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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1908)
TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, 3IARCII 8, 1908. CREWS ARE AT OUTS SPORTINTG EVENTS OF THE WEEK AND A FEW IN PROSPECT KILLED BASEBALL Stanford and .California. Un able to Agree'. ' 6 OWNERS' ALMOST Jjick .Young Says Magnates ; Encouraged Rowdyism j 'on Field. t : ;- - - UMPIRES WERE " BAITED REGATTA DAY IS NOT. SET i Tender Clean Tactics of the Present I Management, Great American Game Has Flourished as j Never Before. Nicholas -K. Young. . of,. Washington; wfio was for many years president of t!(e National league and one of tjie best Mi most widely known men ever con nected with baseball, in a recent inter wSrw made the flat statement that base ball was all but killed a few years ago by the tactics .of several club owners, wtio not only countenanced, but encour aged, the rowdyism of their players on the field. . . fi'oung Is in a position' to know more about this subject tnan any man who-has jer been In the game. While he was president of the league all the trouble nlade by squabbles between clubowners nfd umpires and the players and the in dicator handlers, fell on his shoulders. When ltame to giving the public any Information in those days Young was a sphinx. ' Still it was well known that the suggestions, requests, complaints and threats that came to him from the mag nates in regard to umpires' added many a gray hair to Uncle Nick's head. Umpire baiting was always a feature of baseball almost since the inception of the. game. As early as I860 a critic of the game wrote. "We hope to see the boys' 3lay- of disputing over the decisions of tinipires entirely done away with." Nearly 50 years have passed and still the, "boys' play"' goes on. Ill 1869 the following article appeared in a New York paper. It was headed "Rather Severe"; 'Kelly says tnat Peck's dummy has created quite an excitement on Aim street. Dressed in a full base bail rig he looks quite natty. Scofield, of the- Haymakers, did think about bringing the figure over to the Union Gub'unda to act as umpire in the Haymaker-Kck ford game yesterday, but a young man named Monell was found who answered nearly as well." Xjck Young's Story. Following (b, Nick' Young's story of the umpire problem while he was president of the National League: "Rowdyism has been almost entirely eliminated from baseball within the last 10 years; Umpiring is a pleasure now to what it was a few years back, and it is all because the clubowners came to the rcuWxatinn Just In time that they were killing the" goose which laid the golden eggs by allowing' the players to do as they pleased on the ball field. "During my regime the clubowners were always wlljiug to talk of legislation aiMtnst the : rowdy player, and they passed- rules, too, but when it came "to enforcing them ngainst their players it w9- a different proposition. I have had courageous men on my umpire staff who sirnpl; could not stand the abuse which used to be heaped on them, and it re curred all sorts of persuasion to koep tljcin from resigning. Nowadays umpires are plentiful, but in' those days there wrre but few men who cared to tackle the Job. r ' , "Hank O'Day. now one of the" best um pires in the'rbustness. resigned - twice in two days que Summer., but, I .persuaded hm to stick to me. He was working In Hjiltimore. and one night he came to Washington and notified me that he was through. I urged him not to.-resign. buf. td go back and drive the plavers who wre trying to got him out of baseball opt . of it. He went back, but'the next nightie was back again, and this time jilgni fie i lif was d indicator t npd he we determined never to handle -an again. But I pleaded with him vent back, and from that time mi lifc was a star. Lynch, one of the very best men the game ever produced, re signed because of the abuse which the layers -heaped on him. and there was nbt a man on the staff who did. not tire l least' two or three times a year and wanted to quit. i Halting the Umpire. "Strange to say. the clubowners at that IJne believed that to . stop the players Mom baiting the "umpire wouid be a detriment to. tho game. They thought it amused the spectators to see an official Viulcd and pushed about by a lot of. payers, and when it was suggested that t!jis sort of practice be eliminated, it was aigued that it would kill the sport, which wj-Mild-lie lamp unless the wrangling be tween players and umpires was tolerated. Irjiw mistaken this impression was has siice .been proven, for the game has ntver flourished as It has In the last ritht or ten years, and it is still only in 111 Infancy. 