Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09
A REVIEW Of SPORTS,
Authentic Pointers About the
New League UmpireS,
PROSPECTS FOR PLAYERS.
Opinions About the Contest Between
Mitchell and Mace.
THE MCCARTHY AND DIXON BATTLE

Secretary Brunell, of the new League,
and John NJ. Ward have, during the last
few days, been in close consultation regard
ing the selection OF eight umpires for the
new organization. No subject could be Of
more importance. because it is perhaps safe
to say that fully so per cent of the prestige
of the game depends on the umpire. Secre-
tary Brunell has had scores Of applications,
and these have been winnowed down to
about dozen. OF that number there are
seven who are now under ad-
visemsnt. and while their appointment
has not been officially announced, think
will be correct in saying they have their calling
and election sure. They are: Charley Jones,
Lon Knight l. Pike. John Kelly and Messrs-
Ferguson, Lynch and Gaffney. Now, let me
say the information comes from very reliable
sou-ce. Certainly there may be changes in the
above list, but at present there no indications
of such changes The eighth name is not yet
definitely settled on, but he will be player, as
the intention is to have four veteran players
and four veteran umpires. Well. none OF us
can find fault with the new League as far as
its umpires are concerned if the above list is
sample. Ihave had much fault to find with the
new organization as to its methods, and may
have very many more to find. hope always in
a respectful way, but really have no COM
plant to make regarding the carefulness and
the evident good sense exercised in the seiec-
tion Of such conservative umplres as those
whose names have been mentioned. don't
think that a more conservative and honest
roster could be made and if any one of them is
replaced BY somebody else. why we may natur-
ally expect that the later selection is at least
equal in all respects to the one displaced,
AHumdrum Week.
As far as baseball affairs have been con-
ce1ned during the week there has been little
outside the humdrum. There have been charges
and counter charges and threats and counter
threats. but beyond that scarcely anything has
been done. Therefore, it may safely be con-
cluded that neither of the great opposing
forces have lost or gained during the week to
any appreciable extent. Certainly the conflict
proper is coming nearer and nearer-that is, the
conflict which begins when the championship
season opens and, after all, that is the only
conflict which will decide the issue. I am be-
coming fully persuaded that the parties princI-
pally interested in this unpleasant and unfOr-
tunate conflict are gradually Distinguishing the
fact that the public will decide the matter, even
after all other kinds of judges have had their
say, and declared themselves. Yer, the feeling
for revenge-revenge is sweet-is apparently
method and plan is being employed to harraSs
each other. can well understand the reason
of all these harrassings, and think the public
can also perceive their object. 1t is expected
that few legal impediments viii so discourage
many of the new League supporters that the
ranks will be broken, and at least temporary
retreat made. Some National League sup
pOrters are, indeed, confident that if the
Brotherhood ranks could be broken this year it
would be the last of the revolt" This, or
these, hopes then are prompting the recourse
to law, and we have heard much about what
the courts are going to be asked to do during
the week. Well. 1 have already declared my
self on the law method, and / am still uncon-
WINGED as to the wisdom Of it, particularly be-
cause the ODDS are considerably against the
National League. But am not surprised that
efforts are being made TO put into operation
every piece Of legal machinery that will break
or grind to powder the structure that John
NJ. Ward and Others are building. Men in des-
peraTe circumstances will take desperate
chances. and the old League magnates find
themselves today in very uncomfortable po-
sition.
An Old AdaEe.
Of course we all have heard the old adage
Everything is fair in love and war;" and many
of us should remember it now and then during
this extraordinary struggle going on among
the baseball people. We can deduce from the
adage the fact that the National League mag
mates will not leave a stone unturned in their
efforts to bring the rebellious players and their
friends to their knees. Secretary Scandrett
very forcibly said the other day that the fight
is on. and we don't intend to have any glove
exhibition in ours" am convinced that Mr.
Scandrett meant just what he said, and /,
therefore, expect to see many surprising moves
made by the League before April q arrives.
While l don't favor the appeals to law, / don't
allow my sympathy to think the players are be-
ing bounded unfairly or being prosecuted
They w1nhT
culties that their late employers can give them.
and most certainly if any player or any backec
Of the new League went into 1t without being
prepared to encounter very many dlfncultles
he was very foolish, and probably would have
been better on the outside. II in any
case player or supporter
of the new League should be wOrsted in legal
combat see no reason for saying Its
shame" They're prosecuting the poor fell
low ETC., no more than such sympathetic
elacUlations should be expressed In behalf of
the National League magnates. should they be
defeated. II seems 10 me the law test is TO be
fully tried The Philadelphia club has come
out boldly, and in such way as will force mat
ters to definite conclusion. Doubtless
Colonel Rogers has decided on the present
suits against Fogarty, Sanders Farfar and
Love on the strength of what Judge O'Brien
said in his decision in the Ward case Ger
tainly there were consoling passages in that de-
cision for National League officials, but doubt
very much if they will influence decision in
Pennsylvania in favor of an injunction. The
suits at Philadelphia, however. mean that the
Quakers have fight in them, and am inclined
TO think that Colonel Rogers will be a very
tough customer to deal with.
Pittsburg's Programme.
For some time past we have heard a great
deal about the legal proceedings that are to be
commenced by the Pittsburg old club officials
against players and stockholders of the new
club. Statements so definite and SO emphatic
were made a few days ago by an old club Off
cial that it seemed safe to bet 100 to l that
suits would be entered within As hours. But no
suits have been entered yet, and. to be frank,
dobit think there will. The directors of the
old local club ere a conservative set of gentle
men. Depend upon it they have that old piece
of advice to the effect we should beware of en-
trance to a quarrel, but being in bear it so that
our opponents may beware of us, down very
fine. They may be great fighters when aroused
but goodness knows, they need deal of arous-
ing. Certainly they have talked and threat
ened as much, and probably more, than many
people, but still there is nothing but talk. Ali
this talk may be done for effect it will lose its
force by repetition; the public will become
weary of it, so much so that no attention what
ever viii be paid TO it. Under these circum-
stances then, il would seem infinitely better if
anything is to be done to go ana
do ii, and if it is not to Be done
say nothing about it. But it would
now seem folly to institute legal proceedings
here against any players or their hackers until
adecisiOn is rendered in the Philadelphia cases.
The latter will have direct bearing on similar
cases in Pittsburg, and certainly will be to this
city of much more importance than the Ward
case. venture to say that if injunctions are
granted in p Philadelphia there will neither be
brotherhood club there nor in Pittsburg this
wear. but the chances Of securing iniunctions
are extremely remote. If Colonel Rogers wins
his. case it is probable that no other old players
in Pittsburg or Philadelphia would insist on
playing with any other club other than one of
the National League during the approaching
season. But there would come the very vital
question: What would the League do with the
old PLAYERS? Every one Of them-gOOd bad