The morning times., 1896-08-08
WAGNER TALKS ABOUT It
Says Contract With Schmelz
Will Be Carried Out.
HE DID NOT TRADE JOYCE
Magnate Defends the Present Man.
ager from Intrigue Against Joyce
Judgment Pending Fair Trial
Says Scrappy Was Incompetent.

Mr.. j. Earl Wagner, ex- -officio president
and treasurer OF the Washington Baseball
Club, had Just woke from an afternoon nap
when The Times man called on him yes
terday.
the magnate was not at all ayerse 10
talking about the club, the Joyce trans
action. public criticism OF Manager Gus
SchmelZ, and other kindred subjects. He
showed plainly that he had been thinking
| OF all these things, and had been thinking
much m ore than usual.
These are some OF the things that Mr..
Wagner said:
Let it be understood once for all that
we, speaking. for my brother and myself.
intend to keep to the letter our contract
with Mr.. SchmelZ. He has been a faithful,
watchful empioye, and we don't propose
TO throw him down, even to yield to the
camor of ttose who are not informed.
AS TO PUBLIC OPINION.
I'VE shall pursue the even tenor-of our
way, aud will use every endeavor TO pro-
vide Washington with a winning ball clnb.
We are honest in saying this. and would
like for tie public 10 take us at our word.
{ they choose to misiudge Us and render
n verdict before fair trial we can't
help it.
Il have no fear OF the future OF tie
club. We have the making OF WINNER
and what Is lacking viii lie supplied If the
expenditure OF money will accomplish such
an end. The C! ub has been playing in ha rd
luck, and Manager Schmelz has had 10
suffer the criticism that naturally results
from a losing team. But have Astounding
faith in his ability and shall see that he
has fair showing.
Il would have the public understand
that l am solely responsible for the ex-
change OF Joyce, and Schmelz should not
be connected with the deal at ALL He only
acted under my orders when the trade was
closed.
1t was plain 10 me in the West that the
team would u Ot play tile bah they are capable
OF under Joyce's management. The record
OF the trip substantiated my belief. /
deemed IL expedient 10 make change
aud / brought il the first chance that pre-
sented iteclf.
JOYCE WAS INC oMPETENT.
II have nothing To say against Joyce per-
sonally but 4 n bah rla yer and as the active
| manager OF the business in which we have
many dollars invested. he didn't suit us
Therefore we exchanged him, or sold him,
Just as the public may say. We think it
our preIogHtive to mana sc our own business,
OF course, bowing to sentiment 10 the ex-
tent that Judgment viii admit
Il am not Ignorant as to the public eN-
preston and recognize that there is dis
satisfaction over the change. In tie
matter gTeatinjusticeis is being done Ma nagcr
Schn,I1 by a,tributing To him jealous
| motives or that he conspired to Usurp joyce
] say this in lis behalf no matter what
others may assert.
Il do not say that the club will accom-
plish great things for the balance OF the
season. The reorganiza ion ca me too
late to put into practice the team work
system formulated by Manager Schmelz.
do not mean ny this that the club will
lose steadily; not at all confidently
expect them to play good ball under
Schmelz's direction, and If we who have
large sum invested, are willing to trust
| him. should not the public withhold their
! criticism until he has been gwen a fail
trial?''