Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-03-13
4 WAITING GAME.
Baseball Schedules to Be Hid
den Until the Last Moment.
PLANS OF TIE BROTHERHOOD
sorce People Argue That the Magnates
Would Stand Better Chance il Wash
ingtor and indianapolis Were Dropped.
An Eight Club Circuits Advantages.

cutting off of two cities would add to the
strength of the one city Of all others where
the fercest war will be waged. But while
| conceding the ACCESSIBILITY of more compact
| circuit-indeed considering il almost ALSO
| lutely necesSary-the League men are at their
! wits end for q scheme by which the reduc-
| ton can be made and all conflicting interests
! properly satisfied.
There is no doubt that the League could
vote the two extra clubs out, but such sum
| mary proceeding is not i'll accordance with
| the custom of the organization. Other means
| must prevail. The two clubs which are really
| superfuous are those from Washington and
| Indianapolis: superfuous principally because
| neither city can draw much over the gUaran-
| tee except on special holidays, and then only
little mere compared to what could be got
| n other cities This means, then, that if the
| two clubs remain in they will have to be car
ried along and practically supported by the
| other aud richer cities. This would be en-
.irely So in the case of the Washington club,
which has no team worth mentioning from a
! League standpoint, no prospect Of getting
one AID no money to get it with even if good
material was available.
Mr.. Hewitt has not got single veteran en-
gagged SO far. He is getting together team,
il is true but that team would be nothing
more than dead weight in the League Ger
talnly, if W ashlngtOn was good ball town
capable of supporting a gilt edged team it
would have Just as much claim to considera-
ton at the hands of the League as New York,
but it mas been fully demonstrated that Wash
iEgton is outclassed as a National league city.
Mr.. Hewitt is satisfied of this. He has been
and is making big bluffs about his intentions,
but they can, under the circumstances, be ex-
cused. There can be no doubt that he is
ready to sell out to the League, and that he
expects to sell He has sunk a good deal OF
money and wants to get it back, and his
biuffing Is simply done for the purpose of
keeping up his price at the highest notch.
Walter Hewitt has a very wise head. The
team he is getting together is destined for tho
Atlantic association, and that is where Walter
VIII pilot them.
At indianapolis affairs are somewhat dit
ferent. The town cannot OF itself support
League team Mr.. Brush has, however, been
50 persuasive that he has managed to hold his
men, and today has signed, perhaps, in many
respects the best team in the League. At any
rate, on paper it is the equal of any. Brush
has got something to sell. Hewitt has moth
ing but franchise Blush having a draw
ing team, could come pretty near recouping
his losses of the past two years IL he could
have a season under the 40 per cent. division
In plain words, he could work himself clear
at the expense of his associates.
Tho League is under obligations to Mr..
Brush because Of his skill in holding his play
ers and in persuading other players OF other
clubs to be true TO their agreements with the
League. Unless Brush wants 20 go they will
not force him out That Brush has his price
is sure. He is a wise and level beaded man.
Whatever his figures may be, he viii not
divulge them to reporters. Up to the time
when the League assemblies at Cleveland Mr..
Brush win not even admit that he has a
price. The League viii hear it then. Mr..
Brush and his associates paid something like |
Sl3, 900 for their franchise Hewitt gave I'D |
considerably less. Brush will get handsome
profit on his investment. Hewitt is not likely !
TO get much more than he paid in originally |
The question will be discussed at Cleveland |
March 4. On that day the League will hold
a reconvened annual meeting and a schedule !
meeting at the same time. The most feast |
bic scheme, and the one likely to be adopted, |
Is the purchase of the " ashington and Indi- |
annapolis franchises by the League at liberal |
figures in one case, and at fair valuation il !
the other, with promise, may be, that when |
the League has annihlated its foes both cities |
may return to the field ana ten club circuit |
given fair trial. The Indianapolis PLAYERS |
will then be turned over to New York and |
Pittsburg at fair valuation. Washington !
will be permitted to keep its men for a team |
IN another organization.
OF course, there is one thing the disposition
of which may make q change in the pro-
gramme, and that is the Ward case. 1t will |
come to trial as soon as the League can get it
into court Ward is satisfied to leave things
as they are and is delaying as much as posi-
BE, but he viii hardly be able to stave off a
trial Should the League win, it would prob
ably stick to the ten club circuit.
The probabilities now are that the matter
will not be settled much before April l. The
League viii certainly not decide on perina-
nent policy If there is any hope, as there
seems to be now, of getting in... decision in
the Ward case during March.
At Cleveland two schedules will probably
be arranged, one for eight and one for ten
clubs, unless Brush and Hewitt should decide
TO sell out. If they stick the two schedules
are likely 70 be made up and held secret until
n final course is decided upon. One thing
seems reasonably sure, and that is that if
land it will not be made public until after the
Brotherhood schedule is given out 1t has
been suggested that il the Brotherhood fail to
publish their schedule the League will do
likewise until just before the season opens.
when the dates viii be furnished to the papers
fer a month in advance about the first Of
each month.
am told by parties who ought to know
that it has been decided to conflict with the
Brotherhood as often As possible, and as it is
feared that the brotherhood do not desire
this, III spite Of its claims 70 that effect, the
schedule win not be given ont in time to
give the Brotherhood an opportunity TO make
rev schedule, which viii avoid as much as
possible conflicting dates. One League man.
ager told me the other day that ne believed
that he few dates given out by Secretary
Brunch, of the Brotherhood, at PittsburC,
puTpc:nnS TO have been agreed upon were
incorrect and merely given as a blind and
as a stiff tip 10 the League
NV neither this be true or not said nv in
tormapt, we are rot going 70 take anv
Chances We shall De secretive IS long as we
can fairly be SO TO the public. We shall sc. |
just a. we would il we knew that Brlpell had |
put on. fake. We shall believe him a pre-
varicator and then VIII ne safe III any event.
There will be plenty of excitement. some
grand playing during the season. and az the
end OF i both sides Will hsve SIN opportunity
to divide the losses caused by Tire war
VI. l. HARM
THE CURIOSITY SHOP.