Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-02
The Report Concerning the Owners
of the Senators.
NOT TO BE HAWKED ABOUT
Willing to Consider Offers in Good
Faith.
A CONFERENCE HELD HERE

Inc lCcdi DaSo Dali world mas been FUR
nished with a subject for gossip in the re-
port that the owners of the Washington
Base Ball Club desire to dispose of the
franchise Of the club.
1t Is said that MIR. Wagner has come to
the conclusion that If good proposition
is made to him he will dispose of the
franchise of the Washington club. and, in
| Philadelphia paper today, he is quoted on
| the subject as follows:
| Il do not want it understood that this
| Pre- perty is to be hawked about the coun-
NO matter what my marketable possessions
| may be, If somebody comes along with
| what consider a good figure for them, it
| will not take long to close the bargain.
! In my opinion Washington supports a
losing club better than any ether city in
| this country, and If team could hold the
| head of the second division or better there
| would be big money in the enterprise. Dur
| 1rg the first two years We had the club We
| lest money, but 1894 and 1895 pulled US
| out of the hole and put US on Easy street
again. My offer to dispose of the franchise
Of the Washington club does not apply only
| to next season. but any good fellow with a
long purse who wants to make bid for
the season of 1896 will not find me averse
to doing business with him.
| 1naSmuch as have gone into theatrical
ventures, I want to lessen my responsible
| tiles, If possible, and this is one Of the
| principal reasons why I want to get out OF
base ball as business enterprise. With
the exception of Joe Corbett who has
| signed with Baltimore, all of last years
| players are under contract with the Wash
! ington club and the purchaser of the fran
chise will have a guarantee that none of
| his men can be taken from him without
| his consent. But for this street extension
scheme of the rulers of the District of Co.
lumbia, I would have had a $4,000 grand
stand ready for the fans when the umpire
| called play for the first time in the new
year. but my plans have all gone galley
| west instead"
| Manager Schmelz of the Washington
| club. who is at present in the city, when
| asked by Star reporter this afternoon IL
| the WagneIs intended to sell the franchise,
| answered emphatically in the negative. Mr..
| Schmelz was then shown the above inter-
view with Mr.. Wagner. after which he
said
II must admit that the interview appears
| to be bona fide, but 1t seems strange that
| nothing on the subject was said to me by
Mr.. Wagner. who vas in the city Monday
ard Tuesday of this week. 1t seems only
| natural that he would have consulted with
me on a subject Of such an important
nature. For that reason did not hesitate
| to deny the rumorS."
Among those closely identified with pro-
| fessional base ball in this city considerable
credence is given the report that the fran
chise is to be offered for sale.
A Star reporter who conversed today with
several persons well informed on base ball
| matters v no are wintering in the city.
learned that considerable talk has been
| INDUCED in for several days. and the con-
census of opinion seems to be that the
Wagners are willing to depart.
To Buy the Franchise.
| Although the negotiations are being kept
| decidedly dark, 1t is a fact that certain we'll
| known men are arranging to buy the fran
| chise, If the present owners will dispose of
| the same st a figure within reason. con-
| sultation was held this moruing between
Mr. Michael Scaalon, the former manager
| Of the National Base Ball Club, and Mr..
John R.. Mclean. 1t IS understood that the
| subject of the purchase Of the franchise was
| talked over, but no definite conclusion
reached. One thing is certain, and that is
| II the Wagners will SELL purchasers are On
the alert eagerly awaiting the opportunity
| to buy.
THE world is as likely to come to an end
| today as the Messrs. Wagner are to sell
| the franchise Of the Washington base ball
| club" was the way President n E. Young
| CT the National League answered the query
| Of the reporter as to what he thought the
prospects are for sale.
"You know and l know and everybody
in the country interested in base ball
| knows that the franchise of the Washing
| ton club is one of the most valuable in the
circuit. Mr.. Wagner is business man. and
| although he has interested himself in a
| theatrical venture, base ball is his first
| love. and he is going to stick to 1t, especial
| ly when 1t is paying investment In his
Interview Mr.. Wagner says: If somebody
| comes along with what I consider a good
figure 1t will not take long to close the
| bargain Now what Mr.. Wagner would
consi Ter a good figure in my opinion will
be prodigious and out Of the question when
viewed from the standpoint of a possible
purchaser.
| $50 far as the proposed street extension is
| concerned, that is dim possibility of the
| future. No street will be cut through Ma
| tional Park for years to come. So all in
all, think 1t very probable the base ball
| situation in Washington, so far as the own
| ers of the club and the playing grounds are
| concerned, will not be altered in the near
| future"
Mr.. Wagner Expected.
Mr.. ]. Earl Wagner was expected to reach
| Washington this afternoon, but he had not
| arrived at a late hour. He has an engage
| ment at the park to consider some improve
! ments, but owing to the possibility of the
| grounds being cut up, it is thought that the
proposed new grand stand will not be erect
ed even though the rumors of the sale of
| the franchise be without foundation.
The opening games Of the coming base
bali season here will be with Ted SuIlivan's
| New Haven team of the new Atlantic AS
ISOLATION, April and Z. The New Haven
contingent includes four Washington play
| ers-Hodge, O'Hagan, Kelly and Keefe The
| first four days of April will be devoted to
games between the old and the new play
ers Of the Washington club.
u1up