The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-01

your But If they did win It what would
they do with it?'' "They could not give it
to that town, could they?"
He was out of breath by this time, and
the spokesman of the party managed to
ask feebly If the communicative, perpetual
talking machine would kindly direct
them to Mayor Taggert's hotel, as they
were there to see some bicycle races.
"Oh, - said the head porter, with dis
gust shining in his eye, Il thought that
you were baseball players, you are SO
Drowned up. I will call a cab for you.
It is only a few minutes ride. Say,
think that it's going to be a frost" was
the parting shot of the official as we drove
away That was the only opinion that he
had about the great wheelmen's conven-
ton.
missed John T. Brush by four min
I1tes, while Frank de Haas Robson of the
homeless CIevelands would not talk.
President Young and his daughter took
the train for Washington on the morning
of my arrival, so just missed rather in
teresting bunch of baseball lights when
got back to the town of pork and muddy
water. Those, however, in a position to
know here say that the recent conference
between the several magnates had nothing
to do with the alleged consolidation of the
Cleveland and St. Louis clubs. 1t had
something to do with the Cleveland club,
however.
In going over the circuit find a grow
ing desire to get back to the old eight club
arrangement. Everybody admits that the
- club League is unwieldy and that the
best interests of the game demand return
to the old order of things. Nobody seems
disposed to suggest just how the League
can be got down to eight clubs and the old
American association put on its feet again,
but where such a sentiment seems to be so
general a way to do it win be found even
tuaIIy. It may not come this year and
possibly not next, but it has got to come in
time In 10 club League there are too
many tail enGers, and only a few of the
teams have a chance.
While do not find many kiokers over
the schedule as arranged this year many
are of the opinion that the arrangement
of games can be improved upon next
season. Those four trips are rather ex-
pensive, and they may be reduced to three
next year. President Young and Ebbets
are experts on schedule making, and it is
said that they are already working their
thinking machines to see if a three trip
schedule cannot be arranged to the salts
faction of all.
Some people are wondering why the
BostOns had so much trouble at Louisville
recently If they will just go back, they
will rememb Der that the despised Colonies
have been for years one of the hardest nuts
that the champions have had to crack.
By the way, the attendance at Louisville
and ST. Louis is picking up. All talk
about those places being dead baseball
towns is a mistake. Give them good base
ball down there and the attendance will
be all right Put them back into the
American Association, where they belong,
and have them in or near the front rank,
and there won't be any fault finding about
the financial support given the teams
While people in the east are wondering
what is the matter with the Brooklyn
team the enthusiasts on the western end
of the circuit have figured it all out. They
say that Ebbets knows what the real trou-
BILE is, and that he will remedy it before
another season comes around. When the
cleaning out comes, Barnie will be vindi-
Gated, though little financial good that
will do him
Manager Watkins admits that the Pitts
burg stockholders will be hit pretty hard
this year. He says that it is all on account
of the war. Pittsburg sent 4, 500 troopers
to the front, and of this 4, 800 Watkins
says that fully 8, 500 were baseball cranks-
Then those left at home have been so busy
with their iron, steel and coal industry
that they have not had time to go TO the
ball games.
find all along the circuit the utmost
confidence in the stability of baseball.
While all admit that the war has hurt the
game all look forward to the greatest sea-
son on record next year. Even now with
the fighting between Uncle Sam and the
dark skinned Spaniards over the increased
attendance at the games has become no
ticeable.
Amos Rusie is so pounds lighter than
he was at this time last year and the big
fellow is capable of pitching better ball
than he has for the last three years. If his
surroundings were more congenial, the
enthusiasts would see some of the greatest
twirling ever handed out to a batsman.
This is not meant as an insinuation that
Rusie is not trying. 1t is a statement of
FACTS GEORGE E. STACKHoUsE.