Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

believe that the players would at least confer
with the magnates before breaking up all con-
nections. Had this conference taken place
the case of the players would have been much
better and stronger to-day. The point in the
League address relating to this feature is,
therefore, one of the strongest.
Progress of the Game.
But probably one of the most interesting por-
tions of the Leagues address is that relating
to the progress of the game In this connec-
ton it made quite clear that the obnoxious
reserve rule" has been one of the greatest
forces of progress. About Is years ago base
ball in this country was at an extremely low
ebb of morality and ability. Dishonesty and
dissipation were rampant within its circles.
To-day no game, pastime or business is freer
from blemish. About Is years ago poverty was
a leading feature in the national game, and
players were performing for mere p1ttance.
To-day players have their $1,000, $4,000 or more
for seven months quite safe. Now there must
have been a cause for this change
l may say there must have been a talisman
of some kind to effect this very great trans
formation. l contend that discipline and great
managerial skill have been the talismanic
power. Certainly the players have been fac
tor, but those who have guided them aright
and kept them within certain limits have been
a greater factor, just as General Grant was
greater than his rank and file. Then, ask, can
anybody who has the best interests of the
National game at heart reasonably complain
about the checks that have resulted in so much
good? think the address of the League, If 1t
does anything at all makes it clear that the very
checks of which the players have complained
most are those which have done most good to
the game, the players and the public. Most
certainly rules and regulations that have Deen
needed to keep the game in good repute up to
this time may not be needed now. The intelll-
gence OF the players is of higher standard
now than formerly and the vast majority have
r,od III of Incr
But then the question again suggests itself:
Why did not the players go manfully and ask
for a remodelltng of rules that had their
origination in times quite different to now?
Hnzry statement.
The magnates, however, in their address,
make at least one statement that cannot be
digested without very large amount of ex-
PLANTATION. In speaking of the profits of base
ball, they tell that it 'rnay be interesting to
know that during the past five, End only pros
porous years, there have been paid in cash divi-
dends to stockholders in the eight League
clubs less than Sl5O0OO, and during the same
time League players have received in salaries
over 81, 500, ,000" The latter part of the story 1
believe, but 1 have the gravest doubts about
the veracity of the former. OF course have
no way OF proving whether or not the state
ment is false, but l am of opinion that if Chi
Sl50,0O0 among them during the last five years,
such clubs as Philadelphia and Washington
must have ruined several milliOnaires. The fact
that 900 paid for this man. $40 900 for that
man, 5000 for another and SO on convinces
me that there has been for some time lots of
money in baseball. Those triumvirS at Boston
also caused small rebellion there in gobbing
up the entire stock of the Boston team. Did
they make those extraordinary efforts merely
to get into a concern that was scarcely clearing
expensesf / ween not / admit that the enor-
nous increase in players salaries during recent
years has kept profits down, but it is also fact
that while salaries have been going up extraor-
diDarily, the attendance at the games has been
increasing to very large extent indeed.
OF course, 1t is apparent that the mag
mates references to the profits or absence
OF profits is to convince other capitalists of the
danger of going into the baseball business.
don't think, however, that the statement will
have much effect indeed. I question very
much if 10 per cent of the people who read it
will believe il. But if all reports are true, it
will take the receipts of the new League to be
far ahead of those of the old to keep matters
even. We have been given to understand that
none of the PLAYERS will get less salary than
they received last year, and that many of them
will get more Evidently the hopes of the
Brotherhood hnanciers are extremely high.
One remarkable fact so far. has been the ab-
sence of any higgling about salary, among
those who have signed with the Brotherhood.
This is, indeed, remarkable, because of the
fact that so far no money has been invested in
the name of any of the clubs. l sincerely trust
that in this instance all promises will be kept.
The PIayers' Reply
without the very pertinent address of the
League has had some effect on the
leaders of the players. Tha. fact that