The times., 1899-05-11
BASEBALL AFFAIRS IN
A State OF UNREST
Many Rumors of Radical Ac-
tion by the Magnates.
The Transfer of Games From Wash
ington Is Unlikely.
Wagner Confident That His Team
Will Improve and the Fans
Flock to National Park.

Inc DaSeDaii atmosphere is nlleu Win
rumors and it is evident, even to the out
slider, that something is up. Just what
that Something is can not be definitely
ascertained, but it is apparent that feel
ing of unrest pervades the sanctums of
the magnates. From the eastward comes
rumors of the disruption of the League as
it now stands, and the substitution there
for of two circuits, each to be composed of
eight clubs.
Conferences are known to have already
been held, and the plans of the new organ
izations are taking shape. The main OBJ
jects of the promoters of the scheme are
the retirement of Andrew Freedman from
the control of the New York club, and to
provide for more Sunday ball. 1t is unde-
niable that Freedmans ruinous policy has
driven thousands of patrons away from the
Polo grounds, and stirred up dissension in
the councils of the magnates. His car
like actions and his interference with the
managers in their control OF the players
have caused him to be despised by all low
ers of the national game. II the owners
of the other clubs could bring about the
banishment of Freedman from the base
ball world they would not only earn the
eoomiums of the public, but it would be
thusiasts have become disgusted with
Freedman, and II the game could be ridden
of such as he they would, it is said, again
flock to see the games.
Few owners OF baseball clubs are in the
business through motives of patriotism,
but, like nearly all the rest OF humanity
are hustling for any wandering shekels
which may come their way. On Sundays
the crowds are larger at the games than
on any other day 0f the week and cnnSe-
quently more money flows into the till of
the magnates. Hence they are anxious
to have schedule where as many Sundays
as possible can be utilized as playing
dates. Some of the owners of the clubs
will not permit their teams TO play on
Sunday, and there comes the rub.
Mr.. Rogers, one of the proprietors of the
Philadelphia club, stands against the ma
jority OF the magnates in this respect and
refuses to allow the Quakers to perform on
the Sabbath Mr.. Reach, co-proprietor,
does not object to Sunday ball playing.
The scheme is, therefore, to "hold up Mr..
Rogers and compel him to give way TO the
views of the majority. Just how this is to
be accomplished has not been explained.
There is no law to compel Mr.. Rogers to
dispose of his stock, and if there was, who
is going to put up the capital? If the nee
essary amount is raised and Mr.. Rogers
is disposed to act contrary and not stand
aside after he has been invited to do SO,
what are the other fellows going to do
about 1t?
N. E. Young, President of the National
League, denies that any scheme as de-
scribed above is on foot. The entire story
may have sprung full-hedged from the
brain of New York sporting editor, but it
hardly seems possible that he could have
gone SO far wrong as.to invent the report
with all itg wealth of Ietaf1 without hav-
ing some foundation for it. While it is
hardly probable that such radical up
heaval in baseball affairs as the one sug-
gested will take place In the near future,
the thing is not wholly impossible.
From the westward comes the rumor that
an opposition TO the National League is
being organized and that soon the bloody
flag of war will be seen flying in the
baseball sky. This story does not bear
the earmarks of truth, and is probably a
fake pure and simple. Many OF the Off
cials already supplied with franchise and
a club claim that they are not making
money and it is impossible for two or
ganizations to prosper where one is not
making any too much money. The Ma
tional League has been long in the field,
and is too strongly entrenched to be easily
put to rout.
The latest in the way OF rumors is tkat
Mr.. Wagner, finding that the Sena-
tors do not draw well at home,
is contemplating the transfer of games
scheduled here to other cities. Mr.. Wag-
ner has not, up TO this time, ever said
publicly or privately, that he would trans
fer any games from this city. The only
thing that he has said from which such a
conclusion could have been drawn was
in conversation with some of his friends
In that conversation Mr.. Wagner expressly
said: u believe i have q ball team that
will, in time, show up strong and win a
fair share of their games / have conf
dence in Irwin's ability to get good work
out of the men, and | intend to back his
judgment and give him all the chances to
make good his predictions. Should we be
mistaken. in our judgment, then it will be
necessary to make whatever changes pos
sible, to remedy matters. / can very we'll
appreciate the feelings of the patrons who
Will not come out to see a losing club
and / do not blame them. AT the same
time l cannot afford to sacrifice a large
investment of money by playing to empty
benches and no friend of the club would
expect me to do so. | may be driven to the
necessity of transferring games in order
to protect my interests"
In this conversation he was advised by
these gentlemen, who are not only friends
OF the sport but reliable and responsible
business men, to play games away from
home until the team got on its feet and
played the game ii is believed 1t is capable
of. Then all of the fans would return and
give the boys encouragement by their
presence. Mr.. Wagner said further that
he was opposed to the transfer of games
and would not do SO except under the
gravest necessity. This is Mr. Wagner's
position in the matter. and he should not
be held responsible for what appears in
the newspapers, published without his au-
thority or knowledge. 1t is a fact well
known to all persons cognizant of the stu
| alton that Mr.. Wagner can, If he desires,
play even, If not at a profit, by transferr-
Ing his games elsewhere.
With reference to the Cleveland club
to which allusion has been made the
| causes which compelled the management
| to transfer games are similar TO those
which exist here. II is true that the Cleve-
| land club was strong one and no fault
was found with ii upon that score Yet
the people of that city failed to give it
even a respectable support and they were
| forced to play home games In other cities
| in order to avoid a loss. Cleveland has
about $4,000 more people to draw from,
with a population, too, that is stable and
permanent, and endowed with more loeal
| pride and interest than is Washington,
with its cosmopolitan citizenship without
any special local influences.
If the Cleveland club under these favor
able conditions was forced away from home
! on account of non support, how can il be
expected that Washington, under the same
adverse circumstances, could do different
| ly? The Washington club has had as
| large a salary list as some OF the League
clubs, yet the profits, when there were
any, came from the larger cities and not
from the local patronage, as some people
| believe