'Had no action been taken to protect 1l(e umpire and to eliminate the rowdy t;-tlrs which were in vogue In my time I ii satisfied that baseball would almost ba a dead letter now. The better class of riiople and true sportsmen were kept ay from the ball parks because one or t-o players thought it the proper thing loj conduct themselves like roughs on the field. Just as soon as it became known tliat only clean ( baseball would n tol ernted. they all canin back and brought thousands with them. The iball player nowadays who resorts to. rowdy tactics Is; a rarity, and he soon learns that It ioes not help his popularity in the least t'K-aJi baseball is the greatest of all out ddor sports, and the time will never come when It won't be the greatest American gijnie. There is nothing to take its place rid yet its future "Was threatened a few ars back because those who had it in thrir hands could run see where the fault wis." New- York World. ,frllM-TKS KI.KCT OFFIUKKS st Side High School Association Ready for AVork. At a meeting of the Kast Side High Sc,hfol Athletic Association, held last Tisday. the following officers were elf:ted:"Presldent," Hillary Cason; vice president. Kay Kellogg: secretarv. IMrbert Cook; treasurer. Delbert Staa najrd: baSeball manager. Theodore l.ilum; board of directors, (students) Glkdys Wiggins. R. Landfare. D. Stfcvall. O. Morrow, Willow Fields and faculty). F. Harrlgan. W.' A Kojistermaeher. Miss E. Armltage. Miss l.rtna Nealond and K. E. Jackson.' Next week the baseball team will tuffi out. for practice at East Twelfth nil Davis strerts, under the direction i't i hZ. K. Jackson. The association is composed of young people, who made nl excellent record last year In athletics, and who are determined to do letter this year. ..ocflL FAVORS NEW RULES College , Football Pronounced Better Than Rugby. TRIED FOR TWO YEARS Ex-Head ' Coach at. Harvard Com pares Former Rough Game With. ' Present' and Draws '; Conclu sions on Side of American. i "William. T. Reid. Jr., former head foot ball coach at Harvard, and prominent in: the legislation of two years ago that resulted in the new football, has wTitten ln; the current number of the Occident Magazine, the s-tudent publication of the University of California, a plea for the American college game of football, as compared with the Rugby game, which now takes the place of American football on the Coast. Reid. in he article, strongly favors the American game and declares that recent legislation proved 'its salvation, 'lie says: "The game of American football has been played now for' two years under the revised rules. Rugby has been played for two years also. It would aeem. therefore, that each game has been tried long enough to furniEh a basis for com parison. ' "The old American game was discard ed, temporarily at least, at the Univer sity of California and at Stanford, be cause the game was not open enough, because there was too much mass play, because injuries were too many and too serious, because football was too much of. a business, and because it was too brutal. Rugby was adopted because it seemed to be comparatively free from these undesirable attributes. . Football and Rugby.. "Let me now make some comparisons of the new American same with Rugby. In the first place both teams seem to require about the same type of player and the same degree of physical fit ness, although It is a matter for debate as to whether Rugby is not the more exacting in the latter respect. "The game seems to me to be about on a par, as far as. opportunity for roughness and the likelihood of injury nre concerned. -This statement is likely to be questioned. I know, but 1 believe thtt it is borne out by the facts in the season Just ended. Certain it is. at any rate, that the reports of injuries at both colleges were numerous. "Neither game is one which can be played with much pleasure or satisfac tion by those who are not at-least in partial- training: - therefore, neither will ever satisfy the demand which it Was thought Rugby would satisfy for a Fall game which everyone could play, and which would bring on to the Held every day a large percentage of the student body.. "Neither game, if properly coacned. should send a boy to his room after the day's practice, incapacitated through fatigue for a good night's work. In deed, a player should ordinarily sit down to his books with a clear head. and. If be be a fellow ot purpose, with a real lest for study. 