, seems to thrive in war time. DRAMATIC ROUND AS GREAT JOHN L. FALLSIN DEFEAT Account of Twenty-First Ses sion of Fight With Corbett . Recalls Thrilling Finish ofGo. John I.. Sullivan's last stand, in the twenty-first round against his con queror, Gentleman Jim Corbett, at New Orleans, was one of the most dramatic moments in the history of pugilism. Here is One newspaper ac count of that short twenty-first round when the mighty John L. was crushed in defeat: "In regard to this triflinn minute and a half, which decided the heavy weight championship of the world, a great deal might be said. That the contest would end in that round no man present believed. Sullivan came from his corner in the same shape that he had shown for a half dozen rounds before. The same cross ex pression was on his face and lie seemed as strong as at any time dur ing the fight. He continued to do the edging in and Corbett followed his original tactics of edging away. Hits John L. on Nose. "This sort of trade was not going on more than ten seconds when Cor bett jumped back, rushed forward and hit John L. on the nose. John was dazed. Corbett went after him fur ther and the tame old nose was again smashed and more blood came out. "John looked astounded and Cor bett jumped back with the i merry smile of a schoolboy with a big ap ple. Suddenly he returned to the fray and before Sullivan knew what was the meaning of the Californian's happy look he got a crack on the side of the head which niade. htm close his eyes. With that Corbett was on top of him and in no time, with a left hander on the side of the head and a right-hander on the other, poor John L. became an unconscious, beat en man. He staggered about on his pins for a second or so and, while displaying his fatal weakness Cor bett was on him again as a crow lights on corn where there is no dummy in the middle of the held. Corbett Finishes Foe. "A right on the ear and a left on the jaw settled the business and the championship. That last blow sent the great John L. Sullivan io the floor with a thump, the second time ip all his career as a fighter that he had ever been knocked down. But he was down this time, fair and finally. It was a clean and clever knockout blow. "Sullivan doubled up h.s legs as though in pain, but in anotrer instant seemed to collect his senses and made an effort to rise. He failed in that and tried second time, with the same result. He was knocked out, pure and simple. His seconds had to come and assist him to his corner. Even then John L. was out and did not know what was going on. It was not for more than two minutes that John L. recovered himself." Military Stunts to Be Held at Penn Carnival Friday, April 26, will be Military day at the twenty-fourth annual relay carnival given by the University of Pennsylvania on Franklin field. At the request of several of the military and naval camps the relay manage ment has decided to put on several events of a military character, and, in fact, to make this a feature of the first day of Pennsylvania's great ath letic fixture. Wall scaling, machine gun, squad drill, hand grenade throwing, bugle competition and four races namely, a medley relay race, the first two men to run 220 yards, the third 440 yards, and the last 880 yards; ' one-half mile relay race in light marching or der, each man to run 220 yards; a rescue race, and a onc-mite relay race will be army and navy features. The machine gun competition will be eagerly watched as the men in this event fire the gun, then take it en tirely apart, put it together again and fire again. It is a real test in effi ciency. Gun Club Shoot to Take Place at 3 0'Clock Today The regular Sunday shoot of the Omaha Gun club will be held at 3 o'clock this afternoon, a number of prizes, including the Lew Adams trophy, being hung up for the win ners. The board of directors of the club now has under consideration several tracts of grounds for the new loca tion of the club, which will be on this side of the river. Five events in all are scheduled, 10 birds being snapped for each event. Jap Tennis Star to Make , United States His Home Ichiya Kumngae, the skill tut tennis player from Japan who, in 1916, was ranked at No. 5 in the first ten play ers of this country, will oon return to this country from Japan and es tablish a permanent residence in New York Citva as he will enter the em ploy of Japanese importing firm. Umps Get Joba. George Moriarty and Ernest Quig ley probably will be the umpires chosen to officiate in the series be tween Cincinnati and Detroit this spring. ' WRESTLERS SHIRK. "Where hundreds of base ball plai;-, ers, gridiron stars, boxers, swimmers and other athletes have been called to ' the service of Uncle Sam, the draft ' boards and the recruiting offices have seen very little of the grapplers. The . one notable exception is Earl Cad dock, heavyweight champion, who is. a soldier at Camp Dodge, Dts Moines, ; la. Except for Caddock not a single , wrestler of note who is in military ' service comes to mind. ;' ' CaddocVs presence in the national,' army arr' rent ly -has given tone to'' the sport, ior throughout the middle west, at least, the toe-hold and scis sors experts are more active than they have been in years. It's a poor' night just now that does not see a , pair of grapplers busy somewhere 1n the middle west. ' Heavyweight Muddle. 