Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-27

misfortune couldn't we'll befall the national
game than fighting for such an obj ect as I
have just named. have long since dealt
with the right and wrong of the contest
from moral standpoint and don't intend
to repeat what have already said; but I am
inclined to thing that the present disagree
able conflict is tending to turn the minds
of many people against baseball.
Manager Lotus, the other day,
very wisely and practically remarked
to me that the conflict was killing
local pride in the respective clubs. In
my opinion Mr.. Lotus got hold of the
correct idea; an idea which unerringly
points to the conclusion that public respect
for baseball will diSpinish rapidly. I don't
wish to be Cassahdra or rocks ahead
advocate unnecessarily, but the events of
the week have given much proof toward the
truth of the opinion of Mr.. Lotus, and
such aresult cannot we'll be otherwise. Two
rival clubs in a city must cause contention
among the patrons of the game; this conten-
tion generates the bitterest of feeling, and
partisans, who formerly when only one club
existed, were all pulling together because of
local pride, are now divided and pulling
one against the other. Each side does its
best to ridicule the efforts of the other, and
each side throws all the obstacles possible in
the others wav. OdIous comparisons are
made, and one side qualities the other with
epithets that CRATE harshly on the ears of
the Intelligent community. Now, all this
must have a damaging effect on the prestige
sId dignity of the. game. If it has not then
baseball has net been on that elevated plane
that we have been led to believe it was.
&*
Is There a Rivalryf
Like the poor we have this conflict with
US, and l suppose will have to put up with
it. 1t would be foolish to expect it 10 end
until the battle is lost and won, but it is not
unreasonable to ask, Is there not a way by
which much of this unpleasant and bitter
feeling can be diminished, if not entirely
subjugated? think there is, and il. I'VE can
find out the chief cause of this bitter feel
ing we will be the better able to apply a
remedy. Alter looking over the matter, it
seems to me that the conflicting dates are
more responsible for the intense feeling than
anything else. At any rate, if there were
no conflicting dates there would be, COM
paratively speaking, very little excuse for
rampant partisan ebullition of feeling on
the matter. Well, then, this being the
case, why not have these conflicting dates
changed? 1 ask those who uphold them,
either National League or Players League,
for the public, they are bad for |
stockholders. Now, isn't it foolish, rank |
foolishness, to continue them? 1t is like |
making oneself pauper to harass a neigh |
Dor; or, like Samson, killing oneself in |
killing an enemy. This is not latter day |
business gospel; it rather belongs to the |
period of the tomahawk and canoe What |
is there to prevent change in those con-
flicting dates? I know of nothing but that
empty thing called dignity. wish to be
plain on this point, and 1 say that the
himsiest pretext that can be offered by the
League against negotiating for q
change of dates is the pretext of dignity.
The rival of that League is out in powerful
force; it is a great fact; it Is lowering the
power and sway of the National League,
and surely, if it is dignifed to recog-
niZe it at all, it is diguifed to
treat with it SO that the patrons
Of baseball will be freed from unpleasant
and in some cases offensive features of the
game. know that ardent supporters of both
are wishful to obliterate all
he sources of bad feeling possible. If the
conflicting dates were changed the conflict
would just be as decisive as regards the sur
Tival of the fittest, but would not be half so
unpleasant as it is now.
xx
About 25- Cent Ball.
Efforts are being made to have the price
# admission to the local National League
-ames reduced to 25 cents. hope these ef- |
orts will be successful, but whether they
Will or not is very problematical, indeed. |
There are very good arguments pro and con
N the matter, but think that it can be |
afely said that the strongest arguments are
n favor OF reduction of price. have
teadily been an advocate of 25-cent ball be-
ause 1t is not only enough to pay to see a
all game, but 1t is also just about as much
S the rank and file of the community can
'ay. If the promoters of baseball have in
Jew the welfare of the masses as much as
hey profess, why we should have had 25-
ent baseball right along. 1 am almost con-
inced that had there not been so much
money lsvished on baseball by the public in
be past there would have been no conflict
Or supremacy to-day. The grand total of
money expended on baseball during recent
ears has been enormous, and 1 venture to
ay that some economists will call it
reposterous. Well, 1 think that as a
natter OF expediency and as q matter of fair
ealing with the public baseball magnates
ught to give us 25-cent ball. The party
Tho makes break In this direction shall
ave my humble sympathy, at least. Mr..
F. ?. O'Neil, director of the National
league club, supports the present price-5O
he suggests that musical and ath-
etc entertainments be added to the ball
anne. This is very business-like sugges-
ion, but fear that it loses its force when
re consider that the regular patrons of the
ames have barely time to get to see the BALI
ontest. That fact that the ball games are
OF commenced until as late as possible now
ends TO show that any entertainment that |
receded the game would have very little at
active power. The suggestion might be of
reat value TO cities like New York, but to
iItsburg, where everybody is up to the ears
nd head in business or manual labor. it is
OF OF much worth. A reduction In the price
admission is what the public ought to
ave.
The Umpire Difficulty.
Young as the championship season is
lere have already been very grave difficult
es with the umpires; or it may be stated
le umpires have had very grave difficulties
18th the players. No organization has had
monopoly of the difficulties because they
ave appeared all round. There NAV be
me excuses for their appearance SO early.
any of the umpires are somewhat new to
lie business and this fact ought to be pal
ating feature as far as they are
'ncerned. 1t is to be expected that they
ill make few mistakes and of a fiagrant
md. But if they do this it is no reason
by players should give public exhibition
bolsterous objections; or that the specta-
RS should boot, hiss, howl and veil all
nds of dishonest names at the umpire.
here is no reason for this kind of proceed
g; none at all. When an umpire decides
at settles it, except when his decision be a
olation of the rules. In that case. of
urse, the rule must be supreme, but