Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-03


Well, now we are within a day of the meet
ing that is to decide the destinies of not only
the National League, but those of the national
game entirely. Mark, 1 don't say that the
meeting is to do as just remarked; 1 am repeat
ing information that has besn pretty freely
circulated To tell the truth, 1 don't know
what the meeting will do, and, therefore,
won't venture to say. What concerns me to
some extent is the question as to whether or
not the players or Brotherhood will conde-
scend after their meeting to tell the world
what they have done;aEd what death knell they
have tolleo. am prepared to hear the
most extraordinary things as the result of that
meeting. If Tascott and the Flying Dutchman
we're to loom up at that meeting as president
and secretary vow Will not be surprised, or
if the players decide that the National League
is a splendid organization and that they'll
never leave it or ask any concessions pledge
myself that won't be startled. 1 would ike
TO meet man who knows what that meeting
hood during the week has had a try in telling
what is going to be done, and everyone has told
story quite different from the Others. How
ever, this makes 1t interesting, and the most
wonderful result will be if the meeting comes
TO a conclusion that somebody has not already
guessed. But to look at the matter seriously, I
feel quite convinced that the players mean
hght they may not be as well prepared for a
conflict as they would have us believe but that
they mean to be hostile there is no doubt but
that they are as eager to sever themselves from
1k.1
question very much. A friend of mine local
ball player. told me the other day that he nor
any other League player that he knew of had
signed, or had been asked to sign, ANYTHING like
a Brotherhood contract, that is eontract to
play bail This is fact and take it to mean
that the players will have sense enough 70 take
no definite steps until they have conferred with
the magnates. Of course, the players have
grievances of which they justly complain but
goodness knows that these grievances are mot
by far as oppressive or tyrannical as MANY en-
cfc oc VTo1l fbar, 4bo
are remedied we will have the National Leapue
with US next yea as usual. If the magnateS
should get on their dignity, L am really Inclined
TO think that open hostilities will be declared
and this will be exceedingly unfortunate for the
national game. But whether or NOT
the players start out on their
own hook" does not alter my opinion of the
wisdom of severing themselves from the
League. Should they do so, repeat that their
eourse'will be a bad one. Reasons for thinking
this have already been given in previous re-
minor leagues will have any influence on the
League. At present the League and Associa-
ton are much more powerful than the smaller
bodies, and the latter would surely get the
worst Of any rebellion they commenced.
Licensing jockeys.
There is a very important question down for
discussion at the annual meeting of the Ameri-
can Turf Congress, which is to be held IN
Chicago on the 18th inst 1t is the question of
licensing jockeys, and everybody at all in
terested in turf affairs will readily see that the
matter is of the gravest Importance. Last wear
the Congress did excellent work in revising
the weights. That change was very important.
indeed, but it is questionable whether or not
the great question to be discussed at the an
psoaching meeting is not even more important
Most certainly great progress has been made in
the morality of the American turf but none of
lus will for a moment contend that there is
no room for Improvement. If we are to
believe some of the most prominent patrons of
the turf there is yet a considerable amount
of.dishonesty and particularly among jockeys.
The latter are in a position to rob their employ
ers and the public in many ways UnIortu-
nately IL is true that many of these little
knights of the pig skin have been susceptible
70 the sinister Inducements of thieving scoun-
drels, who make a living by participating in
turf frauds. If Jockeys had to appear every
January before a national board and secure
license TO ride during the year, depend upon it
they would be more careful as far as their con- i
duct when in the saddle was concerned. The
least suspicion Of dishonesty would be thorough
ly traced and every questionable act of Jockey,
whether of great or small Importance would
jeopSrdiZe his license. l have strong hope that
the Congress will resolve to adopt this licensing
plan. because it will. more than anything else
rid the turf of fraudulent jockeys. The sys-
TEN has worked well in England. and has en-
abled the National Jockey Club there to purge
the turf of some very prominent people whose
acts of dishonesty had become notorious Even
great parsonage like Charles Wood. the lead
ing jockey of the country, had his license re-
fused, and that meant the termination of his
career asa jockey. If a license system were
in operation here some very prominent jockeys
IN this country might have felt themselves in
difficulties before now.
Local Cricket
The local cricket season has come 20 an end,
and the bat, ball and wicket are laid aside tIll
next year. I regret extreme,y 20 have to say
that cricket has not by any means been sue
cess in this city during the recent season.
don't use the word success to mean that the
cricket club has not made money, because that
IL not the object desired. What mean is, the