'Both games offer opportunities for foul play, though I think that Rugby has a little the advantage in this re spect, being a mure open and visible game. This Is not a very serious mat ter, however, since any man who makes up hie mind to do a dirty thing can find a chance in either game. "Voul play cannot be stopped by rule. VNext and. here we' come to the parting of the ways Rugby permits victories to be woi on penalties. This, it seems to me. is un-American, as Is the English custom of not allowing substitutes, and is a distinct weakness In the game "Rugby is unquestionably more open exosrts in ATCPi.aV' WICIPflTION OF ; GREATE ST. PLEASURE' . than the American ' game, though, whether-, this openness is a point of superiority or not is a question for dis cussion. To the writer It - seems as though It had been secured at' the ex pense of those features which' consti tute the principal strength of the American game. Element of Chance. "The element of chance figures to a far greater extent In Rugby than in the American game. This is especially true of the "blind" passes frequently made by the Rugby players in their endeavor to avoid being tackled wim the ball in their possession. "Rugby and the American game differ vitally with respect to the sig nificance that may be attached to the location of the ball on the field at any given moment. That is to say In Rugby the ball may be now in one part of the field, now in another, a change in location . due not. .to . any planned and consistent attack through which credit might accrue to the team' thus benefited, but to the many and often startling, vicissitudes of the game. On the other hand. In . the American game, such changes In posi tion, while less kalledoscopic, , argue a strategical or a physical superiority of one team over the other 'The general effect of all this is to make Rugby the more spectacular of the two games, but at the same time to rob it of that sense of ground won and held which is so characteristic of the American game. "Without carrying this comparison further, I feel that I have gone far enough to warrant me In drawing some general conclusions as to the- relative merits of the two games. "Rugby is simple, more easily Jearned, more open, more spectacular. -mi i MISS 1ZKTTA JEWEL 1ST HKR EW TWKM'V.HORS&POHER MAIIVBLL TOt'RIti CAR, PIRCHASED THIS CITY FROM THE PORTLAND MOTOR CAR COMPANY. but it is more of an individual game: has in it disturbing elements of chance; allows penalties to figure too largely In the score, and does not afford op portunity for consistent advance or the exercise of much headwork on the field. ' "The American game is complex-and diversified. It is educative: it w essen tially a team game, a game of co ordinated action directed by skilful strategy, stimulated by a well defined purpose and rewarded by a feeling of deserved and consistent- - accomplish ment." BEND SCENIC PHOTOS EAST. Eee Riser's display. 248 Alder at. nsr uiMi-, . A AlFW Aru CHOSE HARDY MEN Autoists on Trip Around World Tried Out. IN CHARGE OF RECORD MAN Some of Xew York-Paris Race Had - Experience in Long Runs and Otbcrs. Belong to En : ginecrtng Service. The foreign drivers and mechanicians In the New Tork-to-Paris automobile race have had considerable experience In endurance contests, and several took part: in the Pekin-to-Parls race last year, says the Chicago Record-Herald, Each man was selected with a view to his special qualifications for the long and .arduous journey across the two hemispheres. The men were in excel lent physical condition and thoroughly prepared for the rigors o the hazard ous undertaking. G. Border St. Chaffray, the driver-in-chief ot the De Dion car, was the winner ' of - the mnch-heard-of Pekin- to-Paris contest last year. His wide experience in this event and other en durance tests has made him a specially valuable man, and the originators of the New York-to-Paris. race engaged him to take charge of the present run. Captain Hans Hendrick Hansen is Chafrray's assistant driver. Before leaving Russia to take part in the race he made a bet o-f 10,000 rubles ($7700) that the race would be successfully, completed before June 15 Lieutenant Hans Kuppen of the Ger man Protos car is a member of the general staff of the German army. He has been In the service of the Kaiser for 14 years. He la not an automobilist. but a sportsman, and is entering the --JfiiFii' TX . 