The evening times., 1899-03-27
COLONEL ROGERS
AND His LETTERS
The Philadelphia Baseball
Magnatt Talks.
Says the One Sent TO Robson Was
Not Confidential.
His Relations With Receiver Muck
cnfuss, of the 81. Louis
Club.

Philadelphia, March 27.-ColoneI John l.
Rogers was resting al his home, 1862 Race
Street last evening after his efforts at
the special meeting OF the National League
in New York, when reporter called The
colonel was not at all perturbed over the
publication OF his letters TO Muckenfuss
and Robson. Said he:
The letter TO Robson was not confiden-
tisl, and ] told them at the meeting TO pass
it around and publish il broadcast in all the
papers. As 10 my reference to reciprocity
in the matter of gate receipts that is but
natural You do one man favor. and it
is only natural that you should look for
one in return if you need it.
"As TO the letter TO Muckenfuss that was
confidential, but / am not ashamed of one
word in il. He had asked me to keep him
as receiver of the St. Louis Club, straight
legally in all his actions. and this | had
done gratuitously for the good name of the
League. the benefit Of the creditors he rep
resented and as personal favor. My ref
erence 10 being a leader of the League or
something Of that kind was mere joke,
kind of response 10 some fiattery he had
heaped on me pretty thick l had promised
to keep him straight, and when / learned
Of the Becker Robson conspiracy to have
the club expelled and freeze out the hold
ers of 300 shares, a cold blooded steal /
thought it my duty to warn him, so that
he would be in a position to take care of
their interests. In return for my interest
il was but natural that ! should look out
for the interest of the Philadelphia Club.
We did not make a deal with st. Louis,
but protected the creditors from big steal
in an absolutely disinterested manner sim
v-Tx frorf c1g,En nff oh nd
with view to the good name of the
League. Having done that We certainly
were justified in caring for our own in
terests as far as lay in our power.
Now ] want you TO say one thing for
me to the people of Philadelphia, and that
is that the Philadelphia Club has always
fought for 25-cent ball and always will.
That is our motto and We will have il at
all hazards. ] have agreements of one kind
or another with nearly all of the clubs,
and those that will not consent will suffer
along with us if they persist. Cheap bali
is no more favor TO the Philadelphia Club
than il is TO the visitors. They can make
more money here at II 1-2 cents head
than double that figure
The letters referred TO above are as fol-
lows:
Advice To Muckenfuss.
Philadelphia, March Z, 1899.
Before leaving New York I had the most posi-
tive information. which came almost directly from
Mr. Robson, that he had prior 10 the League
meeting made an agreement with Becker that in
order to scare away bidders the expulsion pro-
ceedngs prosecuted with the approval OF
Becker. Now. he careful in using this lnfoTma-
ton for ii may be eTroneuos, but have reason
to believe il is true, and positively | must not
he quoted. If that be so, Becker has been play
ing double. but the explanation is that if he bids
in at the sale al song there will be that much
less money for Robson and himself 10 make up
afterward.
II would be very unwise 10 intimate to Becker
any knowledge of such agreement. For other
reasons I wish YOU would Mr.. Becker and tell
him of my valuable services al st. Louis: that if
the expulsion had gone through no matter what
agreement might have been made, il could not be
forced by Becker against Robson. II he had got
ten the franchise for the protection Of such
agreement, Becker would have made himself sub
ject 10 charge Of conspiracy in 81. Louis 10
defraud creditors
Therefore if there was such an agreement my
action in defeating the expulsion saved Mr.. Becker
either trcaehery the part Of conspirators or a
criminal charge, which would undoubtedly have
been pushed against him. In any event he owes
me a great deal, whether he had such agree
ment not.
Now comes in my personal interest in the mat
ter Brush is very angry with us, and says he
will not consent 10 25-cent division of gate
receipts. and possibly Robson would follow his
lead have got six clubs written signatures;
New York will make the seventh. and that is as
good as If ] had it file. Brooklyn and Balti-
more considering, and ! have notified
them that | don't whether they consent or
not.
Ny object in thus writing you-and this is en-
tirely confdential-is TO post you thoroughly on
all that know, and ] want you to hint to Mr.
Becker that ] am the new power In the League
(even il YOU don't think I ann and that unless
he in his bargain with Mr.. Robson, either made
TO be made. will say that must be pla-
Gated the 25cent division, he will not get
through what he wants to- j think he will see
fhe point. Yours, respectfully,
JOHN I. ROGERS Treasurer.
Letter To Frank Robson.
March 10, 1899.
FFank he Haas Robson:
Dear Remembering what you told me con-