The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-06
RICE'S VIEWS.
He Maintains He Owns
Local Franchise.

Charles F. Rice read The Spy's story of
Worcester's rosy prospects for admission
into the Eastern League yesterday. and at
once hustled off to Boston to confer with
7. II. Murnane and j. c. Morse, who
were officers of the New England League
for several seasons. i'm regard to the own
ership of the Worcester franchise. When
he was seen last evening he would not tell
Just what had passed between them at
the conference, but he said he was per-
fectly satisfied with the explanation he
received.
Mir. Rice still maintains that he holds
the franchise of the New England League
for Worcester. and no club, not even a
National League team, could be organ
lied in this city without his say so. He
explained that the league has secured
from the National League what are
known as territorial rights, which means
that the league has jurisdiction in base
ball over certain locality, which includes
worcester. From the New England
League, which possesses those rights Mr.
Rice says he holds a franchise. Thus no
league other than the New England. ac-
cording to Rice's statement, can come
into Worcester, and no man other than
himself can enter team here in any
league.
He is not averse to placing an Eastern
League team in Worcester, but says if
one comes here il must come through
him. He does not propose to allow NJ. j &.
Finn, President Pat Powers of the East
ern League or any other base ball man to
step into Worcester with a franchise and
start club playing ball if he can help
himself: Mr. Rice is enthusiastic for a
league like that proposed in The Spy yes
terday morning He thinks the Eastern
League as il now exists amounts to but
little. Providence. Springfield Syracuse
and Rochester. which are mentioned as a
nucleus for the Eastern League the COM
ing season, will have to flock by them
selves and fill the circuit from cities along
the same lines Of railroad Mr. Rice
thinks a magnificent circuit could be
formed by those cities taking in Worces-
ter Hartford, Cambridge and another
city not far distant from the line which
would run through most of those cities
The greatest argument in favor of such
a league would be the compactness of the
circuit. The rock on which minor leagues
are wrecked, in the opinion of Mr.. Rice is
in attempting to play q cent ball in cir
cut which is almost as big as a National
League circuit. The expenses are thus
as heavy as those of the National League
while the receipts even with the same
number OF persons in attendance at the
games. would be only half as great. Mr.
RICE does not consider this business
proposition.
He thinks Eastern League base ball
would be about WOrcester's size He
says he has had aspirations all along for
something better in base ball than a New
England league can give He vowed that
# the National League had decided to
form two circuits of eight clubs each he
would have made strong pull to get I'M
der cover. He also says he is willing to
do all he can to place the city in the
Eastern League, but he intends to assert
his rights and will not allow ANYBODY
else to come in and push him one side
MIR. Rice says he stands ace high with
the powers that be in the New England
League. and if anything is to be done he
VIII be IN on the ground floor when it is
done. He says the league will organize
when the time comes. and he will be ready
to represent Worcester.