The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-15


ing State of Affairs-He Discusses the
Subject Of Two Circuits-The Baseball
Outlook Is a Very Dismal One.
The Players league has made an indi-
rect offer Of compromise and the National
league has Indirectly repudisted it. One
reason for the prOmprne5s with which the
proposition WIS discarded was because the
only concession offered was q change Of
names by the Players league. I hope q
compromise measure can be agreed upon,
because the game and all concerned with
it will be benefited; but it must be com
promise having different basis from that
offered IN the proposition recently sub
mitted to the National league. There is
still another reason for the apparently
absolute refusal Of the latter to ccmpro-
mise, and that is belief On its part that
the successful operation Of two first class
leagues on the present lines is impossible
The National league, however, is not so
sure of this that it would refuse TO confer
with its opponents in seeking a way to end
the war. Nor could it afford TO refuse
conference.
I'VE have not refused to compromise"
said prominent league man to me. NO
proposition has been made TO Us directly
by the Players league. If they ask us to
meet a committee for the purpose Of q
settlement Of the war 1 do not think, or
indeed do see how, the league could re-
fuse. At the same time de not think any
agreement could be reached"
It is admitted by most authorities THAI
the only compromise that could be Of any
definite value in restoring the pubic in
terest in national championship TO the
vogue Of 1889 is one that has for its basis
the relino uishment Of certain territory by
both organizations 80 as to reduce the
number of cities where there will be aeon
fict of clubs, and also to reduce local
partisanship to the minimum figure. And
it is this fact that would render the work
of conference committee such difficult
and almost impossible task.
In a recent article on this subject sug-
gested two circuits that might enable both
leagues TO do profitable business and re-
store the game in a measure 10 the univer-
sal favorit enjoyed FROM 1888 to 1880, which
the present discussions have temporarily
abated. This is the division:
National League-BroOklyn Philadel-
phia, New York, Boston, Baltimore, Chi
cago, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
Players Ieague-Buffalo, New York,
Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit,
Pittsburg, with Louisville, st. Louis or
Columbus to fill up.
These circuits are not the best by any
means, but it seems to me that they are
the most available, inasmuch as there
might be some possibility of such an ar
~ q L.
it would place two clubs in New York and
continue three III Philadelphia, and an
other that it would interfere with the
American Associations circuit
Candidly do not believe that New York
city, large as it is, will ever support two
first class clubs satisfactorily, mainly be
cause of the intense feeling Of local pride
existing there. Two may possibly worry
along if they have different names. Neither
do believe that PhRadelphia will support
three clubs so that all hands will make n
profit. A consideration of Gil the facts
and the difficulties attendant upon a solu-
ton of the problem naturally leads one to
the belief that no compromise can be
reached Still an effort should be made,
and the Players league would lose very
little in public estimation by asking point
blank for a conference.
President Byrne, Of the Brooklyn club,
ridicules q compromise. President Rob
ison, of the Cleveland club, is quite as de-
cided as Mr. Byrne.
Provided no compromise can be reached,
what them
Well, the outlook 80 far az I can see into
the future of baseball is dismal enough
The result of this fgls has been just what
l predicted It would be Financially
disastrous for both leagues, bad for the
players and later bad far high salaries,
and hurtfal to the game and public inter
est in it. To continue :he fight means
these things in greater degree, and posi-
bly, the injury 70 professional baseball may
be 50 great as to put it back TO the condi-
ten It was when rescued by ths National
league In lS76-77. It is true that the
fight, il continued, wiz net De 10 direct in
1891, for there viii be no conflicting dates,
but there may, and probably viii, be other
things far more injurious to public estt
nation
1t is greatly to the credit of the com
batants that there has 50 far been no hip
podroming and no real suspicion Of it in
the pubic mind The nagn1ses. and by
this term mean the capitalists and man
ayers of both sides, mnst bear h mind that
once let So Oh Suspicion take fTn root in
the pub4ic mind snd It eocld be easily
kindled too: the actual sbsencs Of Tia thing
itself would nstsave theGate Hip7odrom-
ing or csookedness would ruin professional
baseball 1t is not generally believed per
haps how bad an Influence was exerted on
the public attendance at games by the Pc
cuhar actions Of certain players and MAJ
agers las: season
Now what viii a continuance OF the war
lead TOT Neither aide WIN respect contracts
or reserve And do not behsve that tbs
Brctherhood eozkrsst VIII be carried int
court Playez viii be fouad On both sides
who will be perzuaded 70 FQ@p to ths oshsr
IT'S true that in soCns cases the topping
can be done grscskrtay, especially WHARF,
contracts have exp&1ed, but Bhas viii bs
It's effect on TIE ychEGf ssrzfY not ons
that viii inUre - The hEn<SS sr axgr2n-
dizzrnsut Of professional kazekal Already
there are Indications q fepptHR Ths man
srers Of clubs sh0uld csnEs61 well bsfors
they fnaug11rste tho syyss1, and II they
ind it absolutely ner1HTy Gully u<n vAoes
contracts have ex5iTef shooh Be takea
'Tvoald be b-tG to take none a all Il
seems 20 ne thaf nc dub which takes IN
the Peppers, OF the hoppe1 themselves.
are EEely 70 benefit by the deal where It u
= claan case of coatrxa junpkng-
WHAT u SAID.
That IN Nichols. GctDssn and Csxkson
the Boston elab has trio of pitchers likely
10 land the pennAnt.
That Nike Kelly Is beginning 70 cover
short neld like veteran
That Danny Richardson recnnf work in
n. saynA rosir4on kaz e.uylaled fhe bet