The Portland daily press., 1895-11-12
NEW BALL GROUNDS.
Shall We Have Them-or Shall We
Not ?
DIRECTOR MURPHY SAYS No
OTHERS ARE IN DOUBT.
Tho Animal Meeting of the Baseball Assoc
citation An Interesting Meetihg-
Questions Discussed and Officers Elected

o,astious Discussed and Officers Elected
There was meeting, OF the fortlaho
Baseball association at Swett's hotel last
evening. Mr.. Edward W. Murphy, Mr..
Charles S. SWEET, and Mr.. Charles L.
Merrill were in consultation for some
time in the office of the hotel. Baseball
"cranks'' came in, looked at the three,
tried to pick up here and there word,
failed. looked disguised and walked out.
There was not a very large attendance OF
the stockholders of the association. but
Mr.. Merrill and Mr.. Murphy personally
and by proxy represented the majority OF
stock.
sWifl the association accept the offer OF
new grounds free of cost?' was asked OF
Mr. Murphy, and he smiled as he replied,
t.No, think not, as a matter OF fact the
association has the present grounds free,
that is I must look elsewhere for my
profits as owner of the grounds If have
any,"
ssYou see how it is" continued MI.
Murphy. Someone must be willing to
risk something on the grounds. Lumber
will wear out, and must be replaced.
More or less damage is done every game,
and some one must be willing to make
she loss good 1 have perhaps been IN
nosition to make the advertising space
return all the money in it, and 1t may
be more than any other man could nave
got out of it, but even then the grounds
have Maid only because / like to see
good game of baseball and you can't play
ball without grounds.
81 have not the slightest personal
objection to changing from neerlng to
Cane Elizabeth, but fail to see that it
would do any good. People have got used
to the present grounds, and there would
| be no added advantage in Cape Elizabeth
over Deering. but many disadvantages.
"As a matter of fact the present
grounds are we'll located. A man need
not ride out, he can walk if he pleases
and NOT feel very tired. He could hardly
do that if the grounds were removed to
Cape Elizabeth, as has been suggested
Then Cape Elizabeth is out on one side,
while the Deering grounds are accessible
it would make no difference with me.
could take my lumber and put it into
building, but it would make difference,
and a big one with those who love to STE
the game.
sThe public HASN'T. I think, quite
understood the exact facts in the case. 1t
doesn't take a great while for man to
get enough of baseball in this city. Some
body must put up the money. Somebody
must take the risk of failure, and that
somebody will find that nobody else is in
baseball for his health. Personally l have
taken great pride in having Portland
we'll in line with other baseball cities,
and other gentlemen have boon of the
same mind, but it might make some who
have criticized the Portland management
feel ashamed if they actually knew
something about the matter. MIR. Merrill
put his shoulder at the wheel at just the
right time and worked hard for success.
''Then the proposed change of grounds
would hardly be in the interest of the
game loving public, and certainly would
not be to the advantage of theassociation,
because as 1 have said, the offer is no
better than the existing conditions. The
Portland and Cape Electric railroad
would hardly do more than the present
road has done, give rapid transportation,
and there would be a longer ride, the
taking Of the games away from West
brook and Deerlng, with no advantages
| worth nentioninpp
The annual meeting of the associa alton
was very prolonged. and it is understood
that the baseball outlook in Portland was
thoroughly canvassed. The following
officers wero elected: Directors, G. P.
Merrill, Edward W. Murphy, Charles S.
SWEET, George B. Upham, Benjamin
Wolfe, Major L. B. Beals. One vacancy
is to be filed by the board of directors.
The board of directors was also
authorized to fill any vacancies in thelr
number. The meeting then adjourned.
NJ. J.. Walsh acted as clerk of the meet
ing.
A meeting of the board of directors was
then held, and organized by the choice of
the following officers:
| observation-disclosures +. Merr1ll.
Treasurer-Edward w. Murphy.
Secretary-M. J. Walsh.
The choice of Frank J. Leonard as
manager was ratified. A committee of
three, consisting of c. P. Merrill,
Edward W. Murphy and Charles S. SWEET
was appointed to confer with the
management of the Cape Electrics and
others for choice of grounds for the
ensuing year. Adjourned.
"The choice Of Manager Leonard" said
President Merrill, twill ensure the Port
land public first class article Of ball
playing next year, and it is the intention
Of the board of directors to furnish good
ball playing and good attractions as long
as the public will support it.
The retiring president, Charles K.
Gage, retired from the presidency because
of pressure of outside business.
Manager Leonard has already begun his
work in anticipation of his confirmation
by the board Of directors, and has already
| nj