, 1891-09-22
PEACE MUST COME.
1t Alone Will Bring Prosperity
to Baseball.
CHANGES IN THE ASSOCIATION.

of the National Game.
II Mr.. Louis Kramer ever felt inclined
to dabble In literature he could write a
book and call IT Through Another Ad-
ministration." Cincinnati Is no longer
the headquarters of the American a~ssocia-
ton, and there is nothing left of the or
ganization there save some very tender
memories, a few unpaid bills, a deserted
ball park on the river bank just out of the
shadow of Kentucky's beautiful hills and
a mythical franchise. In all candor, it may
be said that the retirement OF Mr.. Kramer
puts a theorist on the retired list and
places as chief in the councils of the Amer
lean association a practical baseball man.
1t would have cost hundreds of thou
sands of dollars to nave carried out the
warlike plans outlined by Mr.. Kramer.
In retiring, he declared that he had sacri-
feed much for baseball, but had he contin-
ued, the professional life of the game might
have paid the forfeit. The hour has ar
rived at last when the financial men of the
Association have grown deaf to the per
suasive suggestions of the camp followers,
who are large consumers of and not con-
~tributors to the sinews of war. The over
throw of the National league was the fond
dream which led Mr.. Kramer away from
narrow paths OF safety into the broad road
of folly. There are some unpublished let
tiers of his in existence which emphasize
that hope. He was loyal to the cause Of
the American association, and honestly
wished to see 1t gain equal prominence
with the National league. but~the extreme
views he held of the value of warfare
Jared harshly with those of the gentlemen
who were feeling the pressure. =
President Zach Phelps has merely re-
turned to his old throne, and Louisville
once more gains the seat of Association
government. Politics knows no more
startling changes than are SO marked in
/ the baseball Kingdom. The deadlock in
the fall of 1889 in the American association
revealed Mr.. Phelps as the choice of one
faction and l.. G. Krauthof, now at ths
head OF the Western association, the fav-
orite of another. The presidency was in
dispute. Taking advantage of the q quarrel
in the ranks, Cincinnati and Brooklyn
gladly slipped into the open League door,
and assumed places they long had coveted.
Baltimore and Kansas City also seeded,
and the four clubs that were left bestowed
the mantle of authority upon Mr.. Phelps.
And he reigned one year-the most disas-
trous in baseball history. Rejoicing over
the renewed era of peace, the Association
accepted Mr.. Phelps resignation, and in
stalled Allen w. Thurman instead. Brief
indeed was his administration, and now,
with Mr.. Kramer's days of usefulness over,
Mr.. Phelps is once more chosen the leader.
Could romance furnish a stranger chap
teri President Phelps has seen the prac-
teal benefits Of peace, and the nonsensical
embers of war will not be famed by him.
His election is a good thing for the Amer
lean association, and promises to be a bet
ter thing for baseball in general. His Sc
lection OF a secretary was a happy one.
Harry Means, of the Kentucky News bu-
reau, is the man. Mr.. Means is one of the
brightest young newspaper men of the
Falls City, and once upon a time he nursed
an ambition to be a anager Indeed, he
did pilot the Colonies through the west.
and during the year they broke all records
as a loser. / nave met Mr.. Means since his
advancement to the new role, and he felt
assured that the peace negotiations, SO
suddenly broken off, will soon be resumed
and that the days of fighting are almost
over.
When the peace commissioners meet
again it is reasonably sure that they will
not be interrupted by a lot of extremists,
who are furnishing lots of views but no
capital. The American association asked
for many things at Washington that they
could not have received.
About the only wish they did not ex-
press" said Mr.. Charles H. Byrne to me,
twas for two or three League clubs to quit
that body and join the Association"
Still there are no questions that sensible
men of business cannot arbitrate. Since
the historic flop of king Kel" there have
been revealed a score of eligibles to all the
degrees in the Order of the Sons OF
nan Kel had not fairly settled in his
new League uniform before some Bosto-
mans rushed into print and unwittingly
branded themselves as liars in a cause now
dead. "Kel's $4,000 estate at Hingham'
was a card well worked last season, and it
showss shallow intellect to parade the truth
now. The scribes at Baltimore and St.
Louis are especially bitter, and proclaim
hat KEEL is played on" and of no further
use to the game
II VIA these young gentlemen now say
is true, then they were guilty of some
awful hocus pocus earlier in the spring.
On several occasions they had SO much to
say in praise of Kel that there was little
room in their journals for the market re-
ports. The Association vineyard seems
full of sour grapes. Captain Kelly fool
ishly allowed an ardent love for nctoriety
to place him in a false light. He was I'M
der no obligations to return to Boston after
the death of the Cincinnati Association
club, and he erred in SO doing. Instead of
abuse, liking Kel" deserves praise. The
Cincinnati "hustlers" were a dead card at
home, but abroad they drew well, and Kel
was the magnet that attracted the people.
II those who are so diligently belittling
him today were cornered, they would have
to admit the truth of uch an assertion.
The signing of Captain Kelly by Boston
ef~fectually silences Manager Barnie's mys-
terious whisper that Kel was booked to
manage an Association club in Chicago
next year. The younger body covets a
berth in that city, but it would be value
less unless peace prevailed, and there is a
question whether or not a club would do
well with the factions t%wanging a duet on
the harpo of harmony.
While all these plans for giving the AS
ISOLATION a new deal are being discussed,
there is no talk about changes in the
League, John B. Day does not say much,
but he declared to me the other day; 1.-THE
League now has an ideal circuit. l do not
believe it will be disturbed for years."
The League will doubtless say mo,
thanks" to the Associations intention to
place clubs in st. Louis and Baltimore.
The Mound City once rejected League
ball, and Baltimore came SO near starving
to death a few years ago when the Associa-
tion adopted a half dollar tariff that Harry
Vonderhorst's hair began to curl and turn
DEavl Rem MULFoRD. JR-
~ a. 40