The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-02
THE PENNANr STRUGGLE.
Portland Was Discourteous, but Tacoma
Did Not Seek to Play Unfair.

Did NOT seek TO Play UNFAIR.
TACOMA, Oct. I.-lspecial. There is mani
testify an earnest desire among Tacoma league
baseball players, club directors and lovers of
the game for a speedy nipping in the bud of
any impression that may have been made by
reckless joking regarding the struggle for the
pennant Toidle chatting between Tacoma play
ers while at Seattle can be traced almost to
certainty the unfortunate gossip that Jack Fan
ming would pitch only slow balls for Spokane,
in an effort TO give Portland better chance for
the pennant Fauning's pitching yesterday
against Spokane leaves no room for doubt about
his faithfulness in playing good ball, regardless
OF the pennant struggle. Had Tacoma lost yes
terday, the indiscreet badinage referred to
would have injured Fanning's reputation, as
persons not acquainted with the facts would
have inferred that he threw the game
Lacking courtesy by the active management
of the Portland club toward the Tacoma club
has resulted in feeling OF unpleasantness-to
put it mild. Spectators sympathizing with
the home team have openly avowed that were
Tacoma mean enough to play dirty ball, for no
other purpose than to resent Portlands dis
courtesies, everything would be done by the
home team and its hackers to defeat Portland.
And as a result Tacoma has been encouraged to
throw games TO Spokane. To show how COM
pletely they have ignored such unprofessonal
council-council which is certainly injurious to
the best interests of the game-it is only neces-
the home team in yesterdays and to-day's
games against the leaders for the pennant In
deed, yesterdays game is pronounced to be the
finest game of ball ever played on the home
grounds.
word as to the extra games provided
for at the league meeting here this week.
In the first place. the season was extended by
unanimous consent, Mr.. Barnes, of Spokane, in
cluded. 1t is held thot this arrangement gave
Portland the advantage in the race for the PEN
nant But is not Mr.. Barnes too shrewd to vote
against his own interests He, OF course, OPP
posed the extension, saying he could not con-
troll his men after Sunday. Then President Bush
nell, of the Northwest League, who owns a big
block of the Portland club stock, arguing for the
extra sames, said there could be no objection by
Mr. Barnes to Tacoma and Portland playing pro-
vided satisfactory arrangements could be
made between the clubs. AS far as
Barnes was concerned the season
might end Sunday night Barnes
did not object. And now TO playing the
games at Portland. of course Portland has an adj
vantage as far as the pennant struggle is con-
cerned "But Portland's finances show a de-
felt of nearly $1,000 said a gentleman this
evening who is conversant with the facts, "and
you may be sure the men who have to put up SO,
much money care more for an even balance
sheet than for the pennant 1t is right that
they should have a chance to get some
where near even, and that chance will
present itself either if Portland is ahead or
behind Sunday night. II she is ahead, then the
struggle to defeat her will interest thousands;
il she is behind, interest viii center on her
effort TO pull out of a hole. In either case the
gate receipts will be large. as it win be most
exciting struggle"
Tacoma may or may not play the extra game.
Still Tacoma also needs money to make ends
meet-about 5000 viii do it--and OF course II
Portland puts up the guarantee the games viii
no doubt be PLAYED. ain dead earnest"