Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

The statements made by Mr.. AL johnson,
President of the Brotherhood's proposed
league, as published in yesterdays DIS
PATCH, caused many complaints from gen.
tlemen who know about the local fairs of
the League club here. Among people who
stated that Mr.. johnson was simply talking
without any true authority was President W.
81. Nimick. He said:
Nov 1 won't conine my few words to an in
terview, but rIl send q short statement to THE
DISPATCH, paper that know will see us fair
in this big conflict" Mr.. Nimick wrote
statement and it is as follows:
Baseball Editor The Dispatch.
81 read in your paper to-day an interview with
AL johnson, the reputed president of the pro-
posed league of ball players. Mr.. johnson
stated that Edward Hanlon had been induced
by some extraordinary offer to stay with the
Pittsburg club, and that Hanlon ignored this
offer because of his love or allegiance to the
Brotherhood.
Now don't as rule enter into q newspa-
per warfare, but really at time like this 1t is
statement is absolutely false, or if it is not S1O
600 ball players have been all sham.
THE PROPOSITION TO HANLoN.
"When it has come to this, let me tell what
our dealings or proposed offers with Mr.. Han
lou were Mr.. Hanlon met me in my Office,
and Mr.. Converse was present at the time.
Mr.. Converse made the following propo-
sition to Mr.. Hanlon We, the Pitts
burg Ball Club, will pay you a
salary of $500, and $1,000 extra If our
club gets fourth $500 If it gets second $500 if it
gets third, and SO on. Two days after that Mr..
Hanlon came to my Office and 1 asked him what
he thought of the offer:of Mr.. Converse.
He stated that he had an offer of his
own. It was this: 'PH play for and man
age the Pittsburg team for $500; that
means $1,000 more than I received last
year. accepted his terms directly. and he
Ed Hanlon said, Pm sorry didn't resign from
the Brotherhood Mr.. Hanlon agreed to the
terms that have stated, ana if s., 800 for sea-
son is an extraordinary salary, why we have
been imposed upon, because we paid Dunlap
5000 for the season.
''Sir, I did not wish to make these senti-
ments of mine public but when it comes, to
question of Misrepresentation, 1 must defend
myself and the gentlemen who are direc-
tors of the Pittsburg League club
In word emphatically deny that Mr..
Hanlon was offered any extraordinary induce
ment to remain with the local club. He made
his own terms, s., 800 for the season and they
were accepted by me. He said that it was all
right and his engagement for next year with us
was fixed.
THE LEAGUE MIsREPRESENTED.
NOW all this can prove by Mr. Converse,
who was present. But think that Mr.. John
son has been talking little wide. II Mr.. Han
Ion will meet me in presence of gentlemen and
state that Mr.. johnson has any authority, true
authority for saying what he has said, then the
whole matter can be settled.
''Mr. Editor. know that the League, that is
such as me who have never derived dollar
from baseball but have furnished the plavers
along with other gentlemen, is daily. misrepre-
sented to the public just as Nj. johnson has
done in the Hanlon case. I take this oppor-
1ty, through your unbiased columns, of saying
that every director in the present Pittsburg club
is in 1t because of his admiration of the game.
We have invested money in it and the players
have realized it. / can prove this. We have
pride in sticking to concern, public concern
of amusement, and we are determined that no
conspiracy on the part of those whom we have
kept like gentleman shall push us to one side
without our knowing the reason why.
pm not disposed to 90 into this question at
length; in fact l would not have said a word
had Mr.. J0hnson's extraYagant statement not
been made. All that say is: Tell the public to
judge between facts and wild statements. The
players are trying, 1 don't say all the players
but few who have designs in view are trying
for their benefit worthless, and In a patriotic
spirit we are determined to test it The public
is the tribunal. All that / want to know is
there high-priced player in the old local team
who did not get his money, and has he real
grievance2 If the general public could live
like ballplayers, we would have a land of aristo-
Gratis. The League is willing to continue that
and we have not that at our disposal"
W. A. NIMICK.