Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-11

money, as is the custom in the baseball
business 1t has very many attendant evils;
that is, taking the system generally. More
than once the question has been fully DIS
cussed in this paper, and stin hold the
same opinion regarding 1t. But while am
opposed to the principle the custom still
lives, and it lives apparently just as much
to-day as it ever did. This being SO it
would appear unjust to player of merit to
deprive him of the benefit of custom the
benefits of which are being shared by
others. 1t must not be forgotten that the
magnates have only themselves to blame for
the system, and as long as they foster it or
no reason to complain, and play
ers naturally will expect to get
the advance money. If magnates
would Kill the system entirely, then there
would be some justification for arguing
against PLAYER demanding it, but under
present conditions and customs I think q
player perfectly right in demanding ad-
vance money. But there is another feature.
We must not forget that the present is a
bad time to decline the giving of advance
money. Ifa good player wants the money
and it is refused, there are other clubs in
the Association that will readily pay it.
mostly playing for money they are always
likely to go where they can get most OF 1t.
But the local club is unfortunately peculiar
in this respect Not many players care
about playing in this city for reasons have
mentioned above, and it does not need
much extra inducement to attract them
elsewhere. This fac to some extent forces
the local club to fork out advance money
when it otherwise could have avoided it.
That New York Investigation.
Well, we have had the baseball investiga-
tion, or rather the New York end of it.
One of the foolish things of the season has
been that investigation, because everything
that could be known about the matter that
was investigated was fully known before
the investigation commenced. But as a few
interested people, whom defeat had made
sore, continued to make the most ungenerous
charges, the New York Club Directors
were compelled to do something. They did
all they could do; that was to go through
the formality of an investigation. As
result of the latter everybody has been pro-
nounced honest, and all the New York play
ers tried their best to defeat the Boston
team. President Hart, of Chicago, has not
by any means acted wise part in talking SO
loosely about fraud and dishonesty. Even
if he conScientiously thought that there
had been collusion between the New York
and Boston teams he certainly should have
refrained from expressing an opinion
until he met his fellow magnates
in proper meeting place. Most
assuredly his wild talk has not
added to the glory and luster of the League
and his untounded suspicious must certainly
have some effect on his standing among
League magnates. The fact that Mr.. Hart
really believed that the New York team and
its management Tould conspire with the
Boston Baseball authorities to work dis
honestly against the Chicago team does not
say much for Mr.. Hart's estimation of the
of his colleagues. If President
Hart shouted ''fraud, fraud, so as to lead
the admirers of his team to think that his
team had been defeated unfairly and not on
their merits, he must have failed because
the finish made by the Chicago team was
one of the most miserable that could have
taken place and in view of that fact Mr..
Hart should certainly have kept himself |
quiet as far as charges of fraud were con- |
cerned. Certainly there was no fraudulent |
playing and believe that the honesty of |
the PLAYERS in the National League is Just |
as pure to-day as it ever was. 1t might now |
be in order to have another investigation. |
An inquiry might be commenced to find out |
what should be done with a man who falsely |
charges his colleagues with fraud and dis
honesty.
About Amateur Athletes.
During the week we have had the fall |
sports of the local amateur athletic associa- |
ton. While there were some good con-
tests. it cannot be said that the proceedings |
we're very successful The weather was bad,
and the attendance, therefore, only moder- |
lte. The programme dragged considerably, |
md altogether the proceedings were much |
90 dull and cherries to sustain an affection
or outdoor sports The truth is the NOV
ng or leading spirits of the A. A. A must |
become considerably more active if they
want to exist at all as club. They must
make themselves known by deeds, and that
,annot be done without spirit of activity,
md a strong one. But was talking about
sports. During the contests 1 noticed one
,r two features that may be worthy of note.
1ne was the evident lack of instruction
ome of the amateurs displayed, This was
Tery prominent in the foot racing, as sew
,ral speedy runners were the worst starters
hive seen for long time. Now, amateur
printers must know that starting is very
important essential in the sprinting business
md a man who does not know how to stand
md act at the mark is not likely to be
uccess. In some places it has become
he fashion for a sprinter to spring
rom the mark as soon as
The starter tells the contestants to get set.
This was observable Tuesday and as a result
me very good runner was disqualified, hav-
ng "got over" three times. And invariably
When cases like this occur there is much
rowling against the started. To be sure
he starter is sometimes to blame, but /
lave found that in the vast majority of
.ases the runners themselves are only to
,lame. 1 have always held that a starter
y Tho does not give competitors reasonable
ime to get set is as unfair as one who fires
he pistol after man has starte. What is
needed most among our local amateur
printers is thorough teaching in starting.
There are several good men in the city who
,ould soon make them reliable and quick at
he mark. But the clubs should see to this,
because if ar athletic club wants to estab-
ish a name at all, it must put up the cash
n the first place. There is no getting over
his fact and as far as | can understand the
natter it would pay our local club to pay
rood professional man to teach the sprfnters
If these clubs how to get away from the
mark"
Remarkable Trottlng Season.
The trotting and pacing season is almost
over for this year and undoubtedly the lat
er part of it has been the most remarkable
Since last summer made its appearance
here has been almost every week something
# an important or sensational kind on the