The times., 1899-07-23
NO NEW BASEBALL LEAGUE.
The Schemes of the wouId-be Mag
mates Are ChimericaI

Out of the West come dire rumors of
baseball war. Already in the ears of the
trans-Mlssissippi sporting editors there
rings the roar and din of battle The op
position to the present National League,
which has long been incubating in the fer
tile minds of Chris Won der Abe. and OF
Others OF his ilk, has now taken definite
shape, at least such is announced by the
Western press. Many magnates of the
Western League are said to be dissatisfied
with the arbitrary methods" and have
tional League is charged with being a
trust whose motto is all for the magnates
and nothing for the players and the public
George Schaefer, who last winter Offered
100000 for a clear title to the St Louis
franchise, is said to be backing the new
movement, and will furnish copious guam
titles Of money and experience. Comis-
key. Manning, and Lotus, all of the West
ern League. and President johnson. of that
organization, are alleged to be in with the
diabolical plot TO put their National League
brethren out Of business. ii is even hint
ed that tTeachery exists in the councils of
the major organization, and that Freedman
outlaws. But the most preposterous story
Of them all IS that Earl Wagner will for
sake the League and Washington ami start
an opposition team in Philadelphia.
Mr.. Wagner has repeatedly asserted that
he was very well pleased with his interests
IN this city, and that he proposed 10 bold
on, although he would sell II given his
price The attendance this year in Wash
ington has been more than gratifying to
the local management, and il is hardly
likely that man would forsake a having
investment for one that is sure to be con-
Quoted at a loss. If anything were heeded
to place the stamp Of incredulity upon the
new scheme of the plotters against the
! National Leagues welfare the absurd
statement regarding Mr. Wagner would be
sufficient But nothing Is needed
According TO the dreams of the future
day magnates Comiskey will be manager
of the St Louis club. Mack will look after
I the Pittsburg end. while Anson will be in
| charge of the Windy City team. Some of
1 the star players of the Boston and Chicago
I clubs are said to have signiiied their Will
! ingness to cast their fortunes with the
opposition. The circuit, as outlined. COM
prises teams in Detroit, st. Louis, Chicago,
! and Milwaukee in the West. and Phila-
delphia. New York, Boston. and Pittsburg
as the Eastern contingent
1 The scheme, Wnlle not entirely lmpTac-
/ ticable. would cost great deal more than
any set of men will be willing to put up.
| The National League is firmly entrenched
and will. of course resist any attempt 10
! curtail its sphere Of influence or its profits.
! The dark days OF the Brotherhood, i;nown
as the middle ages of baseball have not
! vet been forgotten and every man with
q little cash on hand is going to not cnly
| think twice but great many times be-
! fore he consents 10 invest in a scheme
! backed by Won der Abe and Freedman.
/ The best aTggmeai. II argument is nesded.
! against the sucEess OF the new venture is
/ that advanced by President y. L. Young.
! Of the National League. He says:
The pen who start such an organization will
need ! million collars. and after they spend that
slm they viii ind tHat they need more 10 carry
! on thc war. 1t cos: the hackers Of the Brother
/ hsad more then thst. and YOU know how they
/ came out Tat cost Us more than hall Il
I million. The Naiioral l. ague IS not gong -
back cut. EoF Is il going 10 1T still and watch
the ether fellows play tail IL rival enters tile
/ neld. TIE newcomer viii find that he has a
| fight on hs hSnds in the iTst place. have
| our rlauts and the new ones win have them To
get Then have al the players that are good fo'
] anVthirg signed Tor and two years ahead.
! II any nf The PLAYERS now IN Or ranks should
| jsin the prospective oEt-ideTs we could keep
| tlsn from taking up a ball catching a bah by
injunction. The story Of a new baseball league
| is started often that il makes mt tired Every
time one Of our clubs has good run Of business
4 the story i started IRON that town They iorgei
I 10 thuk of losses in the business The story
! never starts fsn.a a place where baseball husues
is lad There are good many raeH still aiiys
| who went broke" with the Broihcfhsod bubble
| They should rs an object lesson 10 confid
| ing gentlemen 4 Incans who imagine that therf
are millions in starting rival baseball layue.