Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-24
OUT AND In.


| THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ATLANTIC LEAauE
CLUB-wALTER HEwETT SAYS HE WILL CARRY
ON BUSINESS AT THE NEW sTANp-TEp SUI
LIvAN AND THE MEN.
Now that the smoke Of battle has cleared
away and some sort of order has come out of
the base ball chaos ii may be well TO take a
| swift retrospective glance at some of the
things which The STAR has said on different
occasions apropos Of the situation: and see
whether or not it is open to the suspicion of
having endeavored to throw cold water on the
base ball prospects of Washington. The truth
Is that The STAR was actuated by no desire to
uphold any person3 or any organizati on, but
simply to keep the base ball public of the city
informed as to the ins and outs of the situation.
which every one will admit was extremely COM
plicated. There strong evidences at
| hand during the winter to show that the league
dld not wInt Washington as a member, and
IHE STAR Immediately gave expression to all
that could be said on the subject.
On the 2Sth of February it said:
The STAR has all along maintained that the
chances OF Washington enjoying league base
Dali during the coming season are very, very
small. When the owner of the league rights at
the capital is not onlys willing but ANXIOUS to
sell out. and the controlling powers of the
league are DESTROYS OF reducing the number of
league clubs. 1t looks very much as If arran ge-
ments might be made at the league meeting
next month to satisfy both sides.
Washington will have no league base ball
and no brotherhood base ball, but it is very
likely that an Atlantic association club will be
located here"
Then, again, Oh the 18th of March there was
this word OF warning: Keep your eye on the
course of events. therefore, and see whether
the league begins the regular season with ten
or eight clubs. That Washington will go if
she finds mate no one will deny. She may be
mated before many days. This warning is not
made with view Of throwing cold water ON
the base ball interests in Washington, but SIM
ply to show the natural tendency of events
looked at from a commOn-Sense standpoint. If
1T proves a false alarm and Washington begins
the season The STAR will do its level best to
uphold base ball at the capital"
1t was not false alarm and now that Wash
ingtOn Is about to begin the season as an Allan
tic association club The STAR is ready. as it
always has been, to give the sport all the en-
enlargement 1t deserves. We shall probably
have some good games here. perhaps Just as
good as though we were in the National league.
and. In consideration of the reduction of the
admission fee from 50 to % cents il is likely
that In some ways the withdrawal from the
league will prove benefit. There will be a
large element of local strife engendered by the
near presence of Baltimore and the rivalry that
has always existed between that city and this
and the entire outlook is favorable for lively
season.
WHO WILL GET IN.
The question of who is entitled to the Ameri-
can association franchise is an interesting one
and may lead to some peculiar developments.
MIR. Hewett says that there is no doubt that he
is the man, for he still holds his league fran
chise, and, under the national agreement-to
which the Atlantic association is party,-no
inv Hn t.r ,t,ry, L..
retains possession of that document The ac-
ton OF the league in allowing him to retain an
inactive membership was shrewd piece of
work and probably gives him the whip-hand
here.
1t seems that Mr. Sullivan as soon as he saw
the drift OF the leagues desires and obtained
clue as to the final action. began to take steps
to obtain franchise in the Atlantic. and sew
eral hours before the vote was taken that
caused Washington to retire from active bust
ness in the old body telegraph vote was
taken i'll the Atlantic association on the adms-
sion of this city and Mr. Sullivan was informed
that his application had been granted. There
are certain business men here who claim to
have been behind Mr.. Sullivan as hackers and
that he was merely acting for them.
which is in Sullvan's name-belongs
to them, to the exclusion of Mr.. Hewett. And
SO it is that the base ball situation somewhat
resembles two men pulling at the ends of a
rope against each other while a third one,
bearing IA strong resemblance to the celebrated
player hunter, sits astride the rope some where
near the middle with knife in his hand ready
TO cut the two opponents loose. He sits little
nearer to MIR. Hewett's end than to the other.
MR.. HEwETT's SIDE.
1t seems that as soon as Mr.. Hewett returned
from New York he had a long interview with
Sullivan and asked him for an explanation of
his action. MIR. Sullivan gave Mr. Hewett
satisfactory reason tor doing as he did He
said that he had become frightened when the
news began to come from New York and with
out wasting time for asking questions he tele-
graphed off to Braden, the president of the
Atlantic association, to accept him (Snlivan)
as an applicant for franchise. He said that
he had done this entirely as matter of caution
and ne and Mr.. Hewett are now as good friends
as ever.
Meanwhile Mr.. Braden has been convinced
that he acted illegally. Before Mr.. Young
came south from the meeting he went over
into the wilds of Jersey and told Braden that
he had made big mistake in thus invading
the territory OF the league. Then Mr.. Hewett
had talk with him and scared him little
more and now, MIR. Hewett says. it is a mere
matter OF form as to his getting the franchise.
on THE OTHER HAND
1t is claimed that Hcwett is not in the league
and that therefore he cannot claim prior right
to put CLUB in Washington; that Hewett en-
gagged his men to play league ball and that he
has no control over them The Atlantic assoc
citation. 1T is he can admit whom it chooses and
the players are free to sign where they choose
From a conversation which a STAR reporter
had this morning with Mr.. Hewett il is quite
evident that Sullivan has decided to pool his
issues with the old concern and that therefore
the Atlantic association club here will run un-
der the auspices OF Mr.. Hewett.
WHAT MR.. HEWITT SAYS.
I'VE are still member of the league" said
Mr.. Hewett, "a passive member, and l have
possession. of our franchise just the same as
ever. | still hold my men under national
league contracts and will continue to hold
them. shall not send i'll my resignation Just
yet and until do so / am the only one eligible
to play ball here III any association Or league
that is member of the national agreement
l expect TO receive my franchise in the Atlantic
association in day or two and on Saturday we
at The grounds-17th and with the
Rochester team. They will also play On Mon
day and on Tuesday and Wednesday of next
week the Detroit team will appear. Mr. Sui
Ivan has been engaged to manage the team
throughout the season and he will take
the men tomorrow and Thursday to the
George town college grounds to give them
little practice. They all here, with
two or three exceptions. OIrien and Gleason
have not yet come. and have some doubts as
to whether or not the latter will be willing to
sign with me. now that We are not going To