The morning times., 1896-01-04

j. Earle Wagner, proprietor Of numerous
Thespian enterprises and, incident ably, the
Washington baseball club, boarded Il car
Oh his way To hegrounds YESTERDAY Y and took
The Times man with him. ....s--. ,5.. .,--,
The party was really Il trio because of
the pressure of Observation-Disclosures which
has been j. Earle's travelling companion
for some time
Mr.. Wagner proceeded To break the pa ste
board taciturDity with which he is hahitual-
~ enreioped, tear the gilt foil and tissue
paper off his termiDology and pitch few
ierbai balls over first base as follows:
EARLE Is FACETIOUs.
My deah boy said Mr.. Wagner, have
seen the published rumors YOU speak of and
cameon the first train, ana ID no W Fastening
to the ball grounds to see whether Or
not some syndicate mad Jumped my claim
IN their great desire TO get into the business
Every man l have met since arriving here
looked to me as If he had in his inside
pocket a certified check for half n million
or SO with which to close the deal, and
ihave brought this grip with its com biDation
locks to take back witiime "A large propV1tign.
OF tue new bond issue which the Secretary
Of the Treasury is about to launch upon a
long suffering country.
But seriou sly, | will say thar this
-fefnpest cuIne from very cold teapot.
The story enanated from a correspondent
who, during "a general Conversat ton. asked
me the direct question as to whether or
not ! would sell my bah club? In answer
| said: i will sell anything | possess ex
cept my wife and babies. my religious and
political convictions, and individual bail
players. All else OF an intrinsic value
which i POSSESS Is in the market
ALSO SELLS MEAT.
why it was only yesterday that some
gentlemen walked into our office liz Phila-
Jelphia and asked my brother If he would
sell three or our meat stores We. viii
sell anything we own at our price, replied
my brother, and after further conversation
about the matter price was fixed. the
price and terms accepted. and the Transfer
uIdue- That Is the way We feel about
selling our ball club and franchise. We
have never made since 1892 an overture
or received one from any person with
reference to selling. We know the value
Of our franchise and lay the flattering con
victiOn TO our souls that we are not anna
ieuTs in business relations.
Now ask ME what price would pla &c
upon the property? Now, my dear boy.
get out your pencil and do little figuring.
Assume IL TO be SO, as stated by several
who pretend TO know all about my busi-
ness. that the Washington Baseball Club
last sea son cleared $4,000. Now sup
pose that TO be profit Of 10 per cent on
our investment; then il follows, as a ma tier
OF course, that our investment or plant is
worth S150.000. You can therefore very
nearly arrive at The cash yalre OF the
franchise. but don't give this Twa 8 until
get out OF town. Some syndicate. might
get on to il.
HIS ONE AMBITION. -.H
Now, ! wish TO say this. II / have one
ambition in my soul IL is to give the people
OF Washington winning club, and viii
ever devote my time and money to thst
end. No more loyal people even attended
games than our Capital citizens, and they
deserve what We have heretofore been UNI
able TO give them-a winner, but hope is
till with us. and we intend 10 relax no
efforts towards a glorious realization OF
our present anticipatiOns. We had intend
ed to build new grand stand this winter,
and had prepared plans and specifications
upon which We had invited bids, .tut the
proposed extension or the streets which
would virt ually destroy our grounds will
make that improvement impracticahle.
1T is my purpose. now, to make the
present seating capacity as comfortable
and pleasant as possible, ana several in-
proveme Hts will be made TO tlsat end.
No. when we make up our mind To sell
the Washington Baseball Club We will
have no trouble i'll finding purchasers. ]
am fond of Washington and her people. and
am not inclined to sever my business re-
lations here"