7, The heavyweight situation is m, more or less of a muddle, but appar,-; ently the leading title contenders are, doing their best to clear it up. If, patient and persistent wrestling will settle the question it ought to be, settled before long. -,; Technically, Caddock is the chani-.' pion and most of the fans are willing so to recognize him. Whether he, won the title when he beat Stecher, or not Caddock did a lot to clinch his claim to the crown when he gained, a decision over Wladck Zybszko at, Des Moines, la., two weeks agj. Zbystko was the winner of the big wrestling tournament held in New s York a few weeks ago and estab lished himself as about the most for midable heavyweight outside of Cad-,, dock in the business. Caddock dis posed of Zbyszko by winning one fall and piling up points that convinced Referee Ed Smith he was entitled to a decision. t Dempcey in Spotlight. Jack Dempsey, the Utah scrapper, continues to bask in the pugilistic spotlight." His victory over Carl Morris, after cleaning up Homer Smith in jig time, has made eastern fight fans respect his prowess and look upon Him as one who must be reckoned among the lcadinp; conten ders for Jess Willard's much-sought 1 crown. Denipsey's showing undoubtedly has been impressive, and he looks like one of the best heavyweights that has flashed' up in years Despite a blot or two on his record, such as a ten-second knockout by Jim Flynn, the mixer from the Mormon state has all the earmarks of a capable battler. Jack Kearns, who managed Demp sey, is a shrewd pilot and is pointing Dempsey toward a match with the . champion, Kearns is firm in his faith that he has a man who can sweep the heavyweight ranks clean and blaze a path right to Jess Willard's door.' Downey's Training. It is not often that a boxer wofks three years and rises to a positioh very near the top of his class without learning how to train. Yet that ts exactly what happened to Bryart Downey, the robust young welter- weight that Tom Jones hopes to pilo"' to a world's champipnship. n, At the ( beginning of Downey':, pugilistic career some misguided per1., son told him that he should not eav heartily if he expected to be chani-, pion. One meal a day, with not too much of that and only the lightest of . repasts on other occasions was. enough, this adviser said, for anyi scrapper. ( Downey 'swallowed the advice aijd followed it for three years. While he was under the management of Emii Thiry he lived where Thiry could not see him eat, and hence did not know the course his battler was pursuing. Then Tom Jones got hold of Dow ney, and about the first time out he lost a scrap to Joe Eagen, the rugged ' Boston mixer. Tom thought Downey1 good enough to beat Eagen any time,'.' and said so. " ' Jones Makes Discovery. "What is the matter with you?', Jones asked after the Eagen bout. "I don't think I cat enough," was Bryan's reply, and the whole story of his three years of abstemiousness came out. ; The First thing Jones did was to send for a beefsteak. He sat back and watched Downey eat. Then h7 sent for another beefsteak and watched that disappear "That ought to give you a pretty good, start," Jones declared, "bu, hereafter you come to see me when it's feeding time. I'm going to give! you some cats that will make a real fighter out of you. How in the world' you ever got to be as good as you are; on that kind of eating will always be, a wonder to me." ,.j Cub Rookie Pulls New One Trying to Escape Service, H. V.. W'eaver, a recruit pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, filed a unique claim for deferred exemption from military service, according to a wire from Warren, Pa., where his exemption board sits. "We have a good chanci ' to win the world's series," was tin way young Weaver stated his claim Evidently his local board didn't think so, for it turned him down. Fund for A. F. Wilding Memorial Reaches $500 The fund being raised in Australia to erect a memorial tablet for the late Anthony . Wilding, international ten nis star, killed in action as an Aus-. tralian officer, has reached the $500 mark. Big Six Undergoes Knife. Manager Christy Mathewsort of the Cincinnati Reds asks nothing of his players that he won't go through himself. He not only has been .vac-.' cinated, he also has had, his tpazv removed. .' J