The morning times., 1896-03-24

Il have been throwing Bouquets at
myself all day" said Mr.. Earl Wagner at
National Park yesterday afternoon. This
is the kind of weather our bah club had 10
contend with down sodth last spring,
and from the reports from points where
the clubs were located in that section
this season it seems To be a case OF his
tory repeating itself.
The New York club will leave Jack
sonvine tonight on account OF the severe
weather and the Phinies, Bostons and
Raltimores are frozen up nj their respec-
tive training grounds in the land or
sunshine
The only clubs that seem 10 be getting
their moneys worth are the Clcvclands
and Pittsburgs. They were wise In
making selection OF Hot Springs. Ark,
for their preliminary work.
Barring Cleveland and Pittsburg, the
Senators will be in better condition TO
play bah AT the start than any OF the
clubs now in the south. That Is, or
course, if the players show up here IN
the trim that they claim for themselves
in their letters to me.
Il have not the slightest doubt but that
the New York club is out So 900 or more on
the Jacksonville trip. And in return for
this large expenditure the men are in worse
condition than when they went South.
MONEY WAS BURNED UP.
The southern trip OF the Senators last
season cost us nearly $4,000, and we
brought the players back stiff and sore and
full Of cold and malaria. No; so long as
we have club in Washington we will
use this park for spring training, unless
we would be able To make satisfactory ar
rangemcnts for practice grounds at Hot
Springs.
Cleveland and Pittsburg have joint
contract for the only park in that mountain
Gus country and other clubs arc practically
barred out.
This has been an unusually late and
cold spring in Washington and probably
such continued mean weather would not
happen again in March for several years.
But we are as well off here as the others
are in their respective places and should
not grumble.
Certainly the weather clerk will get off
OF his iamboree this week and settle down
20 business. Should the weather clear
and turn warm il Will give ms three weeks
of practice and that is quite enough, else
the men might get stale.
Il arrived in Washington today al noon
and came out to the park at once and COM
menCed the task OF tearing down the old
right-neId blea cher seats. / Will have the
rubbish cleared away tomorrow, and 5
soon as / perfect the plans for the new
seats and the other improvements ] viii
have a force OF carpenters come in and
complete the work. 1 viii employ union
men only on the job.
Lutte IenIaIHS TO he done TO the dia
mond. and the oGtfield can be put in
splendid order in two or three days. The
high fence bordering the rear end of the
park will be pulled in about thirty feet
Al that, the longest hitterS Of the League
viii fan many yards short Of putting a
bah over the top.
THINKS WELL OF THE NEW MEN.
As TO tie Senators this season, The
Times has already stated what think OF
my young blood but ! VIII repeat here
hat il is my opinion, il is the opinion
OF other good judges, that ] got the pick
of the Ea stern League 1ieldeTs and Catchers
in Lush, De Montrevile. Rodgers and Nc
Auley. Baltimore got the prize pitcher o +
that league in young Gray. but | wasnt
after pitching talent when ] went up into
New England still hunting last season.
Il sent McAulcy his advance money yes
terday, and he Will arrive in Washington
ia a few days. In fact all the pla yers viii
have reported TO me at the park by next
Monday night. SchmelZ wrole me that he
saw Joyce and Crooks in st. Louis, and
that they were looking exceedingly wen
express il ii as my honest conviction that
the Senators Will be stronger this season
than any club that ever represented Wash
ington in professional baseball, and if they
don't end in seventh place or better / will
be a SOrely disappointed man.
Il Will remain in Washington continu-
ously until Manager SchmelZ arrives 10
take charge OF the club. He will close the
season with the theatrical company early
in May.
The Times can say to the ladies of the
city that their applications for the little
admission books addressed to me at Ma
tional Park will have my attention at the
earliest possible moment. AS usual, the
little books will admit the ladies' holding
them TO the park and grandStand free OF
charge on Tuesdays and Fridays of each
week that the Senators play at home"