The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-21
BASEBALL In THE SOUTH. 70.
TIE LEAGUE HAS NOT GONE NOR
WILL 1T GO TO THE WALL,
A Determination Has Merely Been
Reached to Come Down to Business
Like. self-sustaining Basis--Interest-
ing Interview With President Rozler.

The Southern league will not disband.
An APPEAL reporter sought President J.
b. Rozier for thorough explanation of the
report that II would, and was silently handed
the following telegram:
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, June 10, 1888
To ]. ID. Rozier, President, Memphis
Southern League playing best ball in
America DISARMAMENT not probable.
j. 4. WILSON.
reading of the dispatch and turned 10 Mr.
Rozier, that gentleman said:
When the rumor reached my ears, as II
did early IN the afternoon, / at once wired
PRESIDENT Wilson for an authoritative ex-
PLANTATION, and that telegram was his reply
II doesn't look very much rs II the league
was going to the wall, does it2''
What gave rise TO the rumor, and what
future?"
Here President Rozier pulled from his
pocket another document, which proved 10
be a letter from President Toby Hart, of New
Orleans From II the following excerpts are
taken: "As your proxy. allow me TO report
iayorabiy on the proposition TO pay
all League expenses out of the
guarantee fund now in the hands OF
ut the end of the season to be equally d.
vided between the four clubs. Birmingham
has found out that their town Is not hold
ing out in the patronage that was promised,
and that they are far behind In their cash,
consequently they must go under or reduce
expenses materially. To save the Birming-
ham club and the league, this proposition :
was made and agreed 20 by New Orleans,
Birmingham and Charleston, and only needs
the consent OF Memphis 10 become law.
viz: Each club In the league agrees TO re.
uce its salary limit TO 5000 or under per
month for the balance OF the season,
under a heavy fine Ito be agreed upon
by the league) for violating the same In any
way, manner or shape. disagreement Is 70
take effect not later than June 80 next MY
club and Charleston have already reduced
our pay roll TO less than 5000 per month.
birmingham, II Is rumored, will come under
by releasing or selling Sullivan and Goidsby,
so can see no reason why this measure
cannot be adopted by all the clubs and the
league be in a better financial footing than
ever"
'You will see by that letter. resumed
Mr.. Rozier, that the agreement only lacks
the vote OF Memphis TO become law, and /
Will forward that in the morning. There is
no use trying TO maintain large teams OF star
players In a southern league Of four mem
bcs. None OF US are making or have mado
any money on the contrary all Of us have
lost. The Memphis association Is composed of
only five stockholders, and when II is remem-
bered that this loss falls upon such a small
number, the public will readily understand
the irksomeness OF H. We have been trying
all along 10 get baseball down 10 business
basis: We are now convinced that il cannot
be done so long rs n team Is entailing an out
lay for salaries alone OF 5000 or moro per
month"
''But do you believe the public will be
content with and sustain inferior baseball,
such rs Is contemplated In the g., 900 limit7''
I'VE do not propose 10 give the public in
ferior baseballi that Is an egregiou.ly erro.
expensive team In the league; all our play
ers are what may be termed stars, and all
command and receive largo salaries. New
Orleans carries n salary list OF only 81. $50.
yet she comes here and shuts us out twice.
With all the teams under the limit the poo
pie VIII be afforded an opportunity to wit
ness a good ball rs before.n -
. How do You propose to got within the
The only way that can be done Is by
selling or releasing those players who will
not consent TO a reduction sufficient 10
meet the urgency. We have already sold
McAlccr 70 Milwaukee. and perhaps Others
will go. In Bowers we have equally as good
man as Andrews, yet he docs not receive
half the money"
"will Il not be difficult to get good player.
for comparatively small salary this late In
the season.
'Why, the woods are full Of players. Not
n day passes that do no; receive kilograms
and letters inqniring for positions on the
team. This talk about Pittsburg Louisville.
Kansas City and other associations clamoring
for some Of our players. and offering thou
sands for their release, Is all idle ~ the wind.
saw paragraph some time ago stating that
Kansas City would pay 5000 for Ewing,
but Memphis laughed at IL. We would
have laughed at Il, in fact, rolled
oil over the diamond and yelled
with delight, II We could have realized half
that sum for him. Then there Is another
thing clear 10 my mind, and that Is, the
Western and New England leagues viii 70
10 the wall before July has passed. That
will throw another lot OF good players on
the market. No. sir; you can say positively,
(1) theleaguc isnot and will not burst; (2l the
season will be played out with as good ball
as now, and we will have little difficulty In
giving the public this sport with good players
who do not draw salaries aggrcgating over
5000 per month. !"
''Is there any of your stock on the market9''
mot 81 Of II. nor will there be. But I
would like for TnE ArrxAL 10 explain 10 low
en OF baseball that they can help US out and
nj the same time help themselves by invest
ing Few dollars In the stock. | do not
mean that any OF ms wish TO dispose OF what
we hold, or any part OF II. We viii issue
new stock 70 any reasonable amount desired,
and would be glad 10 enlist more people In
the undertaking. II IL now On q self-sustain-
ing basis, but with moro stockholdsr~ -
would have that much stronger hold on tho
public"