Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-08-10
BASEBALL'S WAR.
Players Said to Have Made an
Offer of Compromise.
THEY MAY HOLD A CONFERENCE.

What w. I. Harris Thinks of the Exist
ing State of Afairs-IIc Discusses the
subject of Two CircuIts-The Baseball
Outlook Is u Very Dismal One.
The Players league has made an indi-
rect offer of compromise and the National
league has indirectly repudiated it. One
reason for the promptness with which the
proposition was discarded was because the
only concession offered was n change Of
names by the Players league. | hope a
compromise measure can he agreed upon,
because the game and all concerned with
il will be benefited; but it must be a com
promise having q different basis from that
offered in the proposition recently sub
mitted to the National league. There is
still another reason for the apparently
absolute refusal Of the latter to compro-
mise, and that is a belief on its part that
the successful operation Of two first class
leagues on the present lines is impossible.
The National league. however, is not 80
sure of this that it would refuse to confer
with its opponents In seeking a way to end
the war. Nor could il afford to refuse a
conference.
'We nave not refused to compromise"
said a prominent league man to me. "No
proposition has been made to us directly
by the Players league. II they ask us to
meet a committee for the purpose Of a
settlement of the war | do not think, or
indeed do | see how, the league could re-
fuse. At the same time ! do not think any
agreement could he reached"
Ii is admitted by most authorities That
the only compromise that could he of any
definite value in restoring the public in
terest in a national championship to the
vogue Of lssJ is one that has for its basis
the REIMBURSEMENT Of certain territory 10y
both organizations so as to reduce the
number of cities where there will be a con
fict Of clubs, and also TO reduce local
p~artisanship 10 the minimum figure. And
it is this fact that would render the work
Of a conference committee such a difficult
and almost impossible task.
In a recent article on this subject / sug-
gested two circuits that might enable both
leagues to do n profitable business and re-
store the game in a measure to the univer-
sal favorit enjoyed from 1883 to 1859. which
the present dissensions have temporarily
abated. This is the division:
National League-Brooklyn, Philadel-
phia. New York, Boston. Baltimore, Chi.
cage, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
Players League-Buffalo, New York,
Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit,
Pittsburg, with Louisville, st. Louis or
Columbus TO fill up.
These circuits are not the best by any
means, but IL seems to me that they are
IL. 49, ax.,.1a1la - IL
might be some possibility Of such an ar.
rangement. One objection would tbe that
il would place two clubs in New York and
continue three in Philadelphia, and an
other that 1t would interfere with the
American Associations circuit.
Candidly | do not believe that New York
city, large as it is, will ever support two
first class clubs satisfactorily, mainly Ike
cause Of the intense feeling OF local pride
existing there. Two may possibly worry
alongi II they have different names. Neither
do ] believe that Philadelphia will support
three clubs so hat all hands will make n
profit. A consideration Of all the facts
and the difficulties attendant upon a solu-
ion Of the problem naturally leads one to
the belief that NJ compromise can be
reached. Still an effort should he made,
and the Players league would lose very
little in public estimation by asking point
blank for n conference.
President Byrne, of the Brooklyn club,
ridicules a compromise. President Rop-
ison, of the Cleveland club, is quite rs de-
cided as Mr.. Byrne.
Provided no compromise can be reached.
what then!
Well, the outlook so far us | can see into
the future uf baseball is dismal enough.
The result Of this fight has been just what
I predicted il would be. Financially
disastrous for both leagues, bad for the
players and later bad for high salaries,
and hurtful to the game and public inter
est IN IL. To continue the fight means
these things in greater degree, and posi-
bly, the injury to professional baseball may
he 50 great as to put IL back 10 the condi-
ton il was when rescued by the National
league in ls16-T. IL is true that the
fight, IL continued, will not he 30 direct in
1891, for there will be no conflicting dates,
but there may, and probably will, be other
things far more injurious 10 public esti-
nation.
II is greatly to the credit Of the com.
bithiltS liht NuCic has ~ u Dttn nu MP
podroming and no real suspicion OF IL in
the public mind. The magnates, and by
this term | mean the capitalists and man
ayers Of both sides, must bear in mind that
once let such a suspicion take firm root in
the public mind and it could he easily
kindled too; the actual absence Of the thing
itself would not save the gate. Hippodrom-
ing or crookedness would ruin professional
baseball. II is not generally believed per
haps how bad an influence was exerted on
the public attendance at games by the pc
culiar actions Of certain players and man.
ayers last season.
Now what will a continuance of the wal
lead tor Neither side will respect contracts
or reserve. And | do not believe that the
Brotherhood contract will be carried into
court. Players will he found on both sides
who will he persuaded TO jumptothe other.
It's true that in some cases the Topping
can be done GRACEFUL specially where
contracts have expired, but what will be
Its effect on the publics Surely not one
that will inure to the benefit or aggran-