The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-11
BUTTE WOULD NOT PAY.
Consequently the Deciding Game Of
the League Championship
Was Not Played.
Helena's Share Of the Proceeds OF
the Two Other Games
Conflscated.
Philipsburg Had Similar Experience
and Manager Titus Is Trying to Get
About $4OO.


to hold tho championship of the Montana
base ball league, by reason of the fact that
the Helena club would not play game yes
terday to further swell the assets OF the
Butte association. The Helena team
played in Butte Saturday and Sunday,
breaking even, and of the four games for
the championship each club had won two
OF tho receipts at Butte Helena's share Was
$176. In conviviai mood Sunday might
Butte players gave out the statement that
the Butte management intended to "do"
Helena out of her share of tie gate money.
and when they refused to pay it on de-
mand of Manager VIM. Muth, the state
m ent seemed to be supported, and all the
more SO as they had treated Philipsbure in
the same manner. Manager Titus. of the
Burg team is trying to get about $400.
which is held back ON fimsy pretext, that
will not hold good.
The share of gate money belonging to
the visiting club is due the instant the
game is played. Despite the fact that
there has been trouble in getting money
from Butte on the occasion of every trip to
that city, Manager Muth let the matter rest
until the report came that he was to be
buncoed. The Butte manager could give
no reason for not paying money aleady due
except that he proposed to hold out Hell
ena's share of the indebtedness to the state
association, some $59. while he owed the
same organization moro than three times
that amount. Mr.. Muth stands ready to pay
Helena's share of the indebtedness and
does not need the officious interference of
ha Int tn yypn {Y,r Al
Helena club. He even waived point and
consented that thay turn over to Secretary
Davis, of the league. fine of $40 assessed
against Helena player, reported in that
amount by March, the umpire. Having
gained SO much the Butte men made the
brazen claim that the fine was $50, which
would have left somebody bonus of 80.
Mr.. Muth wouldn't stand this. Then they
resorted to the plea that they were afraid
Helena would not play the game Monday,
II they were given money belonging to
them for playing Saturday and Sunday
Manager Muth promptly offered to give a
bond satisfactory to them In the sum of
appointed time. To accentuate their in
| sincerity the Butte management preferred
to keep $176 in cash belonging to the Hell
ena club rather than take a satisfactory
bond for $1,000 Notice was given if the
money belonging to the Helena club was
LIZ" Po'a ae gwen biIAc bue LleieAa toHIn
would not play the game. At the appointed
hour the Butte management sent Secretary
Davis, of the league, to Mr.. Muth with "a
proposition that the $176 would be paid on
condition that should rain prevent the
game, or for any reason it should be
stopped, the money (Helena's money!
should be returned to the Butte outfit.
Mr.. Muth rejected the proposition instantly.
That was the end of the proceedings and
| the Helena team came home last night
There was no kick over the umpire. Man
ager Mnth did not refuse to play with
March acting in that capacity. In view of
his yellow work Saturday and Sunday,
which was fragrant and even vicious, Mr..
Muth did say he would prefer to have Nc
Cormick umpire the games but this was
never at any time made a condition of
play ing the game. The Butte management
professed to be unable TO get the kind of
balls called for by the constitution of the
Montana league, a claim silly and prepos-
ferrous, and forced the Helena team to play
the games Saturday and Sunday with Coo
punk BALL. instead of the kind that had
been used in all the games of the year.
Another strong reason for the action of
the Butte management lies in the fact that
by keeping the Helena team from playing
the game they would take the championship
by default. whereas if they tried to win it
by square playing they staod ct least an
even chance of losing it. Manager Muth
will at once begin suit for the money due
the Helena club. The inglorious end OF a
season of excellent ball playing in Montana
is justly chsrGeabe to the indefensihle ac-
ton of the management of the Butte club.