The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-10
THE BALL DEAL IS OFF
MIR. BRUSH TELLS WHY HE DID NOT
BUY THE ST. LOUIS BROWNS.
Won Der Ahe's Financial Affairs Too
TangIed-He Was Acting for
Dickson & Talbot.

John T. Brush yesterday consented to
talk about his rumored baseball deal with
Won der Abe, of st. Louis. 1t has frequent
ly been reported of late that the ST. Louis
club had passed into the hands of the In
dianapois magnate, but the reports have
all proven to have been premature. 1t has
been known for some time that negotia-
tons looking to the making of such a deal
have been in progress, and when Mr..
Brush, in company with Mr.. Talbot, of
Dickson & Talbot, recently visited st.
Louis the newspapers of that town jumped
to the conclusion that the deal had been
contaminated But the sequel does not
prove the conclusion to have been good
one. Mr.. Brush last night emphatically
denied that he had gained possession of the
club.
II have not purchased the club" said he,
land what's more, none of my friends
have" Mr. Brush had reference in this
statement to Messrs. Dickson & Talbot,
who are reputed to have been associated
with him in the deal Mr. Brush, continu-
ing, said it was true that the st. Louis peo-
pie have been trying to sell, but that he
himself had never had any idea Of buying.
He said that his connection with the at
tempted sale of the club arose wholly from
a desire to do all in his power to lift the
Browns out of the slough of bankruptcy
and to retrieve as far as possible the
prestige of st. Louis as a baseball city.
II have an interest in the welfare of the
National League" said he, land while my
desire to foster and promote it's best well
fare may not be any greater than that of
my partners in other League cities, 1 do
feel that it is equally as great"
Won DER AHES APPEAL FOR AID.
Last December Mr.. Won der Abe ap-
pealed to Mr.. Brush for financial aid, and
the latter did what he could to float loan
to set the st. Louis president on his feet
again, but in this effort he was unsuccess-
full. He then cast about for purchaser
of the club, and found that Dickson & Tai
bolt were willing to acquire the club pro-
vided it was given over to them free of
incumbrance at their price. "Messrs. Dick
son and Talbot, said Mr.. Brush, ARE
well qualified to succeed in the baseball
business should they engage in it, for while
they have had no immediate experience
along that line, yet they are endowed with
the dual requlsiteS-ability and money. But
after looking over the field" continued Mr..
Brush, they found it impossible to make
barriers of one kind or another, and now
the deal is altogether off, The principal
barrier is the debt which burdens Mr.. Won
L
Louis organization" said Mr. Brush, ARE
in such condition that it is going to be
very difficult for any one to buy it and
obtain clear and unencumbered title.
Suits judgments, mortgages, claims,
known and unknown, make it extremely
hazardous to buy, and the refusal of
Messrs. Dickson & Talbot to longer con-
slider the matter is due to this fact"
Mr.. Brush further said that AIessrs. Dick
son 81 Talbot were in no sense COM
petitors against the local syndicate organ
lied in st. Louis to purchase the club. They
entered the field only when invited to do
so, which has been on several occasions,
and retired when the conditions imposed
or the difficulties attending the deal COM
PEELED them to do 50.
MY whole connection with the reported
negotiations" continued Mr. Brush, "arose
from Mr.. Won der Ahe's asking me for
sistance and Messrs. Dickson g. Talbot
inviting me tc aid them, and all my efforts
have simply been in the interests of both,
with the ultimate aim of accomplishing
good for the National League. st. Louis
has for some time been a great disappoint-
ment to the entire League, and anything /
may do within the lines of legitimacy to
accomplish the redemption of st. Louis as
a baseball city will do regardless of the
criticism of the few whose stock in trade
consists mainly of jealouses ana revenge.
The National League owes it to itself to
furnish whatever assistance it may, con-
sistent with propriety, in restoring the
former prestige Of st. Louis on the base
ball map