Wichita eagle., 1890-01-02
both SIDES TOLD.
The Present Status of the
Baseball Matter.
THE BROTHERHOOD WILL PLAY

oaSCO044 4XalICIs
THE BROTHERHOOD WILL PLAY
Dispassionate Confederation of the DIFF
ferences Between the Old and the New
Leagues-There Must Be No Hippodrom
ing If Success Ii to Como.
The chances for the success OF the Players
league are now being speculated upon in Ger
tain quarters. but 50 great is the partisanshiI
displayed by the argumentators that an I'M
biased person finds it difficult to obtain q fan
basis for definite conclusion.
Inasmuch, however, as the players and
their capitalistic friends have at least ar
ranged matters so that start is virtually as
sured, prospective Of the affair from an un
biased standpoint, and with consideration Of
the sensible portions OF the arguments Of par
tisan disputants, may well b uede. PEima'
rily, therefore, all sentimeusR1ity must b
cast aside, and the true cause for the split be
tween the League and players be considered.
This shows US that in this case, at least, naeney
is the root Of whatever evil exists. It also
shows us that the financial prosperity of the
Players league is the end aimed at, and that
the Leagues success win be gagged by tbs
amount of financial prosperity attained
This being admitted, it then becomes neces
sary to discover what the sources Of revenue
are on which the Players league VIII depend.
Its adherents claim, and with truth, that the
sympathy of the mass of the people is with
the players; that those who labor for days
wages arein accord with the new League and
viii give it their support, and thst all lovers
of the game viii patronize their contesta.
But it may be asked: Is baseball supported BY
''the mass Of the people" and by 'those who
labor for wagesr' This is predetermined, and
there are evidences that a negative reply
would prove correct. Generally speaking, PEG
pie who labor for days wages are those who
work for an existence, and have little money
to waste on Injuries, Of which baseball is
surely one. OF ''the mass Of people" who
sympathize with the players, this is also true
and more, that of this mass" the percentage
Of those who can afford either time or money
is almost indnitesimal
Practically speaking, baseball is supported
by people who are not to be classed as either
laborers or wealthy people They area ''elass"
unto themselves, undemocratic as this may
appear. They are young men and old men,
who belong to that army known as clerkA
Clerks in insurance Offices, in brokers' Offices,
in banks snd mercantile counting rooms,
where wages are paid them that admit Of
more than a mere living. and where working
hours are shortened during the summer. To
this must be added the patronage of the rich
and the transient trade of the percentage Of
''the mass Of people," and these combined
support the game. This then shows the class
of people who swell the Golfers of baseball
clubs and enable the latter to pay princely
salaries and other expenses Therefore, in
the percentage of patronage to a club in any
city. New York, Boston and Chicago have
the larger proportions; therefore, these clubs
pay the largest salaries to players, biggest
dividends to stockholders and make success
ful the clubs there located.
But what will happen in case this patron
age is divideda Well, if it be evenly divided,
the existing clubs and those Of the Players
league will, in all probability, be run at q
loss If it is not evenly divided, then the
club securing the greatest amount has the
greatest chance for financial success. And
herein lies one of the factors in the success of
the Players league. Can its clubs command
the greatest amount of this patronagel Who
can saya Truly, as lovers Of baseball, the
people will go where they obtain most for
their money or the best article. The people
Of this class are devoid of sentiment when it
becomes question Of money, and will not
patronize the players simply because they
think them to have been oppressed, or the
because they believe them to have
been wronged.
They viii ignore all sentimentality when it
comes down to a question of obtaining the
value Of their money. They viii not merely
consider the closeness Of the contests between
clubs or the sharp rivalry for the pennant,
they viii demand ample and good accommo-
dations on grounds and easy and comfortable
modes of travel to and from them. They
will demand fair dealing throughout Now,
as existing clubs have, as q rule,
the choicest sites in the most accessible Dor
lions of cities, they have an advantage which
the Players league will have great difficulty
IN overcoming.
The national league has also opportunities
Tor obtaining the services of known good
men who viii prove more attractive than
some Of the old timers in the Players league
whose races are nearly run.
Experience proves that the great body Of
players change every three or four years,
and, therefore, while the National League
nay be temporarily embarrassed for talent,
'uch embarrassment is not likely to be long
continued handicap.
The old Leagues record for having built I'D
the game, and of having eliminated Its objec-
.ionable features, are also factors in the fight,
and will cause 1t to retain the patronage of
hose who love good ball and honest ball.
If the new League, in addition to possessing
The "star" players, must give first of all good
ball and honest bail to obtain the patronage
If the ''class" that supports the game, and
AN retain that patronage, financial success
Will be possible. But other things are equally
The new League, to obtain the patronage.
must make the public generally believe that
here is nothing in the nature Of hippo
irome in the playing; and while / believe
he teams will play as squarely and honestly
n the Players league as they did in the old
league also believe that they viii have
,igantio task to convince the general public
hat the gate receipts do not enter largely
nto the question of victory and defeat
Then theirs are other factors 20 be consid-
red. The conduct of the clubs; the methods
Il management; the methods that win be
Esd by competitors; the relative chances of
wo or more cesuls in one city; the effect pro-
uoed if only few clubs make noney-all
hese and other considerations have great
earring on the question, VIII the Players
eague succeedr ". l. HARRIS
Slightly Mixed.
The recent metropolitan engagement Of !
,ouis james in 'Virginius," recalls to q |
ritter in The Dramatic Mirror how Mac |
eaGy was viceiHized on one occasion in that |