Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-04

therefore mad, comparatlVely speaking, Ilttie
reason to make the change. But assuredly II
by making the change they thought they would
be attracting still greater number OF people
they were wise to do SO. The larger crowds
they have the less will there be for the oppo-
sition and in time of life and death connict
such as the present, surely that is great stroke
against the enemy. From any standpoint
Doubtless many of us have read what Mr.. Tai
colt. of the New York P. L. club. and others
have said about the change. They are opposed
club may be called down for it. 1t
is also said that it is against the
constitution. All this to me SOUNDS ike
claims that there is nothing at all in the con-
stItution forbiddins the change and he outnt 10
know. But why, ask. should Mr.. Talcott or
any other official of the new league s'anu on
tuition? Even if it did forbid reduction OF
price what about itf Has rules. constitution
and almost everything else in the new league
meet the emergencies that appear in the pres,
ent conflict? The change is a good one and
the public ought to appreciate II
The Players side of IL.
But the reduction of price concerns the play
ers probably more than anybody else, and in
considering this question one or two interest
ing features present themselves. If a lack OF
interest in the game causes reduction In price
of admission will that change not cause re-
duction in the salaries of the playersf think
it eventually will. There is now greater
probability of other cities adopting the 70 cent
rate than there is in PittsDurg returning to the
so cent rate because it is much easier to reduce
the price than to raise 1t. This being SO VIII
not general reduction follow and then gem
eral reduction of the salaries of ball playersT
l am very much Inclined to the belief that the
days of these enormous salaries for ball play
ers are fast drawing to close. There are
many reasons which lead me to this belief and
contentedneSs of the players themselves. But
don't mean to argue that point just now 1
wish the players to get all the salary they can,
but whatI want 10 state in passing is that me
signs of the times are to the effect that big
salaries won't last long. Cheaper ball In
the long run must mean lower salaries
There is another feature of this question. If
the players are only to receive their salaries
from the receipts of the clubs, is II falr that
they should not have direct voice In deter
mining the financial policy of that club? 10
prevent them would seem to be an Injustice
similar to The old one of taxation without rep
resentatiOn." The players really have more at
stake than anybody else. Their entire salaries
depend on the money received at the turnstile
anu to them 1t is of vital importance whether
the per capita fee be 25 cents or half a dollar.
/ mention this feature now, because I have all
along held the notion that it is a faulty part OF
the new Leagues organization. don't sup
pose that if the local players had direct voice
In the matter they would have objected to the
recent change of price, because the necessity Of
it was too apparent.
The County League.
use the above title, but it seems to me that it
is somewhat out of place. because there is no
County League at present, and don't think
we'll have any this year. A few days ago had
a talk with Mr.. Clark. who was president Of
the County League last year. and he gave me to
underst and that there are no hopes Of an Ale
gheny County Baseball League this year. am
sorry for this, but am not much surprised.
There has been one great difficulty for the
local amateur clubs to contend against, VIZ,
their inability to secure inclosed grounds.
Without the latter 1t is almost impossible to
have a successful organization. Some Of the
strongest clubs are unable this season to secure
inclosed grounds, and this fact has killed all
desire 10 organize the League. OF course, the
absence of the enthusiastic Mr.. Will Barr
is another force operating against reorganlza-
ton. An amateur league should always be en-
couraged by those who want to see the national
game perpetuated. 1t is from the leagues of
this kind that almost all of our 'srars" come;
the amateur leagues are really the manufac-
tories of ball PLAYERS and every populous dis
trict should have one The Allegheny County
League has done very well in the past. as many
of its old members are now before the world in
Clark also told me that many who were inter-
ested In the League last year intend to devote |
almost all their time to tennis this year. An
other unfortunate proof of the present wayer-
An- VA O@SSO POP
HnuIau and Hosmer.
Two or three days ago had very interest
ing conversation with the two famous scullers.
Edward Hanlan and George Hosmer. There |
is always a pleasure in talking to them about |
matters aquatic because each has had a long |
and busy experience and have been we're care |
full observers. cannot forget my first impress
sion of either Hanlan or Hosmer. When 1
-f-1eI "a
Jack Hawdon in race on the Tyne and when
1 first knew Hosmer he was known as the
"Boston Lightning Boy" Well, time slips |
awav and looking back 10 or II years seems
q very short time, indeed. Hosmer has Just
recovered from a severe attack of fever. He
is almost all right again and will take part in |
the Duluth regatta. Hanlan is little heavier
than usual, but he states that he
is in excellent condition to CON-
mence training. He talked exceedingly
interesting to me about rowing affairs in
Australia and expressed the highest opinion
regarding the rowing abilities of young Nc |
Lean. The ex-champion says that Mclean is |
feet high and measures A inches around the
chest and Is one of the most powerful scullers |
that ever sat in a boat Il feel sure" said Mr.. |
Hanlan, that he can defeat any sculler IN |
Australia and were he and O'Connor to row five |
miles tomorrow would put every dollar had |
on Mclean. have seen him row mile in 5 |
minutes and so seconds. That is speedy enough
for anything and he can certainly outstay |
O'Connor His method of rowing is not al |
together attractive. but that is because of his
legs. He begins his stroke prettily and finishes
it in an accomplished way, but in pulling it |
through the movement of his long legs gives
one the idea that he is far from a finished |
sculler. However his stroke is all right and he |
imparts immense power into il. If O'Connor |
defeats him he will row the hardest race of his |
life because a more determined man never sat |
in boat than Mclean" Mr.. Hanlan's opinion |
gives definite tip to who he thinks will |
WIN between Kemp and Mclean. They row on |
the 18th inst. and if Mr.. Hanlan's estimate of |
Mclean is anything like correct, Peter Kemp's |
fate is doomed. Certainly Kemp is god |
rover, but he is not of that class that Mr. Han
Ian speaks of when estimating Mclean The |
latter, Mr.. Hanlan says is better than Beach |
was and certainly on public form Kemp was far |
short of Beach. Stansbury and OConnor row |
for the championship on June % and the result |
of that race will give us some idea as to |
what chance OConnor has against |
the other Australians If Stansbury |
Hanlan says he is then the sooner OiConnor re- |
turns home the better. But the ex-champiop |
has not excellent opinion of O'Connor. Mr.. |
Hanlan does not think that his countryman is !
correctly built about the chest to make a world |
beater. However this may be, none of Us can |
gainsay the fact that O'Connor is a good scul. |
Ter. 1t is probably too much to say that he is |
the best because, judging him on his form |
against Searle on the Thames, he is not the best
by any means But have an idea that he is a |
better sculler than Mr.. Hanlan would have us |
believe, and if he Is beaten in Australia don't |
think there'll be a rosy chance for any other |
American or Canadian to turn the tables on his |
victor. |