The morning times., 1897-01-16
PAY TO MERCER
Wagner Says Wins Salary
Leads the Big League.
ANNUAL MEETING OF CLUB
Old Officers Re-Elected-No Truth
in Rusie Rumor-No Exchanges
or Sales VIII Be Made of Regular
Players -Washington's Position
Depends on the Pitchers.

The first gun of the professiona. baseball
season, locally aimed, was fired at Alex
andria yesterday.
At a meeting of the stockholders of the
Washington Club as a member of the
National League and American Association,
George W. Wagner was elected president;
Ed. Sutherland, vice president, and j.
Earl Wagner, secretary and treasurer
These We're the officers of last year and
the year preceding, and the voting OF the
stock was merely perfunctory as the great
majority is held by the Wagner brothers.
The fornlality having been gone through
with in Alexandria, the Messrs. Wagner
returned to Washington and held a con-
ference with Manager Schmelz and Capt
Tom Brown, both of whom are III the city.
Mr.. George Wagner returned to Phila-
delphia last evening and Manager Schmelz
will leave for his home i'll Columbus this
morning.
Earl Wagner VIII Return.
Mr. j. Earl Wagner, who is the real
moving spirit OF the club, will remain over
until today, when he will 80 TO Philadelphia .
to arrange his home affairs prepar atory 10
returning TO Washington for the campaign.
Mr.. Wagner expects TO come to the city
in about two weeks, at which time If the
weather permits, he will ipaugurate
number of improvements for the better
ment of National Park. ~ e.
Manager Schmelz will also return sew
eral days in advance of the gathering time
set for the Senators.
1t is the set purpose OF the franchise
owners, manager, and captain OF the LEGAL
team TO be on the ground carly so as To
become thoroughly colonized and aCcli-
mated to the maner born, as il were
To The Times representative, Mr.. Earl
Wagner talked in most hopeful vein
last night In fact, j. Earl was optimistic
as To the coming season, so far as his
toga-w carers are concerned.
II think we have at last gathered
together good club" he said, one
that, barring accident, should stand hgh
up in the race for the pennant.
Understand, ! am not claiming any
position, but Will say this much, bring
ing the experience of several years to
bear, | am of the opinion that the club
which Will represent Washington In the
league next season VIII be the best, in
dividually and collectively, that ever
donned uniforms in this city.
II think | am right in saving this.
How ever, | may be wrong. AT any rate
let's hope for the best. Certainly no one,
nor ally number, can possibly be more
interested in the success OF the club. fl
nancially or artisticaIIy, than myself"
Questioned as TO the rumor that Mercer
might be traded To New York, in eX-
change for Rusie, the 'recalcitrant, Mr..
Wagner said that all reports to that
effect We're idle in the extreme.
Mr.. Wagner said as to this matter: Il
do not underrate the pitching ability of
Rusie, yet, candidly, l don't see where
Rusie would be able to overshadow Mer
Ger In the box. In NY opinion, Mercer is
another John Garrison, ana when l say
that ! viii give him the largest salary
paid TO any pitcher in the business, YOU
need not he astounded, but rather give
ne credit for fully estimating the worth
of the best pitcher in the business.
''Mdnag ger Scbmelz, Capt Brown and my
self talked the situation over today and
came to amicahle conclusions in every
sense. In other words, there will be no
friction in the club. Each man will have his
own business to look after, and there will
be no such thing as what is rybody's
business is nobody's
Depends on the Pitchers.
I'm conclusion, Will say that if Mercer,
McJames and King are in form our club
will puzzle all Of them, and at this time |
see no reason barring accident, why the
above trio should not be ready for work
at the start. A least, they write me TO
that effect.
LAS to Al Maui; well, he is problem
If his arm should turn out good and strong,
no telling where we will land. We might
win the flag-but don't make me appear too
gay.
There has been a lot Of harsh criticism
OF Maui in Washington, but if his censors
would stop and consider that we, the own.
ers of the club and the ones who have to
go down in our jeans TO pay his salary,
are willing to wait on him, certainly the
outsiders have no kick coming.
1--WE have had confidence in A for two
years, though he has given us no return
for our money, commenSurately, but we
have hopes that his famous salary arm
will yet recover its strength and cunning.
Manager Schmelz will assemble the
players at National Park about the middle
OF March for their warming-up work
Prior TO the opening OF the season we will
have several games with minor league
teams and will go to Richmond to open
the Atlantic League season in that citv.s
Present Rules Are Good.
Mr.. Wagner says he sees no great reason
for change in the present rules governing
the game, and is positively opposed to
the abolishing OF coaching.
He says the decision of Arbitrators Soden
and Robson in the settlemen Mt of the
Pendleton grounds matter was satisfactory,
and that he has forwarded Won der Abe
at st. Louis check to cover the amount.
MIR. Wagner will return to PHILADELPHIA
this morning.
THE SPAS INAUGURAL EVENT.
A Star Attraction and Two Pre-
1iminaries Arranged.