Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
A REVIEW OF SPORTS.
Features of the Baseball Con-
trOTerSy Discussed.
THE NEW LEAGUE MEETING
Remarks About the Sculling Cham
piOnship of the World.
WILLIAM O'CONNOR'S PLAN BEST.
Interesting Facts About the Prophets of
the Running Races.
THE NEW LEAGUE MEETING
WILLIAM O'CONNOR'S PLAN BEST.
OLD TINE AND MODERN PUGILIsrs

OLD TINE AND MODERN PUGILISTS
Before another week elapses Christmas
, Day will have come and gone, and I take
this opportunity of wishing all those who
read these reviews merry Christmas and
happy New Year. Once every week with
out intermission since last Christmas we
have had long talk. 1 may have said
many things that may have grated harshly
on the feelings of some, but in every in
stance have stated my honest convictions,
and never intended anything ungenerOus.
Those who have followed my opinions regard
ing events before they have taken place cannot
have been led far astray. as have only been
mistaken twice during the year, viz: in the
O'Connor-Searle boat race and in the Dempsey
La Blanche battle. A merry Christmas to ALL
The Baseball Situation.
Its not unsafe to say that readers of the
daily papers, particularly those who take
special interest in baseball matters are heartily
sick Of the long stories of the national game,
that day in and day out have been appearing
in print All of US have seen columns and
this and viii do that: and thatthe Brotherhood
is Matching this scheme and will pulverize that
party until we have wished baseball consigned
to the alleged resting place of that famous,
though mysterious parsonage Mr.. McGinty.
don't intend to say much about the affairs of
baseball this week, but it is incumbent that q
few remarks as to the general situation, be
said: The fights waxing q little warmer between
the old League and its rival because the former
is becoming more aggressive than heretofore
and we may safely come to the conclusion that
the conflict has begun in earnest How it will
end won't for moment pretend to say but
now, that both parties are in the arena it is the
duty of all of us to give both sides fair. Both
parties have overstepped the limits of honor, if
not Of civil law. therefore it seems that the old
principle, that everything is fair in love and
war" is going to predominant. This fact
makes it all the more necessary for all of us to
assume unbiased attitude andsee how matters
will terminate. Let the weakest go to the wall,
If that is what both parties desire. During the
week the old League has gained one or two
good points by policy that has been predicted
in these columns more than once. That policy is
Offering inducements to Brotherhood players to
rejoin their old clubs This policy will most
sssuredly be earned ou+ from now on and will
last as long as the two rival organizations exist
it is simply an instance of history repeating it.
self That it will he degrading to the national
game TO a very great extent is certain, and the
time will come when will all be trying to place
the responsibility on somebody for an entire or
partial downfall of one of the finest national
gsmesin the world.
The New League Meeting.
The most important event of the week in
baseball has been the meeting of the new
League 1t is necessary that q distinction
should be noted between the Brotherhood and
the new League, because the latter is made up
of capitalists. and the former consists entirely
Of players And by the way this ough; to set
at rest all controversy about the players, as
players, being working for themselves. They
have simply changed employers, and are as
much under the rules and regulations of en-
ployers as they ever were. Well, the meeting
was in many respects good one. The estab-
lIshment of guarantee fund for the players
salaries only showed that my previous criticism
on that point was inthe right direction. The
fund, however, is not as big as 1 would like to
have seen it. The safety Of the League would
have been more assured had the fund been one
of $500 instead of $40 UO0 The refusal of the
new League to consolidate with the American
Association is also very satisfactory, and this
also shows that my criticism on that point was
in the right direction. As result of the meet
ing two of my principal objections have been
almost entirely removed. OF course still hold
my opinions regarding the manner in which the
players inaugurated this conflict but now that
the two contestants are battling with each other
1t is only fair to say let the best party win The
players have strong antagonist to cope with,
aye. stronger than they imagine, and expect
that before next April comes many good men
viii have been seduced from their ranks. 1
losing players, could have been prevented if the
new League had been organized in the proper
way Had each club organized itself invested
capital in its name and signed its players on the
strength Of this capital just as solid as the law
would permit. before holding conventions in
New York to arrange League, contract Jump
ing would have been averted. But men were
signed before either clubs or League were
organized, much less chartered. However
Judging from present indications it would
appear that the good players of the country
will be much more equally divided than the
Brotherhood leaders ever expected. OF course
this viii be better for the public. The old
League will have some 1rst-class teams and SO
will the new League. This will make the con.
test between the two all the more exciting and
will also give the party with the longest purse
the better chances of victory. 1t may be that
the new League meeting discussed these points:
if il did have seen no account of them except
a statement credited to Pfeffer to the effect
that something must be done to prevent de-
sertions" Every desertion of a good man
from the new League is great blow to its
prospects, because it not only weakens it but
makes the old League correspondingly stronger.
This may be the rock on which the new enter
PRISE viii split
VIII PittsburE be Droppeds
Despite the very emphatic statements of the
officials of the new local club to the effect that
the club is here to stay, rumors are still cur.
rent that such will not be the case 1t would
seem folly 10 continue the rumor any longer.
because the new stockholders are determined
70 launch their venture. and IL a club has to be
dropped to make room for St Louis 1t will
not be Pittsburg. Doubtless many nom
partisans would ike 70 see both clubs here,