The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-09
BOTH SIDES TOLD.
The Present Status of the Base
ball Matter.
THE BROTHERHOOD WILL PLAY.
A Dispassionate Consideration of the Differ
ences Between the Old and the New
League-NO HippodrOming.

ences Between the Old and the New
League-No Hippodroming.
The chances for the success of the PLAYERS
league are now being speculated upon in GER
tain quarters. but SO great is the partisanship
displayed by the argumentators that an I'M
biased person finds it difficult to obtain fair
basis for definite conclusion.
lnasmuch, however, as the players and
their capitalistic friends have at least ar
ranged matters SO that start is virtually as
sured, prospective of the affair from an I'M
biased standpoint, and with consideration of
the sensible portions of the arguments of par
tisan disputants, may well be made Prima-
rily, therefore, all sentimentalty must be
cast aside, and the true cause for the split be-
tween the League and players be considered.
This shows US that in this case, at least, money
is the root of whatever evil exists. 1t also
shows US that the financial prosperity of the
Players league is the end aimed at, and that
the Leagues success will be gagged by the
amount of financial prosperity attained.
This being admitted, it then becomes neces-
sary to discover what the sources of revenue
are on which the Players league will depend.
Its adherents claim, and with truth that the
sympathy of the mass of the people is with
the players; that those who labor for DAYS
wages are in accord with the new League and
will give it their support and that all lovers
of the game will patronize their contests.
But ii may be asked: Is baseball supported by
1.-The mass of the people" and by ''those who
labor for wages?" This is predetermined, and
hot
would prove correct. Generally speaking, PEG
pie who labor for days wages are those who
work for an existence, and have little money
to waste on luxuries, of which baseball is
surely one. OF ''the mass of people" who
sympathize with the players this is also true
and more, that OF this mass" the percentage
of those who can afford either time or money
is almost infinitesimal
Practically speaking, baseball is supported
by people who are not to be classed as either
iaborers or wealthy people. They area ''class"
unto themselves, undemocratic as this may
appear. They are young men and old men,
VINO belong to that army known as clerks
Clerks in insurance offices, in brokers' offices,
in banks and mercantile counting rooms.
where wages are paid them that admit of
more than a mere living, and where working
hours are shortened during the summer. To
this must be added the patronage of the rich
and the transient trade of the percentage of
the mass of people," and these combined
support the game. This then shows the class
of people who swell the Golfers of baseball
clubs and enable the latter to paw princelv
salaries and other expenses. Therefore, in
proportion to population as this class is, is
the percentage of patronage to a club in any
city. New York, Boston and Chicago have
the larger proportions; therefore, these clubs
pay the largest salaries to players, biggest
dividends to stockholders and make success
full the clubs there located.
But what will happen in case this patron
age is divided! Well, if it be evenly divided,
the existing clubs and those of the Players
league will, in all probability, be run at a
loss. If it is not evenly divided, then the
club securing the greatest amount has the
greatest chance for financial success. And
herein lies one of the factors in the success of
the Players league. Can its clubs command
the greatest amount of this patronage? Who
can says Truly, as lovers of baseball, the
people viii go where they obtain most for
their money or the best article. The people
of this class are devoid of sentiment when it
becomes question of money, and will not
patronize the players simply because they
think them to have been oppressed, OF the
magnates because they believe them to have
been wronged.
They will ignore all sentimentality when it
comes down to question of obtaining the
value OF their money. They VIII not merely
consider the closeness of the contests between
clubs or the sharp rivalry for the pennant,
they will demand ample and good accommo-
dations on grounds and easy and comfortable
modes of travel to and from them. They
will demand fair dealing throughout Now,
as existing clubs have, as a rule.
the choicest sites in the most accessible Dor
lions of cities, they have an advantage which
the Players league will have great difficulty
in overcoming.
The national league has also opportunities
for obtaining the services of known good
men who will prove more attractive than
some OF the old timers in the Players league
whose races are nearly run.
Experience proves that the great body of
players change every three or four years,
and, therefore, while the National League
may be temporarily embarrassed for talent,
such embarrassment is not likely to be a long
continued handicap.
The old Leagues record for having built I'd
the game, and Of having eliminated its obicc-
honable features, are also factors il The fight.
and viii cause it to retain the patronage Of
those who love good ball and honest ball.
Ii the new League, in addition to possessing
the star" players, must give first of all good
bail and honest ball to obtain the patronage
OF TIE class that supports the game, and
can retain that patronage financial success
Will be possible But other things are equally
necessary.
The new League, to obtain the patronage.
sust make the public generally believe that
there is nothing in the nature of hippo
drome in the playing; and while | believe
the teams win play squarely and honestly
in the Players league as they did in the old
League, also believe that they will have
gigantic task to convince the general public
that the gate receipts do not enter largely
INTO the question OF victory and defeat.
Then there are other factors to be consid- |
cred. The conduct of the clubs; the methods
Of management; the methods that will be |
1sedSy competitors; the relative chances of
To on more teams III one city; the effect pro- |
iuced II only few clubs make money-all |
these and other considerations have great |
bearing on the question, Twill the Players
league slicceed.' W. l. HARRIS
Slightly Mixed.
The recent metropolitan engagement of |
,ODiS .Tnmec in ssViroi,i,c rooo1Ic