St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-21
PLAYERS LEAGUE DEAD.
At Least So Thinks President
Spaiding.

Spalding. the messiah of base ball, re-
turned to Chicago yesterday after Il trip
or ten days to the camps of friendlieS
ana hoStiles in the East. The result
was an amaigamation practically of all
former conflicting interests. In Cleve-
land an insignificant speck of war is
still visible; in Brooklyn the enemy
took to flight. and in Boston, the hot
bed of ObStinacy, the peace dance was
celebrated before the Chicago chief lie t
for his Western tepee. No complaints
were heard at the other agencies. AS
the Players league was the cause of
the turmoil that upset the national
game, SpaldIng'S opinion of that or
ganiZation in its present state of hope
less coma is of primary, interest. Its
dead" he said. "Deader than hadeS,
with its fires extingushed. All the Al
Johnsons on earth. backed by their COM
bined capital and brains, could not re-
vive the Players league. While the
situation is very much unsettled, mat
tiers begin to look clearer, and it is safe
to say that before another season opens
base ball Will be restored OH basis sat
lSfactorv TO the public, the players and
the management. A new phase of John
sons efforts to fight against the inevita-
BILE was the issue of the secret circular
to players. JOhhSon's refusal of S29,-
600 in cash for his interests in
base ball caused the league back
ers to regard tile Cleyelander as
phenomenon of finance, and
when be learned that his non-accept-
ance of that sum. almost gift, meant
so much loss he probably got the secret
circular idea to use as d bluff. Its Sc
riouS side is the invitation it contains to
players to participate in another revolt.
In this Johnson is doing the players q
great injustice. In settling existing
troubles the National league is hand
ling matters in spirit of magnanimity,
and the players are to be accorded the
faireSt treatment. But they should
consider carefully before joining in an
attempted new revolution. They may
find that the leagues stock of sweet
meats can lie exhausted. No, the play
ers had better give up all thoughts of a
new revolt, for''--and Mr.. Spalding
looked exceedingly in earnest-"it
might be an unwiSe move"
will Chicago and Boston be repre-
Sented i'll the American association
next year?"
'ln Boston the league people were
opposed to the introduction of second
club. They claimed with good prece-
dents for their theory. that two profess
sional clubs could not be made to pay.
When pointed out how. with the many
popular Boston players, two teams.
working on friendly basis, ought to
receive good support, the objections
first formed were partially removed.
Prince is quite willing to compromise
| by being given an association franchise,
and l rather think that may be done.
Under such circumstances l could
not very we'll oppose strongly
the establishment of an association club
IN Chicago. But l would insist posi-
lively, were a second team placed here,
that no Sunday games be played and no
beer Eor liquor sold on the grounds. l
! should also desire to be satisfied that the
club was under proper management,
with some guarantee that the officers in
tended to run the club for the good of
. the game III general. Iu Philadelphia
| Reach does not oppose an association
: club; in fact, he tavors one. 1t is pos
sible that the Wagners may secure a
franchise. Too much credit cannot be
| given President Thurman for the man
her in which he is endeavoring to ele-
vate the American association and the
sport"