The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-25

w. ]. Harris Says There Is Lots
of It in the Players League.
A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.

pins Suggestion.
The key to the situation in the baseball
muddle is certainly held by the capitalists
of the New York, Brooklyn and Cleveland
Players league clubs. These capitalists
also own very nearly a controlling interest
in the Cincinnati club, and it is claimed
could succeed in bringing that organiza-
ton into line with any plan which they
might agree upon. Whether they really
can do this remains to be seen The Play
ers' league capitalists in Boston, Philadel-
phie, Pittsburg and Chicago appear to be
determined to continue the warfare of 1890
another season. and if they can hold the
Players league together and control it the
fight will go on, perhaps not so directly as
conflicting dates would make it, but there
will be no peace Of nature likely to bene-
fit the national game itself.
No matter how 1t may appear on the
surface, there is a wide breach between the
capitalists OF the Players league Four
clubs are apparently unalterably opposed
TO consolidation and in favor of perpetu-
ating the Players league. Three clubs
have been doing all in their power to bring
about lasting peace which may insure
harmony among all factions and insure
the future prosperity Of the game The
Buffalo club has no capitalists behind IL,
so far as is known, and it cuts a small fig
ure in the maGter. The action Of the Gin
cinnati club, owing 70 the uncertainty
about the feelings of the different owners,
is equally undecided. The men who desire
peace are trying 10 force consolidation,
and those who are against it are trying to
coerce the Feacemakers to remain in the
Players league and go on on with another
year of strife. The more both sides scheme
and maneuver the further apart they get
and the harder 1t is for them TO reconcile
their differences of opinion.
When l say that the New York people
hold the key to the situation / mean
simply that if they hold out and carry out
their plans, and the other clubs remain
obstinate, the baseball war will be practi-
cally settled, for although the Players
league may continue in existence it is not
likely to be very formidable rival TO the
National league without a club in New
York, and with the men who have been
backing the New York, Brooklyn and
Cleveland (P. L. clubs in the National
worry it.
Messrs. McAlpin, Talcott, Robinson and
their allies are satisfied that there is no
room for two clubs in New York, Brook
Ign and Cleveland, and they are equally
satisfied that the people demand that this
senseless warfare over the control of pro-
fessional baseball shall end, and that its
continuance will ruin not only all con-
cerned financially, but the professional
game itself, so far as it Is TO be considered
as a profitable investment.
If they favor what is known as the "rule
or ruin" policy, and to n certain extent
that is what their insistance upon peace
means, they are in no way behind their !
opponents in this regard. To use a sport |
ing expression sit is horse and horse" !
Rather than not have consolidation by 4
which they believe the game can be saved. /
and all parties will have an opportunity in
time to get back their losses, they may be
willing to save themselves, although by so /
doing they take step which may ruin the /
Players league. On the other hand, the I
men opposed to them are quite as much in I
favor Of policy which is equally worthy /
Of being called "rule or ruin, " for II is a /
Of strife which in the delib- /
crate opinion of seven-tenths Of the base
ball managers Of the country viii ruin the +
game, and if this opinion is the correct one
It will ruin all concerned 10 the extent OF .
their vested interests therein.
The New York men have no disposition
TO let others make the money they have
already invested a dead loss, and so far rs
can judge by many conversations with
them | think that when IL becomes evil
lent that general consolidation Is posi-
lively ont Of the question they viii resign
heir club membership in the Players .
eague and consolidate their clubs with
he National league clubs This opinion
applies merely to New York and Brook
yn. Whether AL johnson will follow
hem in case matters reach such a crisis is
/ question of some doubt.
Col. McAlpin made one offer 10 the
Players league, and | think he is still
eady 10 stand by it. lie told his associates
hat when capital engaged in a fight with
apital all interested sbOrld bear equally
he burdens Of that fight, and he proposed
il was decided 10 fight 20 the death that
ach club should put up So OO a. a fund
rom which all losses should be made good.
lie even offered 20 make the amount So
20 for each club. This offer wa not &c
epted. Col McAlpin's theory is a busi-
ess one, and viii commeud itself % bust
ess men everywhere a. being the only
roper way 70 carry on var between CAPT
aliSts.
The capitalists who are opposed 70 any /
move which threatens the existence Of the y
'lsyerS league charge that the New York .
len and those who aid them are traitors '
o the cause, and that while they c=u have
% just objection If the Ncssrs. NcAlpin
nd TalcOtt want 20 lay down. they con I
der that II those gentlemen wanted 70
uit they should have gone about 10 in
ifereut way They thiL- ths proper
hing for the New York men - have done 4
-ould have been 70 notify Jlon quietly 4
nd allow them % have p-.-rIa-s4 the
NIB. and not % the bIs.nes- i1 "A way that
-ogld throw down their general part
err in the enterprise They -ay taat they
iii not allow the NCg Ic-k men o. get
VI unless tLsr sell ont - tloHl. and they
ropose 70 enforce trt- claim with TIE
ond slzned by AID par-i's E .ill tns league
-as orgaBlzeo- Under tAs bond Trey
aim they can ohiizs TIE Neg York lssn
/, remain in the p eEr rs lee1us.
Ar-,-rr. -r.z che k.as. Tr-r --..- --- sLa- 4