4 race In-, that spirit. Hi's military ex perience commands the confidence of the proprietors of-the Protos car. Engineer Knape is first officer .of the German engineer corps. ; He entered the infantry branch of the German service and afterward was shifted to the engineer corps. His love of mechanics and of machinery is what led him to abandon the infantry service for the engineer corps. He is a clever mechanician and thoroughly famtlliar with the tietalls of the work which he may be called upon to perform on the trip. Antonio Scarfogilio, the driver-of the Lust car, -is Jhe son of the proprietor of an Italian newspaper well known in Naples, Italy. He is an amateur driver and has .entered .the. race- from a sporting spirit and a desire, for ad venture. He has had long experience in autoing and is considered a compe tent chauffeur: His companion On the trip is M. Sirtori,a well-known Italian chauffeur, while Henri Haaga will act as alternate driver and mechanic for the team. FOREIGN PUGS ' LACK SKIIJj George Dawson Says Emigration Is ' the Reason. From time immemorial, even since Goliath took the count before Tavid, excuses nave not been lacking from de feated puglists. "If"; and "might-have-been' are favorite - phrases with them. But it remains for George Daw son, the old-time boxing instructor of the Chicago, Athletic Association, to explain the decadence of a whole nation of fighters. Bill Squires need no longer be ashamed of his poor showing In this country If the excuses - offered by Iaw- son hold water. Emigration, and ' the consequent lack of proper' instructors, says . Dawson, is the - reason for the luxuriance of the lemon crop in the Anti podes. "By that," says George. "I do not mean that all the physical perfection of Australia left the country, but that the passing of all the good fighters left no one fit to train th4 younger generation. "Fifteen years ago the Australian stamp was enough to Insure the quality of a fighter. The American and English boxing fans took kindly to the Austral ians; they all migrated: they didn't go home, and they left none of the live ones behind them. And there. In my opin ion, is the reason for the present infer iority of the Australian fighters." OBJECTS TO FOOLISH LAWS AtTO MANUFACTURER REFUTES CRITICISM. Contends That Road Should Be Built to Accommodate Modern Requirements. " T.et them keep the automobiles in doors when it is wet arid icy.' Such is the statement reported' to have been made by John Menwagen, -chairman of the Board ot Local improvements of the great city of Chicago." remarked B. F. Everett, of the Wayne Automobile Com pany, says the New York American, as he laid down an article on the light against automobile chains being made in Chicago. "Our friend the enemy," sarcastically continued Mr. Everett, "then goes on to say that the chains on automobiles are ruining the pavements In the city; that the people who have to pay the taxes never use the streets, and that all rthe people using automobiles live on the out skirts so that they don't help to pay for the pavements they ruin. "Another brilliant statement ' this learned chairman of Improvements makes is that the only time the wheels slip is I when the chauffeurs are speeding the macmnes. . It is just such ignoramuses as this that are responsible for a whole lot of the fool legislation being enacted, to the detriment of the automobile industry legislation which is entirely unwarranted legislation which, by virtue of its unfairness, is do ing the industry a great injury by placing it before the public In a false light. "When the old roads were not able to longer care for the advancement in com mercial lines we laid pavements. Nobody in those days complained that the heavy wagon cut up the mud roads; they sim ply went to work and made the roads for the wagons. Such will be the eventual outcome of this age. "Legislation will .not be made prohibit ing the automobiles from using the roads, but by the evolution of things the- roads will be made to accommodate .the' auto mobiles, for only a few: ignorant and uninformed- people take the stand, that the automobile is anything but a .commercial necessity and . becoming more- so every day. .