Evening star., 1899-03-07
INQUIRE MAY GO
"0ld Reliable" Likely to Be Sold to
the Highest Bidder.
SLAGLE CONCLUDES TO QUIT THE GAME
Is Dissatisfied With the Salary
Offered.
ID
CURRENT SPORTING NEWS


to his bed as a result of his unpleasant ex-
perience in the recent blizzard. The latter
Is getting along nicely and will probably
accompany his brother to Philadelphia the
latter part of the week.
As regards base ball, Mr. Wagner had
very little to say. He claims to be out OF
base ball, with the exception of signing and
releasing players. and for this reason can
say very little about the individual mem
bers of the Sena tors, their future move
ments ability.
Three clubs have been negotiating with
me for Jim McGuire's release said Mr..
Wagner this morning to an Evening Star
reporter, but as yet their propositions do
not come up to my valuation of this reli-
able player. Jim would rather play for MI
Brush in Cincinnati than any man, IL MS
release is decided upon. Mcclure mas
worked faithfully for me, and Will DO my
best to place him in congenial company
Manager Irwin has informed me that lie
will need but two catchers, and as McGuire
is the man wanted by outside nahasers one ne
will probably go. The report that so""
has been offered for MCGUIRE, is, of course
placing the figures little too high, but jim
is a valuable and will bring Dig
price.
from, his home in western Pennsylvania to
the effect that he can make more money
in a national bank in his native town than
the salary the Washington club has or
fered him for the coming season, ana
have replied that if he can make more mon
ey in a commercial life he had better stay
out of base ball. Manager Irwin and my
self have come to the conclusion that we
know absolutely nothing about Slasies
ability and it would be foolish for us 10
pay him a big salary simply on the SaS-So
of other people. If Slagle reports III Sood
condition and piSys the bail other people
nave told us he is capable of playing, there
will be no trouble about his salary, put
until he demonstrates to Manager lrWIn @
satisfaction that he is Il bali payer ll"iii
the head down he will take what none!
we offer him or stay out of the business.
"AlI the other players OF the w washington
club have signed contracts ana VIII ne III
washington by the 18th of this month l
am out cf the predicting business Last
wears ex9nrience curad me of thdt loily
and 1 have graduated in the hoping class.
Manager Irwin has assured me tnat ne mas
rounded M { fast and winning BAN team
and I am hnpiug be has, but there are 50
many obstacles coming up Unexpectedly III
the national c;rne that / will not ne sure Oh
anything until it has come to pass
The recent meeting of the Natlonal
League rnagnates in New York was brought
l.p but Mr. Wagner refused to discuss the
affairs of the league with the exception
that he believed great mistake haa I petll III
made when his fellow magnates refused TO
follow the leadership of John T. brush:
Brush is one of the most unselfsh men l
have ever met" said Mr.. Wagner with en-
tnuSl9Stn. ana WItil ne ollSlS tiANiCN
the league / have always found it a good
thing TO follow.
Rem Nu!ford. the bright and able base
han writer on the Cincinnati Commercial
Tribune. gives one of the clearest and con-
else reviews of Mr.. Brush's position on the
St. Louis question that has yet been pub
Iished The article is as follows:
For several years the St. Louis club has
been detriment to the National League,
because of absolute incompetency of its
management. A city that. but a few years
ago ranked with the best in the country,
from a base ball standpoint, in a Few sea-
sons detl riorated TO the worst in the cir
cult under this management. Not only did
Chris Won der Abe lose all he had and all
he could borrow, owing to mismanagement
of the club, but every team that has WIS.,
tied ST. Louis in The past few years has
lost money.
In maay instances tile visiting club s
share of the receipts did not, pay for the
bus hire. not TO speak of hotel bills and
transportation. 1t was long ago decided
that there was but one way to again place
St Louis on a sound, paying basis. and
that way was to oust the management
that pulled the city down with the club.
"A receiver was asked for and appointed.
Then followed all sorts of litigation. and
for months the situation showed little sign
of improving. The Robisons of Cleveland.
with a first-claSs team, Were ready and
willing to step INTO St. Louis as soon as 1t
was vacated. But 1t is not an easy matter
TO rid the city of an organization that was
d detriment To IL rather thar benefit. The
situation was perplexinS, and the man that
should attempt to solve the problem must
not only do lot of thinking, but must nave
the best possible legal advice. President
John T. Brush of the Cincinnati club VINO
since he entered base ball. has been the
only nagnate who could be termed think
err took the burden upon himself. He
studied the situation and mastered it. Then
he secured the best legal talent possible
for advice. The result was that the only
loOphole through which the league could
hope to escape was discovered. 1t WAS to
forfeit the St. Louis franchise because of
failure to pay its dues in accordance with
the constitution of the National League
and American Association of Professional
Base Ball Clubs.
Familiar with all the details and with
plans carefully laid, Mr.. Brush went on
to New York to present the matter to his
colleagues. 1t was naturally supposed that
they would be able to recognize the merit
of shrewd business move which had been
planned by experts, and that they would
lend their cooperation and forever settle
the st. Louis question. But whoever
thought thus OF the magnateS did not stop
to think. There has never been anything
presented by these men to indicate that
they We're capable of grasping anything, no
matter how plainly it might be placed be-
fore them.
Mr.. Brush presented his arguments and
facts. but when an informal vote was taken
but three other clubs Vsted with him, and
tflt St. LOUIS nluuule Is as lar from settle
ment today ds il was two months ago All
| of MIR. BruSh's work was wasted, and the
scheme fell through. But why? Simply be-
| cause his colleagues or, at least a ma jor-
| ity, lack backbone and sand. They fear the
strong arm of the law, it said: but was
/ there ever a palmer case of avoiding the law
| than the scheme to forfeit the franchise ?
| The constitution of the league demands it,
| i. is law which the magnates themselves
| framed. Surely one does not have to be a
| lawyer to realize the justice of such a
| move. There is no more sympathy in base
| ball than in any other business. Not one of
| the men who voted against Mr.. Brush has
| more sympathy for Won der Abe or any
| one else connected with the St Louis case.
| than the originator of the plan which would
| have placed the game on a perfectly solid
| basis again.
| While no selection has been made by
| President Hart or Manager Burns of the
| Chicago club in regard to a captain for the
| team. II is more than likely that Center
! Fielder Bill Lange will be selected to fill
| the position Lange is ready to sign con-
| tract. but claims that this season will be
| his last on the diamond.
| Catcher Jim Mcclure is expected In
| Washington almost any day this week by
| his local friends. but the contemplated re-