Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-09-24
WAR TO THE KNIFE.
THB LEAGUE WILL FIGHT THE BROTHER
HOOD SCHEME.
A Lively Contest May bs Seen in Base Ball
Spalding Talks Bitterly About the Broth
srhOOd and Its "PlOi" as
he Terms II.

CHICAGO, September %. - President
Spalding, of the Chicago Base Ball Club,
was interviewed last night in regard to the
big base ball trust.
II shall not retire from business on &C
count of the great plot, but get the best
team l can together next season and 90 oD.
The plOtters may get ground in Chicago,
but they will not play at Black Stocking
Park. That is certain. l leased the land
five years sgO from the Richmond estate for
five years. The lease expires this fall, but
1 have had an understanding with the
partner Of Agent Clark, who has commu-
nicated with Mrs. Richmond, so that for
certain sum can have the park next sea-
son. Nothing will be done about it until
the war is over
And there will be war. was not pre-
pared for such a pondeTous plot. The
League has taken fatherly interest in the
Brotherhood. recognized it upon the
declaration by President Ward that it was
benevolent order and aimed to improve
the morals of its members. 1t can have no
grievances that cannot be done away with
by the Lssgue.
THE LEAGUES GRIEVANCES.
Last June, President John Ward called or
me-" continued Mr.. Spauldipg, land asked
that the committee, of which | was chair
man, call special meeting of the League
to consider complaints from the Brother
hood
"Whst are the complaints?" asked.
"Mr Ward was anxious and said the
Brotherhood wanted modification of the
sales system, q consideration of the case
of Catcher Suteliff against the Cleveland
club, snd the abolition of the classification
law. l said that these were not great
grievances and that really did not see the
necessity OF calling a meeting while the
championship season was on, but promised
to get the ideas of Messrs Youug and Day,
my committee associates, and notify Ward
of the result. Messrs. Young aud Day
sgreed with me, and sent the promised
notification to Mr.. Ward, at Pittsburg,
July 2i A strike WAS talked of but did
not come. The Brotherhood voted on the
questions, strike or reorganization, and de-
cided in favor of reorganization, which
means the big base ball trust.
WORK OF THE LEAGUE.
The League has existed for over fifteen
years, and the game is clean and on
healthy basis. Said Mr.. Spalding: 'Now
all the purifying work is forgotten by the
players, and long chance capitalists are
ready to step in and assume the possible
profits that may come through the game.
The games are square as played under the
National LEAGUE reign. Will the public
have any belief in its purity under the
pooling system and auspices of an oath
bound secret organization of strikers which
has plotted against the life of the League
through the care of which it became
possibility? What will be the conduct OF
the teams? Can they stand lOss, and can
they bshave themselves, stick together,
and make personal sacrifices for the gen.
eral goOd9 Certainly base ball can gain
10 immediate benefit.
WILL RUIN MINOR CLUBS.
If the plot thickens and ont fit springs
the Brotherhood lease; if such league
comes, the towns of small population at
present in the National League will be
forced to the wall, but New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, Chicago and Pittsburg will
fight hard and 70 on with teams made up
Of the best players they can secure. It's
a tremendous plot, and hope for the good
of the game that all the differences be-
tween the League and its players may be
overcome and the threatened break avert
ed"
Mr.. Spaulding was in earnest in what he
said and declared that if the fight came
he personally would feel like retiring from
base ball, yet he and his associates would
not be driven out of the business which
they had built up by hard work and care
ful management.