Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-13

LAsr-cHAScEs OF THE RETIREMENT PITTS
BURG AND THE CAPITAL cLuB-IT STILL LOOKS
LIKE EIGHT CLUBS.
On the 18th of February The STAR said:
The STAR has all along maintained that
the chances of Washington enjoying league
base ball during the coming season are very,
very small. When the owner OF the league
rights at the capital IL not only willing but
anxious to sell out and the controlling powers
Of the ,eagu are desirous of reducing the num-
Der Of league clubs. II looks very much as II
arrangements might be made at the league
meeting next month to satisfy both Sides"
That such an arrangements was not consum-
mated at the league meeting was not, as Is
well known. due to President Hewetts firm
ness in demanding to remain in the league
fold nor to the desire Of eight of the other nine
league msgnates to hold on to him. but to the
fact that the man who had been selected to pair
with him jumped the traces and chung to his
claims Of league membership. When Mr.. Brush
of Indianapolis was found to be unman ageable
the league men were forced to prepare the
schedule for ten clubs. Ii would have been
suicidal to drop only one club before another
victim had been found. Therefore the an
nonncement was made that Washington would
be IN the league. notwithstanding that Oft
repeated announcement the Washington club
Is not yet fixture in the league, and il will
not surprise good many people in
Washington If noregular scheduled league game
Il played in Washington during the coming
season. These the people who read be-
tween the lines of the announcements and who
think they see indications of fulfillment OF
the league mems evident desire to reduce their
numbers 20 eight clubs.
WILL 1T BE PIrTsBURG
As stated. the league meeting closed on a ten
club basis, but it is argued that it was only a
temporary arrangement The men who were
engineering the scheme of reduction required
time to form new combination having failed
to get Indianapolis out of the way The indi-
cation that they have found the key to the
combination. comes this morning in a pub
iished rumor of consolidation of the Pittsburg
and Cleveland clubs. This would permit the
desired retirement of two clubs, one in the
west and one in the east Washington. There
are those. however, who consider this report
only feeler for what will eventually
take place, the retirement of the
Plttsburg club pure and simple.
The league would not listen to the exorbitant
demands of Brush for the Indianapolis fran
chise and players. but with Pittsburg it is diff
ferent. That city is a veritable nest of BROTH
erhoOd sympathiZers. In no other city in the
country are there so many base ball supporters
according to population among the working
men as in Pittsburg. and knowing their natural
leaning toward the brotherhood plans as typi-
tying the rights of working people the hackers
Of the Plttsburg league club are naturally
timid about fighting against the brotherhood
folks on their best ground. IL does not require
very deep insight into base ball methods to
come to the conclusion that there is something
IN II. Keep your eve 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 a view of
throwing cold water on the base ball interests
in Washington. but simply to show tine natural
tendency Of events looked at from a common
sense standpoint.
IL II proves false alarm and Washington
begins the season The STAR will do its level
best to uphold base ball at the capital
OUTSIDE COMMENTS.
Apropos of the reported consolidation of
Cleveland and Pittsburg is an interview with
Mr.. Spalding sent out from Chicago in which
he says he does not think that the League will
make any alterations in its schedule on account
of the brotherhood schedule. In conclusion
he said: 'Of course. it is. has already been
intimated. the hope of most of the league men
that Indianapolis aud Washington Will drop
out. but that will not be forced upon those
clubs. II they should drop out our schedule
would necessarily have to be revised, with as
Few conflicting dates as possible"
But here is something better from a more
domestic and quite as authentic source. Presi-
dent Young of the national league saws:
al no time In the history OF the league has
There been such an unsatisfactory meeting as
the one recently held at Cleveland. Nobody
seemed to be satisfied with the report of the
schedule committee and the fact that fourteen
games are cut of from each club by the in
slstance upon ten clubs created great deal of
friction. Despite this fact do not place any
credenee IN the statement to the effect that
Cleveland and Pittsburg propose to consolidate
or whatever else II may be termed Such a
course would be suicidal and the team would be
neither fish. flesh nor fowl so far as local in
terest would be concerned Local interest is
what maintains base ball in the United States
and nobody appreciates the fact more than the
men who are at the head of the national league
today. IL was demonstrated that such move
ment as combining two clubs would not work
when 1t was proposed to unite the Washington
and Baltimore teams and have games piayed
alternately IN the two Cities
There Is no shreyder. better Judge of base
ball matters than MIR. Young. He not only
keeps himself posted in regard to matters re-
iating to the league itself but is IN constant
communication with every possible source that
VIII throw information on all the adjacent base
ball territory.
A FEW NOTES.
Arson defeated Byrne again yesterday.
Billy Sunday and Pitcher Stage will probably
enter the ministry next season.
Dunlap is to be released right outright. This
IS a bit OF grand-stand play ON the part of the
brotherhood.
Secretary Seandrett Of Pittsburg is confident
that the players league will no: last the season
out and gives 1t as his opinion that if a few
more eonnienng dates had been arranged that
the inal dissolution would have been hastened
The Leblanc case will come before the arbi-
tratlon committee in Philadelphia today
Inn heefe says he thinks that such men as
Tucker, Mexican and Duryea will be enioined
by the brotherhood for having jumped their
contracts. 1t was certainly a most reprehensi-
BILE thing to do. How is your own conscience,
Timothy?
Mexico Not Willing to Part With Land.
The committee on foreign relations reported
to the Senate yesterday the petition of the tif-
teenth legislative assembly of Arizona asking