Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-26
A PLEA FOR PEACE,
Prominent Baseball Authorities
Plainly Urge a Change
of the Schedule.
REASONS FOR THE CHANGE
Strongly Pointed Out by Players
League Supporter.
McBRIDE'S HAND BADLY INJURED.
Ike Weir Tells Why He Did Not Defeat
Australian Murphy.
REASONS FOR THE CHANGE
McBRIDES HAND BADLY INJURED.
THE SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

The question of abolishing the conflicting
dates of the National and Players Leagues il
Gaily becoming the most important one in base.
ball affairs. All the leading baseball authori.
ties are more or less discussing il and the ma
jority are of the opinion that conflicting dates
are the greatest source of the present bitter
and partisan feeling and are also the chief
cause of turning the public mind against the
national game. THE DISPATCH from the
time when the schedules were first talked of has
held the opinion that conflicting dates should be
avoided by all means. Since they have been
adopted this paper has urged abolition and others
are ably experimenting The DIsPATcH's
efforts. In its current issue, the Sporting LJe
staunch supporter of the Players League, has
the following to say on the question:
SOME GOOD ADVICE.
Now then let the leaders of the Players League
-admIttedlv more progressive than the old mag
nates-put their heads together and consider the
situation. II they find that they afford to fight
the League on the lines laid down BY the latter,
well and good. If on the other hand IL would ap-
pear best the future of the League, for the
good of the game and for the financial Interests of
the capitalists and players to change the schedule,
then let the change be made without the slightest
regard for the jibes Of time-serving newspapers,
the ieers of the unthinking multitude or the ex-
ultant shouts OF the League camp-followers. All
that will be forgotten in a week; even more
quickly than the issues involved in the
present war. The public will certainly welcome
the change and the Players League suffer not q
whit In public estimation because II chose to con-
slider Its own interest first In ending battle which
was not of Its choosing, anc which, while Ii may
not be doing it great harm. is certainly not doing
IL any good, a fact for which the damage the
League is sustaining is but small consolation.
Reason and argument are so much IN favor Of
the change suggested that nothing but prejudice
and bigOtry prevent those directly interested In
the two organizations from making the change.
A GOOD PROOF.
The past week affords sufficient proof of the
public indifference regarding the game compared
to the enthusiasm that has heretofore prevailed.
As the authority already quoted intimates, the
new League has not anything to lose by changing
its schedule, but everything to gain. However
certain lis success may appear now, the abolition
OF conflicting dates would make its success surer
stIIl. and, above all the change wouId allay much
OF the bitter ana hostile feeling that exists among
the public. Nth one club in a city at time, the
public would get into its normal state regard
Ing baseball, and It then would not require much
wanted, Tbe parfy who first makes an efort TO
abolish conflicting dates will certainly give proof
that Il has the prestige of the game more at heart
than the fear OF the clamoring Of a few irrespon-
sible people.
SUFFICIENT OPPORTUNITY.
There is now ample opportunity to have the
matter settled. All the clubs are in the East and
. meeting could be arranged without much
trouble and at very little expense. The bold cry
OF "War TO the death'' is very well in its place,
but there is no sound reason at all why 1t should
be used in this Instance All the charges and
counter charges now being made by the parties in
the conflict will only lead to the utter demoraliZa-
tion Of the game of which America has been so
proud and that has been supported so generously.
II the present unpeasanIness is allowed to con-
tinue much longer baseball will probably be found
almost entirely discarded by the public press. and
in that event all the money now invested in IL will
be very worthless indeed. The best friends Of the
game and of the players earnestly urge change
of schedule.
So far the National League has not hesitated TO
make changes that good business principles
prompted, and If al accounts true, that organ
iZatIon may make more shortly Ii the better
Judgment of the new League leaders is allowed to
prevail a change will be made at once popular
move, II for nothing else