The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-01-14
VERY HARD TO SELL.
Some Light On an Alleged Base
ball Deal.
WHY THE BROWNS HAYENOT BEEN SOLD
Efforts to Bring About Deal and Their
Ultimate Failure, and Why-A
Badly Mortgaged and Handi-
capped Franchise.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 10.-Mr.
John L. Brush being asked yesterday
by representative of the press if he,
for his own account or his friends, had
purchased the st. Louis baseball club,
replied that neither himself nor his
friends had bought that property"
Being asked if there was any prospect
of such purchase on the part of him
self or his friends, replied emphati-
cally that there was not. Being fur
ther asked to explain his recent visit
to St. Louis, and Mr.. Won der Ahe's
visit to indianapolis, he said:
EARLY in December Mr.. Won der
Abe appealed to me for financial aid.
Upon his statement and showing en-
deavored to handle a loan that would
place him upon his feet again, but
found it impossible and impracticable
to do. He then offered the club for
sale. / secured for him a prospective
purchaser in the firm of MeSsrs. Dick
son & Talbot, of this city, who were
willing to buy his club if it could be
delivered to them free of incumbranee
at their price. Messrs. Dickson & Tai
bott, while having no immediate in
terest in baseball, are undoubtedly
well qualified to succeed in this enter
prise if they should engage in it.
They are endowed with the dual
requisites, ability and money. While
il is true that local syndicate has
long been organized in st. Louis to
purchase the franchise at figures
which have been made public, Messrs.
Dickson & TaltOtt, have in no sense
been competi tors in their negotiations.
They have only entered the field when
invited to do so, which has been upon
several occasions and have always
retired when inpracticable bar
riers arose or conditions were
imposed that rendered it impossible to
continue negotiations. The financial
affairs of the club are in such condi-
tion that>it is going to be very diff
ficult matter for any one to buy it and
get a clear and unincumbered title.
Suits, judgments, mortgages, claims
(known and unknown) makes it ex-
tremely hazardous to buy, and the re-
fusal of Dickson & Talbot to longer
consider the matter is due to this
fact"
You are criticized in some quarters
for your connection with this transac-
ton upon the ground that you arebuy-
ing the club on your own account and
that Dickson & Talbot do not repre-
sent the financial interest"
"Yes, | know, but that makes no
difference to me, since it is wholly and
absolutely untrue. | have an interest
in the welfare of the national league.
My desire to foster and promote its
best welfare may not be any greater
than that of my partners in other
league cities, but | do feel that it
is equally as great. st. Louis has
been the disappointment of the pres
ent organization. Any change that
will insure the restoration of st. Louis
to its proper place in the front ranks
of baseball cities ought to have
the encouragement and support of
every magnate of the National
league. Anything that l may do
within the lines of legitimacy to ac-
complish this, l will do regardless of
the criticism of the few whose stock in
trade consists mainly of jealousies and
revenge. The national league owes it
to itself to furnish whatever assist
ance it may, consistent with the
proprieties in restoring the st. Louis
cl ub to something like its former pres
tige on the baseball map.
Mr.. Won der Abe asked me for as
sistance. Messrs. Dickson & Talbot
asked me to aid them. Ny efforts have
simply been in the interests of both,
and ultimately for the general good of
the National league"