, 1892-02-16


Fools rush in where angels fear to
tread" So runs an old adage For two
seasons past the fools and the angels ap-
pear to have been on pretty good terms
with each other, for they have wandered
hand in hand together through the base
ball kingdom. They have paid all the
bills, kissed healthy bank accounts fare
well and suffered nipping frosts in sum
mer, while the player waxed fat and gained
a roll of Falstafian proportions. Now
that peace has come there are still some
restless spirits who have climbed the ram
parts and proclaimed, while within the
shadow of the flag of truce, that the League
and Association have built their new house
upon a oundation of sand.
Baseball Is entering upon an expert
mental era, but many critics of the new
league have drawn their own conclusions
before the plan of the campaign of 1882
has been fully outlined. There is one prop
osition that will admit of no debate. Fur
Their strife would have killed the game as
professionally played. The advocates OF
peace at any cost" found no idea other
than the twelve club league that would sat
isfy the fire eaters in the Association The
day had long since gone by when the Ma
tional league held their foe cheaply. That
fallHcy of the past had been shattered and
the realization of the truth had cost much
agony and many night sweats.
1t would be absurd to deny that there
are rough places in the pathway of the
travellers over the new route. Perhaps SO
per cent. OF the race of enthusiasts will be
agreeably disappointed IL the twelve club
circuit remains cemented by ties of frater-
nal love and trust for more than one year.
Still If a break should come and it was re-
solved to return to the abandoned plan OF
two eight clubs organizations the chances
are that the dissolution would be peacefully
made. To rush on ahead in a mad attempt
to discover trouble Is very foolish however.
Still there are chiefs among the organ
grinders In the new dispensation who
thumped themselves upon their prophetic
breasts two brief years ago and proclaimed
long life to the Brotherhood and destruc-
tion to the League who are now sueering
in n patronizing sort OF way at the little
company OF doubling Thomases.
One rock upon which the beloved broth
ers will stub their toes IL Sunday ball.
just four of the dozen clubs nave officially
declared in favor Of utilizing seven days
for plAy-St. Louis. Louisville, Washing
ton and Baltimore, Cincinnati has been
included in most OF these lists, but the
mttter will not be decided until the direc-
tory meets. job 4. Brush has not given
his pledge to anybody, and it is II fact thai
most of the Cincinnati stockholders are
Rverse to Drawing n tilt with the Law and
Order league. The crusade OF a year ago
the tramp of the police and the patrol
rides of defiant scofers at the law at Pen
dleton, all had the effect OF injuring the
game in the Queen City. The same law is
on the books and the same mayor and chief
of police in office to enforce IL.
II Cincinnati does vote to take chances" -.
that will nnesn three Of twelve clubs that
will play Sabbath games mt home, and all
OF them in the west. Chicago. Cleveland
and Pittsburg nave declared against the
issue both Mt homo and abroad. 1t will be
n difficult matter for the schedule makers
to frame an instrument that will guarantee
Sunday pie to all the clubs that want It.
Two cannot be turned into a division OF
five even by so august a body as the
schedule committee. This is n problem
that will nave to work itself out unless
Brooklyn consents to become the sixth club
on the Sunday list. These are the con
ditions that face the trio delegated to do
most Of the work preceding the spring
meeting.
The era Of experiment is not to be at
tended by a promiscuous distribution of
remnants, as some have imagined. The
idea has gained prominence that cham
pionship bunting would be as common this
year as the stars and stripes at a guberna-
torial ball. 1t would be IA mistake to make
the flag as cheap as calico. There will be
no prize for the winner Of either the first
or second series, but the team that comes
out with flying colors in the fall meeting
of the rivals will be hailed as champions
and awarded the usual honors. or course
If one club wins both series, the champion
ship goes to it without question. 1t is pos
sible that there will be similar struggles
between the winners OF all the places, from
the head to the foot of the class. The sea
son is to be divided, in the hope that inter
est will at no time lag. II the innovation
proves to be a failure it will be an easy
matter to return to the old mode Of pro.
cedure.
Welive and learn-that Is the most of us
debut baseball magnates are mortals who
have actually been known to miss the com
bination. Underlying all the disasters that
have ever attended the game may be found
selfish scrambles for players. The rope of
the Athletics in the Bierbauer and Stovey
cases furnished the Association a pretext
for rebellion a year ago. Boston simply
played follow my leader in the game and
rested its action upon Pittsburg's bold
raid. And now history is repeating itself.
The s~andbagger has become the sand.
bagged. With little rhyme or reason New
York has, sans the guise of ~highwayman's
mask. entered the camp Of the Pittsburg-
ers and carried Denny Lyons away. New
York has revived the art Of contract break
AAkf oHPBO'Sa W az tth ny phObAEtu ~
the great Hoosier peace conference.
The gentlemen from the metropolitan
districts have been guilty of conduct not
strictly honorable since the close of the
last race They euchered Cincinnati out
of Jack Boyle by gum shoe missionary
work and stand accused at Washington of
melting Dan Richardson to revolt against
the mandates OF the distributing artists at
indianapolis New York has n front seat
in all the rows now fermenting in League
circles. Denny Lyons worth is exagger-
-ated by this scramble for his services, but
w. f. Temple has been quoted as declar
ing that if Lyons, who has signed a Pitts
burg contract, is taken away from them,
justice will be demanded through legal
channels. New York has landed the man,
and If Pittsburg carries out its threat the
disciple of Blackstone who was thrown
out on base in Indiana will once more
a up the legal bat for fungo work on
the diamond.
IL the League gave n banquet AT the
March meeting the toastmaster could
allot both New York and Pittsburg to re
spond 10 the sentiment What fools these
mortals be-" Rem MILFORD, ia