Wichita eagle., 1888-07-08
THE NATIONAL GAME.
a BREAK

/. a BREAK
In tho Association High Tariff L.ns-rne
Philadelphia Clubs the First to Weaken
What the Result Will Be.
The ffty-cent rate has proven decided
failure in the second city OF the Union lin
point Of population only, and the league
was the first to admit 1t. The high rate
never had a far show in Philadelphia The
unprecedented bad spring gave it a black
eye, the continued newspaper comment
served TO keep alive the agitation against it,
and the rather poor playing CT both local
clubs at the beginning of the season also in
tensified the opposition TO paving double
prices. Notwithstanding these drawbacks,
the rate could have been maintained. ware
but one big club located here. With two
clubs, however, it simply became question
of freeze-out for ore or the other. The
Philies had the call last season, but this
year, through their accommodating nisfor-
tunes, they were not able 10 maintain their
prestige, and were getting the worst of the
fight Every league club having had
turn here. and all, without exception, hav-
ing received convincing proof of the intense
unpopularIty of the high tariff. an appeal
was made by the Philadelphia club fer
change A mail vote was taken, and On
Friday President Young notified Mr.. Reach
that by unanimous vote of TIE league clubs
the Philadelphia club wculd be allowed in
future to reduce the price OF admission TO
% cents. The change went into eject Sat
urday, June so.
The Athletic club has done considerably
better than the local league clue under the
high rate, but it too, VII, Of course have to
charge twenty-five cents from now on. 4
section in the bylaws adopted by the joint
rules committee at the Cincinnati meeting
last December prevented tGe Athletic club
from doing any thing INDEPENDENTLY Ev-
cry thing rested with the Philadelphia club,
which, il its turn, was ruled By the other
clubs OF the league. The rule in question
reads as follows:
alt is further provided that in any city
where both CD Association club and another
club member Of the party Of the first part
Of the National agreement is located, the
Association club shall be required to charge
at least as much, and no more, for admis-
sion to its grounds than IS charged by said
other club"
The news was received with pleasure,
says the Philadelphia Sporting LIE, by all
patrons Of the game IN this city. The pro-
prietors Of the local clubs are jUbIsnt, and
y
Even the players are pleased with the
change, they say, as they expressed them
selves as tired Of playing to empty bench
es. For them, however, tho change VIII
mean more in the future than now appears,
and for the local cl2bs the reduction means
simply postponenent OF the evil day for
one or the other. az both can not 1--we and
prosper under the twenty-five cent tariff.
hoe kne I-I
as a baseball CITY, and the facts bear out
the statement that both clubs, under TWEEN
ty-tive cents, hardly ever made any thing
worth speaking of in enc and the Sane
season. When the Athletics y7ere On top
the PhiiIies just about msaeged to keep
eaeat, end when tee PAiticg finally secured
the local prestige the Athletics went stead
lily behind until bankruptcy stared t5e elub
in the face last season AID reorganization
became necessary; and history VIII doubt
less repeat itseif unless tso two can DC con-
solidated or expenses reduced within tho
income Of each.
But the charge WIZ have other than local
bearing. 1t assures TO each 81 the big or
CARNATIONS franchise in Philadelphia, and
Will check, for tirae a. least, the consohda-
ton of the league ind association, which
was, under the high tariff, bocening more
and more imminent, for the reason that the
Old dividing h1o between league and as
saciatlon, VIZ high and low tar T. VIII be
It would be folly 10 suppose that
the reduction VIII halt at Philadelphia.
Baltimore and Louisville are IN sore
straits also, and win have 10 receive con-
cession Ike the Athletics m order 10 live,
end that done the other clubs Will also have
to fail in line sooner or later il obedience to
the demands OF their patrons, who will not
submit to pay moro for their baseball than
,ther association cities. With d general re-
iuction the Eop Of certain Of the association
cius5 Of the isagUe fold VII not to 50 sasy.
nd 50, perhaps, taa redirceion Eaav after
al save tie association fr3la G5slenber-
mont. DiLe with reduction eae5Aer problem
will stare the Gibbs sqaarczy in the face,
md that Is how 10 Tal&3 sosh ends E7ee5 at
The lower fs-rc5. Tho Chief, and Indeed
.he only. reasol for the iaerea Sc WINS phi
nariaIy the heavy expenses ct present
by the public de11Gna for first
LASS ball, and by the suicidal methods Of
,lub owners.
Many Of the league clubs find it a difficult
natter to exist, even under the high league
arif The assoc a&on clubs. the weakest
# whom is under just IS great expense as
he average league team. is in precisely the
ane position, and tE,o-thirds Of the clubs
Il either organization can not figure eut
subsistence fTs-a citaer high or low tariff.
Base ball has been run under high pressure
or the last three years; tho bubble has
,een inflated to the poiat eff bursting, and
With either iliEi or low tazLT the ED is in
vits0le uHtcss measures are taken 81 once
G reef sails and clear tho deck Ser tie com
Va
Ian offers the only harsar OF safety for tine
ase-ban craft 1t is the best, the most
racticable plan ever devised for the rescue
( the game from the dangers that new be-
e. it en- every side and threaten iss life.
IN every hard are signs 81 decay. The
arlc needs new blood. new methods. The
eopie are growing weary Of 4 sport which
rovides no novelty, but G-aE5 alsur IN the
aEao grooves. with the same faces, sane
,etho0s and same results year after year.
his fail tie club managers and owners
III have one more cAnace-the iast-to
lace the game where il ought 20 be placed
beyond IAs accidents of a season and the
slfsh rlisEaaaSenent OF fsw: and IL
10 wilifully bind Or p5G4ihy vveaic- k1eed !
eor1e now steering tAe ship risht upon the
,cls Of disaster vial Hes bend they must ]
~eak, asd ths players themselves must
lie the naiEsniur2 Pa In hana. with I
lev to SAVING their means OF livezlSoa, 9
hiee IS siisTlng away from th..a faster
IAN they. peShaps. have any idea Of Les e
st the players take LIE pan IN hand, and
q eapIssl can easily rs commanded 10 !
arrv est scheme which provides net e5ly T
ssoigte security for tas money invested
e assures 70 every man, who handles tho
a. aud ball with Any degree Of ski wsss- !.
.er. a comfortable, permanent livelihood