The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-29
IN THE SPORTING REALM
THE SALARY TROUBLES IN THE IN
DIANAPOLIS BALL TEAM.
Pugilistic Entertainment Mt Celtic
ems Bicycle Grace" Last Night.

The much-talked-of combine of Western
League baseball stars who are holding
OUT in an attempt to break the 5000 limit
recently adopted is on the point of collapse
1t is not seriously thought now that any
of the players will give any great amount
CT trouble in signing. with the exception of
Motz, and no overtures have been or will
be made to swing him into line and ar
rangements will be pushed looking to the
final selection of his permanent successor
The point on which Motz based his strength
in the 'hold-out'' game was his ability to
derive an income equal to his baseball sti-
pend from his ticket brokerage business at
Akron, o. The business has, however, been
virtually killed in Ohio. The $500 limit was
established much against the wishes of the
indianapolis club officials, who even think
that the old scale of last year was too low.
1t always advocated a $500 limit, and In
dianapolis is good enough ball town to
easily stand it. But inasmuch as all clubs
in the Western League are bound to OBJ
serve the new rule Indianapolis will not
transgress.
The principal source of embarrassment to
the officials is that last year several of the
men We're paid upward of $500 month.
These men worked hard and did perfectly
satisfactory work and the money was con-
sidered on ali sides as earned, and paid
without regrets. AT the end of the season
nothing was said about reductions, and
when President Colt had contracts sent to
these players for this season at the new
limit they naturally began to protest, ask
ing if they had not worked faithfully and
were not considered worth their old salary.
Mr.. Colt felt the justice of their claims
and could only reply that he was powerless
to offer more than the figures named, al
though he would be glad to do so. The first
of the "kickers' to get under cover was
Ace" Stewart whose contract was re-
ceiyed yesterday signed. Ace" didn't even
wait to get an answer to his recent letter
declining to sign. but Immediately wrote an
other the day following. accepting terms.
Kahoe is as good signed and Foreman
will be here to-day to talk over the matter,
and it is safe to say that he won't leave
town except in a local uniform
When good first baSeman has been tried
out to take MOTIFS place the surplus talent
will be Harmed out or released.
will be the only catchers carried, but the
pitching corps is .problematical. HaWley
will probably do. Everyone expects that.
seems strong. The signing of Catcher Lynch
brought to light a shrewd plot. Matched in
Mansfield, by which Lynch was to get a
good many more dollars month than the
club wanted to pay. When he was drafted,
the Mansfield club was asked what salary
was paid him and they named a figure
which was far beyond the Interstate
League price. Feeling far from satisfied,
Manager Allen wrote to President Powers,
of the league, asking what Lynchs salary
was and got a reply giving figure $50 be-
low the Mansfield quotation. This exposed
the scheme which was doubtless Matched
between Lynch and the club officials for the
and protested, but finally descended from
his lofty perch and everyone hopes ne wllI
create the same strong friendships here
that he did in Mansfield.
The new uniforms arrived yesterday
morning and are the same as last years in
all respects. Manager Allen yesterday gave
an order for canvas tarpaulins, to be used
on showery days to protect the diamond
from ''puddles' around the bases One large
one will cover the homeplate and approach
es, another over the pitchers box and three
more to cover the bases They will be well
come innovation. One thing has been
brought about recently which will tend TO
remove from Indianapolis some OF the. Stig-
ma which has been thrown about 1t all over
the circuit. For long time the team has
been known as "Cincinnatis nursery or
farm" and no one was ever satisfied that
any player actually belonged to Indianapo-
lis This year all is changed. Each and ev-
cry man has been turned over to the local
club without any reservation and Indian
apolis is no clubs farm.