Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-25
Mr.. Burnham Given to Understand
That BE Nay Not Manage Pitts
burg'S New Ball Club.
HANLON Oh WARD WILL OFFICIATE
Director 0'Neill to Go TO Chicago to
Confer With Mr.. opalding About
Next Years Players.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION MEETlNG
A Challenge for Peter Pnddy-Geperal Sporting News
Of the Day.

After all the talk there has been made
about the engagement of Mr.. Walter W.
Burnham to manage the local ball club
next season, it seems safe TO say that Mr.
Burnham Will not be here. Yesterday
afternoon, Director J. z. O'Neill, VINO has
undoubted baseball sway here now, wired
Mr.. Burnham to the effect that his Mr..
Burnham's) chance of being manager in
PIttsburg next season was very slim. In
other words, Mir. Burnham was given to
understand that il would be safer for him
to sengage elsewhere rather than depend
the very great uncertainty of being man
ager of the Pittsburg ball club next year.
OF course iU is much TO be regretted that
gentleman of MI Buruhau'S abilities and
honesty should be fooled to such an extent, be-
cause the telegram means that he is not
wanted here. The insult rendered Nj Burn
ham, who did not originally seek this position,
can best be explained by those who have been
directly connected with it, but the world out
side Of PittsburC can rest assured that it is not
the regular Pittsburg way OF doing things. Mr..
O'Neill who wired Mir. Burnham on the mat
ter made the following explanation regarding
it yesterday:
Il have no fault whatever to find with Mr..
Burnham. He is an able man and perfect
gentleman; in fact, was the first to suggest
him rs future manager for Pittsburg club.
But since then things have changed. We have
consolidated ami in effectinE the latter l
pledged my name and honor that would
look after Ed. Haulou and Fred Pfeffer. If
Mr.. Burnham comes here then my promise
about HanlUn is worthless. and l won't stand
that without a good struggle. Mr.. Burnham
was brought on here without my knowledge,
but now when all the stockholders know the
circumstances they have made up their minds
IhaJ it would not be fair to engage Mr. Burn
ham and leave Hanlon out. OF course no con-
tract with Mr.. Burnham is signed vet, and l
don't think there ever will be. ! and my col
leagues are in duty bound to lock after Ham
Ions interests because we pledged ourselves to
do so. All that I have to say is that this Burn
ham business was done because of an imperfect
knowledge of the facts. II was mistake, and
l blame nobody IN particular We want har-
mony now
Nj. O'Neiu went on to say that there are
strong chances that " ard. Pfeffer and Hanlon
will all be here. The last named was wired on
The matter yesterday by Mr. y NelE. II Ward
viii consent to come here he will be made man.
aCer, If he will accept, I'd HanlOn will be cap
tain. Alr. ONelll is certain that he can secure
all three men.
Last evening Mr O'Neill left the city for Chi
cagO TO have talk with Mr.. Spaldins regard
ing players for next year. OF course, this is
CARRYING out an idea suggested in this paper
foolish. Personal changes have occurred
since then, and Mr.. ONeill and not some
body else, IS the pienlpOtentlary to Chicago.
The idea is. therefore, all right now Just
as il was when 1t was made in this paper. That
Mr.. O'Neill will be effective representative
tbere is no doubt, but whether he had gone or
not could not make the idea a foolish" one
However, his mission is to Try and secure prom
lses from Mr. Spalding for the latter TO allow
PittsbuTC the services of such men as Ad Gum
bert Pfeffer. Ryan Van Haltren or any of
these men that Mr. Spalding does not want.
Certainly Mr. O'Neill will have 4 very great in
huence toward securing these men, and there
ought to be desire on the part of any club
with lots of good men to release some of them
TO US if they desire to come. At any rate
there is every certainty that if good player in
America can be secured by good downright
hard hustling J. Palmer O'Neill is the man to
get him. 1t Is therefore, not unsafe to say
that we Will have a very attractive team mere
next year, with either Hanlon OF Ward as man.
aueT.