The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-17
CLUB MAY GO UNDER
indianapolis Ball Team Tangled
Up with the League President.
Players Signed Contrary to the COnsti-
tuition and Fine Is Threatened
The Pittsburg Game.

Indianapolis wakes up this morning with
out a ball club. This is somewhat aston
ishing news in view of the fact that the
club seemed to be on the top wave of sue
cess in almost every way. The fact of the
matter is, however that a very important
rule OF the Western League, in fact, q
part OF its constitution, was overlooked
in signing the Indianapolis players. This
rule is in reference to contracts and eX-
pressly stipulates that no club shall sign
it's players for more than five months, dat
ing from April %. The Indianapolis man
agement. in perfect good faith, dated all
it's contracts April l. In some manner they
went through all right, having been in
spected by President Johnson and returned
with his official Endorsement.
About March TO- however, the irregularity
in the Indianapolis contracts was noticed
by the head of the league who at once
notified President Colt that they must be
made to conform to the contracts that
were being signed by the players Of all the
other Western League clubs. President
Colt at once corresponded with the mem
bers of the club who apparently agreed.
at least most of them did. that it would be
only fair that their contracts should con-
Gus trouble was apprehended at this time
and in fact, nothing more was said about
the matter. so that the management be-
gan making arrangements to pay the men
under their old contracts. thinking that
they could do so legitimately. unless the
league further interposed, and feeling that
they were bound by the contract
President Johnson hearing at Cincinnati
unofficially that the management here was
arranging to pay its players April 10 for
the two weeks since April 1 wrote at once
to President Colt that IL the Indianapolis
PLAYERS were so paid he would be COM
PEELED, under the constitution Of the West
ern League to impose a fine of $1,000 upon
the indianapolis club. The situation be-
came so serious that Mr.. Johnson came to
the city last evening and reiterated his
former assertion concerning the fine.
together with Messrs. Johnson and Colt
and Manager Sharsg met the players last
evening and held a conference with them
regarding this unlocked for interruption.
They showed that they had acted in per
feet good faith and were willing stu II
the Western League would permlt them 10
pay the men from April |. They were
forced by the threatened fine which they
could not afford TO pay, TO conform to the
leagues rule. However. they offered to
COMPROMISE, with the consent of President
Johnson by allowing the contracts to date
from April 10. The players held con-
Sultation among themselves for some little
time and returned an answer refusing the
proposition and insisting upon the man
agement paying them from April l. accord
ing to their contract. Mr.. Brush told them
that IL was simply out Of the question 70
do this; that the leagues rule was impera-
tive. and that the club could not pay a
81 600 fine attached thereto and that unless
they reconsdered their action indianapolis
would have to turn over its franchise and
quit at once. This made no apparent i'm
baseball club is decidedly gloomy this
morning.
President Johnson said last night that one
of the features o. the Western League
an organization was it's salary limit.
Upon that he said, depended the very
existence of the League. 1t was necessary
TO practice the strictest economy in run
ming the League, and If one club is per-
mitted TO rush into extravaganza another
. time at all the organization will be wrecked.
This salary limit is the actual mainstay
Of the League, and even with rigid OBJ
servance of its requirements the League
will have q difficult time doing more than
paying expenses. The exhibition games of
the preliminary season are always played
at a loss, and il was agreed when the
League was organized that the players
should be paid their board from the time
they reported until the time their contracts
began, April %. The other clubs are all OBJ
serving this agreement strictly, and their
contracts are all in correct form, and
cannot permit Indianapolis to violate pro-
10 frame in this city last fall. l regret the
situation as much as any one possibly can,
but my duty in the matter gives me no
alternative but to impose a fine of $1,000 If
indianapolis pays its players, as 1t was
about to do
Mr.. Johnson returned to Cincinnati on an
carly morning train, and the other clubs
of the League Will be formally notified
within the next forty-eight hours of the
fate of the indianapolis club. If the fran
chise is surrendered several applications
will be forthcoming, as the League had
more cities knocking at it's door than IT
could accommodate.
Most of the players feel that the manage
ment is making every effort to live up TO
its contracts, which were made in the ut
them half way so that they may be helped
out of this predicament which a forgotten
clause I'm the constitution has placed them.
Three four, however, are firm in their
stand against even days concession The
principal of these latter is Sam Mills,
chance to sign elsewhere, and wants to get
away, not caring what becomes of the rest
Of the players. Most OF them recognize not
only the impossibilty of Indianapolis vio-
lating this provision of the constitution,
but also the injustice Of the clubs having
other club in the league. The outlook is I'M
certain, and nothing can be safely predicted
as To where this unlooked-for trouble is
going to end 1t seems too bad that just as
indianapolis had a ball team which was
revVing the old-time interest in the game
and interrupt what promised TO be sue
ceSSful season. The management has done
everything il could to make the players
see it's position, and If they will not meet
the club half way the entire thing is at an
end and the Indianapolis ball club a thing