Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28
USE OF NATIONAL PARK.
Earl Wagner Says That Harmony
Must Reign Among Local Amateurs.

Must Reign Among Local Amateurs
There has been a good deal OF discussion
over the formation Of the Departmental
League. and the selection of the grounds
upon which to play. 1t was announced that
some opposition would be met with in the
efforts to secure National Park during the
absence OF the local professional team.
A Star reporter called on Mr.. Earl Wagner
yesterday and asked him about the matter
Mr.. Wagner stated that he had not vet let
the grounds to any persons and that he
would not until some suitable ARRANGEMENT
would be made. He stated that Mr. Sousa
the president of the Departmental Leaeue
rad called on him in regard to the matter
and wanted to secure the use of the park for
the playing of the series in the local league.
NO definite answer was given. MIR. Sousa
was instructed to see Mr.. Strasberger, and
reach an agreement with him, and after
these two had fixed up the matter he was
willing to let the park to the parties agreed
upon.
Il do not care to have any wrangl,np
and disputing over the matter" said Mr..
Wagner 'and rather than have such I
Will refuse to let either Of the parties have
the grounds. / have instructed Mr. Stras-
berger In the same language that L used
20 ME Sousa. Mr. Strasberger has not
leased the park. though he wrote to me
while was in Philadelphia. If Mr. Stras-
berger ard Mr.. Sousa agree upon a league.
then l am willing to let them have the
park, but l will take no definite step until
they do come to some sort of an agree
ment.
Il want to see harmony among the local
ball players" continued Mr. Wagner land
l would not let one party have the park
while the other party may be doing corsid-
cradle wrangling on the outside. 1t would
injure the sport in this city considera bIy
and that is something that want to avoid
If possible. want to make as many fans in
Washington as / can, so that the people
will take greater inter est in base ball,
and to accomplish this I am willing to
make some sacrifices. The park is rented
out to the Departmental League at 4 con-
siderably reduced figure, and as most of
the local holiday dates are open 1 could
get almost as much money from these
days alone as / can from the entire season
of the local league"
In the meantime things in the league are
progressing rapidly, and all of the clubs
are locking over the available material for
active work on the diamond. The full num-
her of clubs has not as yet been completed,
though this will in all probability be done at
a meeting of the league which will be held
Monday evening at The Washington Light
Infantry Armory.
The ID. Team.
The District Commissioners team will be
out after the pennant this year, and from
the list of candidates Row on the rolls
there will be strong aggregation uphold
ing the local triumvirate. This team won
the championship the first season of the
Departmental League, and they want to
win it again. In all probability The team
will be composed Of Dickinson, first base;
Harris, second base; Boyd, shortstop:
Leetch. third base; Donovan, right field;
Hussey, center field. and Jones, left field
In the box the team will be especially
strong, with Barr, Fuller and Fitzgerald to
twirl, while Harding and Megsford will do
the back stopping.
This is general change around from the
positions occupied last year. While Full
Ter still remains in the box, Dickinson
is taken from behind the bat and placed on
first. On account Of his build he ought to
put up a good game at that bag. Jones
gees from second base to left field, and
though he covered that place in fine man
ner last year 1t Is felt that he can do better
work out In the field this year, the services
Of some good men being needed In the out
field Bars arm il all right, and he will
pitch strong game this year. Fuller il an