Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-12

ment that RAYMOND and Meekin from that
dav on were blacklisted by all national
agreement organizations, and vet after Ray
mond had played for the Louisville club
quite while, we find him in the national
agreement fold again. Is that clean pro-
ceeding? Does that uphold the dignity and
stability of the national agreement? Not
at all. WHY, those people who aided Raw
mond to return to a national agreement are
lust as bad as he is, and he is bad enough.
In the first place there was nothing but dis
honor for Raymond in breaking his Louis
vile contract, and he certainly made mat
tiers no better when he signed another with
another club and trampled it under foot to
return to Lincoln. Players of this kind and
actions of this kind should be eradicated
from the national game entirely, and if the
National Board had enforced the full pen
atty that Raymond justly incurred by his
first Jump, it would have had the confidence
of the entire baseball public. But it has
evidently tried to excuse very questlona-
BILE proceeding, and one which, in my esti-
nation, will tarnish its record to very
great extent. A PLAYER who deliberately
jumps valid contract should be made a
marked man; but what shall we say of Ray
mond who jumped two in short order?
More B!ots on Baseball.
But while the American Association
magnates cannot consistently object to the
conduct of players they sign under circum-
stances similar to Raymond's, such a con-
dition of affairs is to be deplored. Ger
tainly the Association is responsible for
the contract; at least very influential part
of the Association, and every day is adding
proof that there are people In that organlza-
tion who are nothing more nor less than
r4umhlipn blorlS m the moral bpft
of the game Time and time again 1 have
argued that baseball should be clear of such
persons as Won der Abe. He has record
that does not add glory to the game, and
during the week he has once more stepped
to the front to do little more besmearing.
A few davs ago Mark Baldwin caused suit
to be entered against Won der Abe for false
Imprisonment. We are all familiar with
the Imprisonment affair In response to
this suit the st. Louis magnate began to cir
culate story TO the effect that Baldwin was
in Philadelphia as an agent OF the Pittsburg
club trying to sign Boyle and Lyons. The
story, it is almost needless to say, was ab-
solutely false 1 am in a position to know
that Baldwin was not In Philadelphia on
any such mission, nor did the Pittsburg club
directors ever think of either Boyle or Lyons
or any PLAYER Won der Abe has for that
matter. But Won der Abe is being bounded
on BY two or three of the most disreputable
characters who have ever disgraced base
ball in St. Louis. These persons have
figured in every dishonorable baseball trans
action in 81. Louis, and the respectable
baseball community of that city look upon
them as we would look upon leper. Not
long ago these same characters ostracised
Won der Abe in the foulest fashion, and
now they have him in their meshes and are
persuading the deluded and almost brain
less man that he is a very great parsonage
indeed, and that he is the emblem of all
that is pure and honest. There is no hope
for the kind of baseball that persons of the
kind named are connected with. Doubtless
there are some fine gentlemen in the Ameri-
can Association and some very fine and
able men support that organization, but it
is safe to say that if the present st. Louis
contingent were Topped off the Association
would be much better for it. Nothing is
too low for them; metaphorically speaking,
there is nothing too Shiny for them to ham
die and vend, and nothing is too disreputa-
bic for them TO advocate and defend.
Our Amateur ScuIIers.
One of the most enterprising organiza-
tions in Western Pennsylvania is the
Columbia Boat Club. For very long time
the members of that club have struggled
in this section and they have struggled sue
cessfullv. Had it not been for the Columbia
Boat Club we certainly would have no
amateur scullers here of any note. 1 am
pleased to pay the club this little tribute
because the members are worth it. Well,
they have hit upon q very interesting
scheme which will not only prove who is
the best sculler in their club but it will also
most assuredly increase the interest in local
sculling. 1 refer to the plan adopted by
the club by which their four best scullers
are to row a series of races to see who is the
best in the lot, and then when that is set
tied the best will be sent to Washington
next month to compete in the national re-
gatta there. This is q very enterprising
scheme, and heartily wish il every success.
l wish it every success because 1 would like
to see amateur rowing become very popular
here, and am inclined to think that 1t will
become so. Every day is proving to us
that We are becoming more dependent
on the amateurs to perpetuate
the fine old aquatic sport and the number
of amateur scullers is increasing very rap
idlv, indeed. All the most promising
young scullers are starting out as amateurs,
and this is a hopeful sign, indeed, mas
much as it holds out a guarantee that
crookedness will at least be reduced to a
minimum. A few days ago a gentleman
came to me and stated that his son who had
been matched to row for stake declined to
do so, because he would thereby become q
professional, and he wanted to be an ANA
teur. Of course, the son had his way, and
this goes to prove exactly what am con-
tending. There is a desire to steer clear of
professionalism, and at the present time the
young men are very wise in doing SO. A
man cannot become O professional at any
time, but he cannot become an amateur
when he starts out as professional. ANA
teur regattas are to be held in almost every
part of the country, so that there will be
plenty of opportunities for racing, and a
winner can be as profitable to him
self and friends as if he was
rowing the biggest of professional
races. There is a new generation of scullers
growing up, and L am inclined to think
that they will to great extent regain the
prestige of professional sculling, but in the
meantime these young men are focking to
the ranks of the amateurs. l know that in
this section there are one or two young men
who have never rowed a race and who give
promise of being very great scullers. If
they develop all right they will, 1 pre-
sumo, become professionals.
Our Amateurs Abroad.
It may be necessary to find time and
space to say a few words about the very
creditable performances of our amateur
athletes who are in England. Doubtless,
everybody who is at all interested in anna
teur sports will have noticed how the
American teams have been doing. 1t is
pleasing to know that we are well repre-
sented this year, particularly in the sprint
ing branch of the business Luther Cary
has so far done himself and his country
i T