Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-01
A REVIEW OF SPORTS,
The Controversy Between
John Ward and Spalding.
SOME FALLACIES NOTED.
A Few Opinions Regarding the Two
Local Baseball Teams.
J. L. SULLIVAN AND JOE McAULIFFE

One of the interesting features of the weel
has been the controversy on the baseball situs
tion between Messrs. A q. Spalding. John NJ
Ward and some of the newspapers. When con
testants begin to reason il is hopeful sign, anC
the discussion Just referred 10 throws out
CLEAN of hope for the abolition of the conflict
ing dates at least The discussion, however al
far as Messrs. Ward and Spalding are con
cerned, is not of very much benefit to the public
because each gentleman will not see anything
good on the opposite side or anything bad il
his own side. A parusanship of this kind
diminishes the worth of the arguments OF
statements made because we know before.
hand under all circumstances Mr.. Spaldine
will claim absolute right for the National
League and Mr.. Ward will do the same for hi.
organization. However, there has been much
said that is interesting. The chief question al
issue has been that relating to whether or no,
the Players League is responsible for the pres
ent unpleasantness. Mr.. Spalding contends
that it has and Mr.. Ward just as emphatically
contends that it has not, and argues that the
National League is responsible. As a non-parti-
san L claim that there is fault to be found
on both sides. but that the new League is much
more responsible for the trouble than the old
one. Ny readers will remember that this has
been my contention right along. and now that
the question has become the leading one of the
week 1 deem it of interest to say something more
on the matter. do not for one moment ques-
ton the right of the ball players or anybody
else to form a baseball organization and play in
any city where they think it profitable. That
is an inherent right, and just as much theirs as
itIs anybody else's, but 1 do argue that the
method of exercising this right or the means
used in putting it into operation gave every in
oucement TO bitter conflict; indeed, the cir
cumstances were such that nothing but a life
and death struggle on the part of the National
League could ensue. 1 am aware that Mr..
Ward contends that the Players League has
made every offer to join in a national agree
ment and that il has also given opportunities
to the old League to avoid conflicting dates.
Now this NAV sound all right until the methods
of exercising the right have referred to are
fully explained, and as the question at issue is
of such grave importance we had better look
into it carefully, so that we may be fully able
to determine on which side the greatest fault
lies.
The Case Stated.
What contend is that the players left the
National League in a way that left no room for
conciliation and certainly no room for any
doubt as to their object being the total exter-
mination of the National League. Now. am
not going to contend that the National League
has any more right to exist than any other base
ball organization. 1t has not; but we ought not
70 kill it without giving it fair chance to
defend itself This is very essential particu-
larly at present, when Players League authori-
ties are talking so much about obliterating from
baseball all the "un-Americar' principles and
rules connected with it. Well. then contend
that the players did not give the OLD League a
fair chance to defend itself and argue further
ff1nff fho pa1a daca Fal 41,o
under the most questionable circumstances. 1
have argued this point before and at present 1
merely wish to refer to it. Last year every
National League Club fully understood that
every player was sure to play with those clubs
this year. The players themselves verified that
understanding both by tongue and pen. This
assurance prompted expenditures on the part
of the National League that certainly would
not have taken place had this understanding
not existed. Even when the PLAYERS were
making their demands their leaders plainly
stated that if these demands were granted
there would be no split. But despite these
proclamations and without any warning, the
players in body left the National League and
with the full expectation that their wholesale
desertion would totally wreck the old organi-
cation. New capitalists were imported into the |
new scheme whose public avowals from time to
time have given us to plainly understand that |
the death of the National League from its |
present territory was the great object of the |
Ae q
and ask if under the circumstances there is |
not more blame for the trouble attached to the |
new League than to the old? Can anyone of |
us who has grain of courage, manliness or |
that the old League could do other than defend |
itself and under the circumstances give or
take no quarter? Why for the National |
League 10 have reached out the hand of |
to the new League would have been
like s man aiding and abetting his own MUIR
derer. II is this mode of reasoning that
faWn
oe' come to ' and @ T eGnGlP'''p shinR that FGT %r
Ward is wrong when he contends
that the new League is not respon-
sible for the present trouble There was a way
to avoid it,and that way pointed out last year.
Had the players fulfilled all moral obllgauons
and carried out all common UNDERSTANDINGS they
could have formed their organization this year.
Had this been done there could not have been
any objection, and they certainly would have
had the goodwill of many more people than at
present But prospects of wealth were painted
Tor one moment stop to consider the right or
wrong of the matter They imagined an Eldo-
ado only short distance ahead of them, and
hey rushed for It fully expecting that there
would be no National League to bother them
This great mistake has beeen fully discovered
md 1t is now quite clear that the way sug-
rested by this paper last year was the best way.
-
Interest in the Game.
Mr.. Ward contends that public interest in the
rational game is not waning, and argues that
here is more interest in it now than there was
asst year. cannot help thinking that a con-
ention of this kind indicates that the con-
ender is of opinion that the new League is
omewhat at fault If it was the general
opinion that the National League was respon-
ible for any decrease of interest In the ma
ionaI games, depend upon it now League sup
,orters would have beon clamoring right and
eft about the decreased interest. 1 am per-
uaded that the fact that the majority of the
,ublic believe the new League TO be RESPONSE
lie for most of the trouble prompts its support
rs to take the very avowed position that base
'all interest has not fallen off. Day after day
We find the atUendances are less than those of
be minor leagues; on the public streets where
asst year scarcely anything but baseball was the
beme of conversation the game is now
lardly mentioned. Mr.. Ward, like many 9TH
rs, refers to the attendance of the first few
'Smes. But, bless us, that is no argument. The
ovelty or innovation caused abnormal attend
noes at the start and, really under the circum-
tances. they should have been greater. As
Don as tne excitement 1i1 or rather curiosity was
rowds in almost every ball park. The numer-
us attendances ranging from so to 400 speak
OF themselves.
APoor Policy.
In one Of his letters this week, Mr.. Ward
makes the very significant statement that il
here were no conflicting dates the two base
all organizations could be successful. This is
important coming as it does from
be recognized leader of the Brotherhood. But
fter making the admission. Mr.. Ward init
rates that dignity prevents the new League
rom making any change of schedule now.
he public can well understand now what the
tuation is-a quarrel between two parties at
be expense of the public. II MIR. Wards
.atemeut means anything at all, it means il
be public tastes were catered to both the |
layers and National Leagues could get along |
II right. This means that the public desires