The evening times., 1896-08-15
no HOPE FOR THE BETTER
MIR. Wagner's Manager Re-
garded as a Failure.
PROMPT ACTION NECESSARY
Weak Spots Should BE Plugged Up at
Once--The Team Not Playing in
Harmony Petitions Being circnIat-
ed Asking for the Removal of Mr..
SchneIz-F Arc Disgusted.

1t is quite apparent that changing man.
ayers and trading players in the middle Of
the season is bad business. The result Of
such work by the Washington Baseball Club
has proved disastrous, and the lovers ofthe
national game have reason TO Doubt Mr..
Wagner's ability as a Inagnate, and that
he has failed woefully in his oftrexpressed
desire to give the Capital City a winning
ball team.
The end OF the season draws near, and no
effort is made to plug up the weak spots
on the team, for it must be confessed there
are weak spots. When the pitchers arein
first-class condition they will compare IA
yorabiy with any in the League, and this
portion of the team cannot be considered
weak.
Charley Farrell behind the bat has few
deficient. True, he never claimed third
as his home position, and WAS placed there
only temporarily, so the public understood,
until a third baseman was secured. Noone
blarnes Farrell for his mis;,lays yesterday,
because no one expects him to make a
success at third. 1t is the fault OF the man.
agement for keeping him there
GIVE CARTWRIGHT A REST
Cartwright at first could not be i'm
proved upon in fielding, but be seems TO
have lost his batting eye. Why not show
an inclination to keep faith with the fans
and endeayor TO secure n third baseman,
and, having landed one, give Piano Legs
a rest by playing Farrell at first for awhile?
Ed has been faithful guardian of the
initial bag, aud a more conscientious and
,,ta
baseball uniform; but he has not been hit
ting the ball as be is capable Of aid a
rest would no doubt be beneficial to him.
The weakest spot of all, however, is
the managing department. Gus scbmelz
never was popular man among the base.
ball public. and it will be impossible for
Mr.. Wagner TO ram him down the throats
of the fans He what Arie Latham calls
never wasser.'
Mr. Wagner said early In the season
that IL it was not in the players Joyce
could not have gotten the good work
out of them that marked the first two
months of the season.
Is it not plain, then, that Mr.. schmck is
more incompetent than 'scrappy" in view
OF the continued poor playing of the team
from the very first day SchmelZ joined the
Senators as overseer, if not as manager,
which was when the team went West Oh
the last trip. Everybody believed then
that Joyce was manag ger in name only and
developments have only served 10 verify
shat suspicion.
In the light of recent events there is
but one logical conclusion. 1t would seem
the proprietors Of the Washington Base
ball Club have a greater admiration for
Mr. schmelz's management than they have
an inclination TO furnish fair team to one
of the best and most loyal baseball towns
In the country II it is their purpose to
disregard the wish of the patrons Of the
game. they alone will feel the financial
loss which is sure TO follow.
WAY TO WIN THE FANS.
II Mr.. Wagner wants the public to be-
licve that lie is honest in his intentions, let
him turn the picture of the be wiskerd
manager TO the wall and givesomc evidence
OF furnishing Washington with "a winning
bail team if money will do it." Do this
and every rooter will return to his ac-
customed haunts at National Park aDdprove
thai lie has not heen disloyal, but disguised
That there is a strong sentiment against
the continuation of Mr.. Schmelz as manager
is shown by the circulation OF petitions
requesting the removal Of the present mana
ger and instituting boycott against the
club until such action is taken.
Following is copy of one on which there
are over 100 names:
Directed 10 ]. Earl Wagner and Directors
of the Washington Baseball Club:
We, the undersigned, patrons OF the ma
tional game of baseball. do hereby declare
that in view Of the fact that we consider Mr..
Gus schmelz as totally Incompetent as mana
ger OF the Washington Baseball Club, we do.
byconmon consent, agree toa bsent ourselves
| from National Park until the management of
the aforesaid club shows its appreciation of
our support 10y furnishing the public with n
| competent playing-manager. We further
insist that the aforesaid Schmelz have no
| further connection whatever with the
| Washington Baseball Club.