- - - "The statement that the people should keep the automobiles indoors- when it is wet and Icy is . just -as assln-ine as the same; statement would be if applied to .human .beings.. - t r - - - "It is also untrue that the people who pay the taxes never use the streets, as everybody knows Ithat in most communi ties throughout the land the owner of the automobile-pays; two and sometimes three taxes upon his . car. : He first pays his general tax upon it as personal property, then he has.to paya license to drive it on the street, and in some states an addi tional state license, and in- other states an additional road license, so that when It comes to a question of taxation nobody can say that the automobile is not over taxed instead of undertaxed. "The anti-chain laws may flourish for a brief time, because legislators and public servants are always to be found who are ready to make a play -to the galleries on most any. pretext and this is nothing more nor less than a play tho the gal leries. "The day is coming, and coming fast, when the automobile will receive the recognition to which it is entitled, and when that day comes, such fool legisla tion and such fool - remarks as those made by the eminent J. M. Larrabee, chairman of the Board of Local Improve ments of Chicago, will be hooted into quietness." The top of trie Great Smoky Moun tain has been reached by a Haynes automobile.' which was lately driven by a Hayne3 owner from Kokomo down through Kentucky and Tennessee with out trouble whatsoever in the long and arduous trip. - The Smoky Mountain is 350o feet in height and the grades are severe. In one stretch the grade is full 45 per cent. A model O Haynes was UBed and not once in the entire trip did the- motor balk and the entire trip caused not a single puncture. University of California Manager 'Declares Annual Race Will Be Held on April 11 or Xot at All. STANFORD UNIVERSITY. Cal.. March ".(Special.) The question of a date for the intercollegiate regatta has been threshed out for the last two weeks be tween the executive committees who have charge of the athletic affairs of the University xf California and Stanford, and as . yet no agreement has been, reached.' There is considerable difference between" the dates that are favored -by the two universities. California wishes to have the regatta on either April 11 or 18. and prefers April 11. Stanford favors a later date, and suggests .April 25, which Is about the date on which the contest was held last year. The reason assigned by the California representatives for asking the early date is that tho final exsmtnations at the University of Cali fornia begin on April 22. and.it is not desirable ;o keep their athletes in train ing during examination week... Stanford's position in the -matter is indicated in a letter written on February. 24. by Coach Turner, of Stanfard, to Coach Tyssowski, of California. Turner states that the Stanford boating interests do not approve of . making rowing sub servient to any other intercollegiate sport, and that the regatta should have a day of Its own. coming after the intercol legiate track and baseball events in order that the men engaged in the latter sports may have an opportuinty to witness the races. He concludes with the statement that it will be impossible for his crew to row before April 26, but is willing that California should , set the date at any time thereafter. Graduate Manager Snedigar. of Cali fornia, was present at a meeting of the Stanford executive committee held on February 27, in which, the question of a date for the regatta was thoruoghly dis cussed. Manager Snedigar seemed, im pressed by the reasons on sv-blch Stan ford has taken its stand, and promised to take the matter up again with the oars men of the University of California. 'At the same time Stanford offered to com promise to the extent of allowing the regatta to come off any time after April 18, the date for intercollegiate track meet. Last Saturday, however. Captain Dean Witter of the California crew made a visit to Stanford and informed Manager Knupp of .the latter university that the California men will row on April 11 or not at all. No final action has yet been taken, and until further developments come to light, the date, when the race will be held is a question that technically lies with the graduate' managers of the two universities to settle. Both universities are becoming anxious, however. - to terminate the dis pute, for It is necessary to arrange for a date of meeting very shortly in order that Washington may be notified and have suitable time for making all neces sary arrangements for the regatta. Prob ably the date finally fixed will be cither Monday. April 20. or Tuesday. April 21. The date upon which -the . tides will be most advantageous will be chosen. Harper Whiskey Old, mellow and frag rant ; for three , gcn er&tioae the choice of discriminating judges . Sold . By Leading Dealers rwQRLEANsI ifjp" j ' Q "ON EVERY TONGUE" 1 I. w.
