Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-05-24
President sp Iding Disappointed.


'Ittook us seven years to gain the con-
fidence of the public, said President
Spalding during recent int erview, and
when we at last gained it then our club
began to make money for us. 1t was the
intention of the National League Club in
this city 10 make the & me of baseball q
reputable entertainment, to elevate it in
every manner possible, and to do this we
were compelled at different times to let
certain well-known players go. Our rules
were necessarily stringent, because |
have found that the general tendency of
all sporting business is toward the i'm
moral, and to overcome this decline Sc
we're discipline must be maintained.
1T was this { ssire to make base ball q
game that the nation might be proud Of
that caused the National League to re-
fuse to play Sunday games. Drunkords
and toughs were not countenanced in the
clubs and after these had been weeded
out we made up our minds, here in Chi
cago at least, to found gymnasium that
would some day be 10 baseball and all
sport ng events what the Auditorium is
to art. For this reason a large tract of
land was purchased on the West Side and
as soon as it was practicable we intended
to erect the necessary buildings and
amphitheaters.
Instead of absorbing all the profits
each year, the Chicago stockholders put
the money into a sinking fund, and had
it drawing interest and increasing for the
day when we should be ready 10 draw it
out and N Ike use of it. You would have
seen no such rickety board affairs as do
for grand stands on most base ball parks
but an exalted, beautiful structure, fitted
oh ta1
mented and furnished with curtains and
appropriate furniture The field would
have been an arena far surprising in
beauty and adaptation anything yet pre-
pared or imagined by the ultra fas-
lidious.
Although base ball has been but a
side issue 10 my business, it has long
been my desire to see just such triumph
rs | have referred to | wanted Chicago
to be the first to prepare a coliseum for
sports. The progress which the national
game had been making during the last
half dozen years would have justified
such an enterprise; but now, when we
were within year of launching our prof.
ect. our pla' els, the men whom we
brought out, leave us and start an opposi-
ton league. The public loses its interest
IN the game, refuses to turn out. and the
money that was saved to ennoble the
game is to be devoted to maintaining q
losing aggregation.
You ask what will be the end? That
can't foresee, except that l believe the
League will win the fight. If it doesn't
We will throw up our hands and let the
other fellows go for the spoils. Chicago
can't support two clubs. In a GENE OF
such national interest there should be
but one club TO town, and then al the
patriotism would be conferred on the work
of that team. If the people decide that
they want the Brotherhood to represent
them, then it sholl be in o'der for us &c
step down and out. If, on the other hand
Captain Arson shall win the support OF
the public the Brotherhood will have ia
quit"
Will YOU take any of the old players
back if you VIM"
All, the work of reconstruction is not
before us until the war is over. Wei see
to that then"